944 Demerara. [ December, 
are well developed, muscular, and appear more agile than the men. 
Both are able to endure great bodily hardships. Necklaces made 
of beads, teeth, feathers, the lustrous wings of bugs and other 
materials of personal decoration in use among savages, are the 
never-failing adornments of these squaws, although all othes 
wearing apparel may be dispensed with. Short aprons, worked 
in attractive patterns and trimmed with beads and feathers, are 
worn. Long tassels, interwoven with fur, feathers and grass are 
attached thereto, Anklets, either of metal or plaited grasses are 
almost invariably used, and appear to answer, in some way, the pur- 
pose of protecting and strengthening the lower portion of the leg 
(Plate 111). The female Indian is not beautiful, far from it, butin ap- 
pearance she compares favorably with our North American squaw. 
As usual the women perform the greater portion of the manual 
labor, although the “lords of creation” will sometimes conde- 
scend to assist. Hunting, fishing, the search for valuable timber 
or medicinal plants, with an ample allowance of peaceful repose, 
fully occupy the man’s time. Rum, obtained ata ridiculously 
low price, furnishes restful oblivion and freedom from care, This, 
together with tobacco, serves to smooth the native’s path and 
gently hurry him along on his journey through mundane scenes: 
_ Spears and arrows are used in fishing. Generally the spear- 
heads are three-pronged and sharply barbed, but for smaller fish 
one prong suffices. Often these are made of a poisonous wood, 
which is said to paralyze the motions of the animal, so-that it 
may easily be taken. Long arrows with iron points are shot into 
the fish, which then are speedily secured. Fishing, by hook and 
line, or net, provides a large portion of the Indians with bodily sus- 
tenance, Quadrupeds, birds and snakes are likewise hunted with 
Spear and arrow. The former isa sort of javelin with poisoned 
tips. For long distances a bow is used measuring nearly seven 
__ feet in length, arrows in proportion. Beautiful workmanship and 
_ taste in decoration make these weapons very conspicuous. Bird- 
_ arrows and those destined for larger game are prepared with soe 
_ cial reference to the distances of their flight and the animals OF. 
_ are aimed at, For hunting inthe bush a short bow, about three 
or four feet long, is employed. An ingenious contrivance saves 
the hunter from losing his arrows in case the game be on? 
_ wounded ; at the same time it enables him to do a great deal - 
execution with only a small supply of weapons. For this pur 
