Photo by H. Pittier 



the; anciknt crater is now a grassy plain surrounded by densely wooded 



hiels (sei^ page 635) 



their cattle. Among the Guaymies the 

 number of wives is the standard. The 

 role of these in the domestic economy is 

 not, however, merely that of a toy, as 

 among certain Oriental nations. They 

 constitute the working capital of the 

 family, and their way of courting the 

 preference of their master is not 

 through love, but toil. Even thus, and 

 though they are little more than mere 

 beasts of burden, they seem to be quite 

 satisfied with their lot, and it will be a 

 long time before they feel the need of 

 joining in the throng of modern aspi- 

 rants for sex equality. 



The typical Guaymi dwelling is a 

 round house, about eight meters in dia- 

 meter, with a conical thatch roof. The 

 bare ground constitutes the floor, and 

 the fireplace is either in the middle or at 

 the side. These houses are not always 

 walled. When they are they have no 

 windows, but two doors placed at the 

 opposite ends of a secant to the circum- 

 ference of the structure. The walls are 



made of erect sticks brought close to- 

 gether and tied with vines. On the north 

 side plaster made of cow dung and clay is 

 sometimes applied so as to afford a pro- 

 tection against the wind (see page 646). 



Benches along the walls are used as 

 beds, although at high altitudes, where 

 the temperature is often very low at 

 night, the resting place is on a light floor 

 just under the roof. Large nets, hang- 

 ing from the beams, are used in lieu of 

 wardrobes and closets, and the tilling, 

 fishing, and hunting implements, all of 

 a primitive type except the guns, com- 

 plete the house furnishings. Nowadays 

 the kitchen crockery is mostly imported 

 ware, the only exceptions being the large 

 earthen jars used to keep the chicha, or 

 corn-beer, and the calabashes, of univer- 

 sal use in the tropics. 



Their dwellings are located either in 

 the midst of the forests of the lower 

 belt, in solitary clearings far apart, or 

 in the high savannas. In the first in- 

 stance they are always at some distance 



642 



