366 
The Makiquaiuu Whip, 
of Guiana, and avoids occupied areas. The lioi-n on its forehead, as well 
as the longer or shorter soule^vhat curA-ed spurs seen on the anterior 
part of the wing gives the hirge bird a striking appearance. 
891. My old friend Caberalli Avas away. I did not have to regret 
this short stay of eight days because it gave me the opportunity of 
witnessing a hideous, nevertheless highly extraordinary death ceremony 
which is also custoniain- among the jMuntrucus. It was a bloody death- 
dance called the Mariquarri after the Avliips plaited out of the fibres 
of Broinclia kanitdfi A\hich are used thereat. After every death, this 
dance is celebrated by the family of the deceased at an interval eith(M' 
of several months or a year. The body with the usual wail of lament 
is laid either in a hollowed out tree-trunk or a small corial, and buried 
Sn the house. From the day of death onwards, the cassava fields of the 
deceased must not be used, because the festiA^^l is celebrated when the 
roots liave begun to ripen, and tlie paiwari required for it has to be 
prepared from them. The acquaintances and friends in the neighbour- 
hood are invited for the date appointed by sending a knotted-calendar 
round to them. As tlie day breaks, all the uien of the village take up 
their positions in two rows in front of the house, nnd ])rovided with 
these whips, lash every arrival with all their might across the calves: 
no blow must fall above or below these. The arriving guest does not 
in any sense seek to avoid the Avhipping. but in a challenging attitude 
quietly puts out one leg in front of the other. Those thus welcomed 
now join the rows of the ATbip]iers, and then treat sul)sequently arriving 
guests in the same fashiou. until all are assemlded. While this has 
l)een going on the filled calabash never rests. A general whipping 
amongst themselves uot^' begins. Tt A\'as an awful sight Avhen the blood 
soon streamed doAvn the swollen calves, and complete strips of skin and 
muscle hung from their slashed liuibs — wounds on account of A\'hich 
thcA' had often to lie in their hauimocks for Aveeks, before they were 
again healed. 
892. After the whi])ping had been going on for a while, the com- 
batants arranged themsehes in procession, at the bead of A\diich were 
carried three figures representing a crane and two human l)eings: they 
thus went round and round the house in which the corpse lay buried, 
chanting a long monotonous dirge. When the song was ended three 
men armed with knives suddenly uiade their way in betAA'een the former 
Avhippers and forcibly atteui])ted to A\'iench the lashes dripping Avith 
blood out of their hands and immediately cut them up. In the mean- 
time, outside the house, there was dug a grave in which were placed the 
out-up whips, after the struggling for them ^yaB all ended, the three 
figures, and all the deceased's utensils and weapons that were still to 
come to hand. With the filling in of the graA'e that now follows, all 
remembrance of the deceased is destroyed. With owners of extensive 
cassava fields these bloody death-festivals will be several times repeat- 
ed, because the Manihot of a dead person may only be used for the 
paiwari on these occasions. Where such repetitions take place the cut- 
up whips are carefully preserved, and put aside for each feast next fol- 
lowing, and the ceremony of burying them only performed on llie last 
