The Guahivos. 315 
Besides these they ate several fruits which they procured 
from the forest, and among these I noticed the seed of a 
palm, known in British Guiana under the name of 
Durabana, from which " bush chocolate ,; is made. Their 
clothes were made of the inner bark of a tree, very tough 
and very close in texture : they called it taka-taka. The 
men wore a small lap of this material ; but the women 
made use of a piece about four feet square, which they 
drew across the body under one arm, and then fastened 
over the other shoulder, thus giving themselves the 
appearance of being clothed in a sack, which had been 
cut open along the bottom and one side. Men and 
women were all more or less painted in red and blue, 
especially about the face, chest and arms. They are a 
rather short race, but very sturdily built, the muscles of 
their arms being very finely developed.* ' They are 
of a more decided red colour than any other tribe I 
have seen. They are exceedingly good shots with 
the bow and arrow, and are very skilful in killing 
the turtle which they shoot in the following manner. 
When a turtle is seen floating on the surface of the 
water, they shoot an arrow high into the air ; and this 
arrow, falling with great power and velocity, pierces the 
shell of the animal. These arrows are fitted with a loose 
head, triangular in shape, very heavy, and made of some 
* This description differs considerably from what Humboldt relates 
of the Guahivos, though possibly, in each case, the description may apply 
to different sections of the tribe, or possibly to the same section under 
different conditions. Humboldt relates of those with whom he came in 
contact at the new mission of San Borja, that their shape was in general 
slender ; that several of them had beards of which they seemed proud ; 
that their bodies were not painted ; and that the faces of all the young 
girls were marked with round black spots.— Ed. 
