356 
Wariiau Dirges at a Death. 
settleuieiit was still iuliabited. For we were just about to sling our 
liammocks when we I'uund our feet aud trousers covered with thousands 
of sand-lleas \\hieli made us beat a very hasty retreat. 
8GG. At Kuamuta mouth, which opens into the itabbo we met an 
Indian who told us that there were several \\'arrau settlements in the 
forest along the banks of the creeks. The innumerable tree-trunks 
which had fallen over and into the little forest stream soon made it 
impossible for us to proceed up the Kuanuita farther with our large 
corial; whereupon our informant hastened ahead to the village of the 
same name, and we soon saw the he^id of the settlement nearing us 
with several corials. The chief, Henry, is known to all the Colonists of 
tlie Pomeroon. On informing him of my i)urpose to engage a few 
])addlers from among his people, he seemed quite satisfied about it, but 
explained that this was not liossible for at least four days because one 
of the villagers had just died and none of his peoj^le would come with me 
until the customary drinking least sulisequent to the burial, had been 
celebrated. Forced by necessity I had to resign myself to the inevitable. 
My things were packed into the small corials and, in between a real 
labyrinth of over-turned and interlocked trees, we soon reached the village 
which w as also surrounded with big clusters of bamlni. The Warraus, 
like the Caribs, call the bambu Kuamuta, the name by which the village as 
well as the stream is known. The village consisted of 16 houses and 
upwards of 100 inhabitants. The passionately distressful lamentation 
proceeding from one of the buildings indicated the house of mourning, 
and several Indians were just then digging the grave. When the digging 
was completed, the corpse was wrapped in the hammock in which it 
still lay aud then placed in a sitting position. After all his goods and 
ohattels, as well as bread, fruits, and dried fish had 1»een tucked in 
around and his faithful hunting-dog slaughtered and placed close by 
Iiis side, the earth was filled in. When this was about half done, the 
widow and deceased's sisters jumped into it and forcildy stamped upon 
the newly thown-in earth amidst continued cries of grief. A fire was 
lighted on the little mound where it was kept burning several days, 
and around which the widow and her female relatives squatted. During 
this affecting exhibition of grief, I saw no tears fall. It has already 
heen stated that the Warraus are convinced of the immortality of the 
soul. 
807. Soon after the interment all the other remaining women betook 
themselves to the provision fields and returned with huge loads of cas- 
sava and potato, which were now as speedily as possible made into bread 
and prepared for paiwari. A large corial which, in addition to the 
usual r>aiwari trough, served as a reservoir for the dirtv drink, contained 
with the latter about 600 gallons. Neither the widow nor relatives 
took part in, these preparations, but sat in a circle around the gravf» 
and ever started afresh with their song of lament, which ran something 
like this:— 
868. Why have von left your wife, your ehildren and friends who 
loved you so dearly? Why have you left your house, and your field 
where the yams and cassava were thriving so splendidly? Who will now 
