EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 397 



about eighteen inches lon^, flat at both ends, and fquare, CHAP, 



XV. 



but heavier at the one end than the other. In the mid- ^_ ,_. 

 die they are thinner, and are v/ound about with flrong 

 cotton threads, fo as to be grafped, having a loop to 

 fecnre them round the wrift, as tlie fword -taffels are 

 iifed by fome cavalry. One blow with this club, in 

 which is frequently fixed a lharp ftone, fcatters the 

 brains. They are ufed by the Guiana Indians like the 

 tomahawk by the Gherokees, on which, befides other 

 hieroglyphical figures, they often carve the number of 

 perfons they have flain in battle. The manner of fixing 

 the ftone in the club or apootoo is by flicking it in the 

 tree while it is yet growing, where it foon becomes fo 

 faft that it cannot be forced out; after which the wood 

 is cut, and fliaped according to fancy. 



The women are occupied in planting cailava, plan- 

 tains, and other roots, befides yams, occ. in dreffing 

 the victuals, and in making earthen pots, bracelets,, 

 bafkets, or cotton hammocks. Their beft baHcets are 

 called paga/a, and are formed of a double matting of 

 rufhes called warimbo^ fome white, fome brown, be- 

 tween which is a feparation of tas^ or troolv-leavesj 

 to keep out the wet. The covering is ufually larger 

 and deeper than the baaket itfelf, which it altogether 

 envelopes, and thus makes- it fironger ; the whole reft- 

 ing on two crofs pieces of wood fixed to the bottom. 

 Their hammocks are woven,, which muft require a 

 Gonfiderable portion of time and trouble, being done 



thread: 



