88 
Dirtiness of the Warraus. 
cates its being of very recent origin: perhaps of the same age as Cascal- 
ho. Schistous syenite seemed to me to crop up in several places close 
by, although I cannot make this statement with certainty. From 
the flourishing condition of the provision fields in general, as well as 
from the whole surroundings of the village in particular, this soil must 
•oe unusually fertile. 
30 3. The village consisted of twelve simple houses or rather sheds 
which, open on all sides, were thatched with the leaves of Manicaria sac ■ 
cifera < Inert, and rested upon six posts which again were joined to- 
gether by cross-beams, onto which the occupants had slung their ham- 
mocks, etc. Various cooking and hunting implements stood and lay 
freely around in the houses which were naturally regarded by me with 
the most intense curiosity. 
304. But however much l might be attracted by this simplicity of 
an Indian household. I was all the more powerfully repelled on the other 
hand by the ghastly filth and uncleanliness that reigned over the whole 
settlement, ami completely confirmed the reproach generally made in 
the colony about the dirtiness of the Warrau, whose uncleanliness has 
become proverbial and where “As dirty as a Warrau” expresses its su- 
perlative degree of comparison. The more unpromising and dirtier how- 
ever the inside of the houses, the sweeter and brighter did their immed- 
iate environs smile on me. A real forest of Musa paradisiaca and M. 
sapientum Linn., Manihot utilissima Pohl ( Janipha Manihot H.B.), 
Ananas cdulis, Capsicum, and Carica Papaya Linn, with their yellow 
melon-like fruits regularly enveloped the settlement, while beaten paths 
from the village led in all directions through these thick masses of green 
into the equally dense forest which chiefly consisted of Laurineae, Ley- 
uminosae, Meliaceac, Rhi.coholcac , etc., these in their turn hemming in 
the flourishing provision fields. f 
305. Among the twelve houses two were especially conspicuous by 
reason of their larger dimensions on which account one found favour in 
our eyes and was chosen for our quarters. xks the need of drinkable water 
was fairly urgent, but not a single villager was to be seen, we had to 
despatch a messenger to the Atopani, a small stream not too far off on 
the bank of which was situate a second settlement where lived the chief 
of the lower Aruka Warraus: word was sent to inform him of our ar- 
rival and to ask for his Company and assistance in regard to our wants. 
We occupied the interval in arranging our airy dwelling as comfortably 
as we could, our example being followed by the boat’s crew 7 in another 
house. 
T I lie site of the old village of Cumaka while still going under that name is occupied bv 
the fine mansion of the manager of the Aruka Rubber Estate, which at present includes the 
whole course of the Cumaka creek, up which a large motor-launch plies at all states of the 
fide. The virgin forest which sent old Richard into such raptures is all removed and sup- 
planted with tame Hevea. The slope of the hill between the landing and the top is the site of 
the best-known ‘kitchen midden" in the district: the proposed public road connecting 
Morawhanna with Arakaka will pass right over it. The Attibani Creek, or as Schomburgk 
calls it the Atopani also has its entire course in the Aruka Rubber Estate and on its banks 
rice is cultivated by the estates’ authorities. (Y.R.) 
