It is pleasing to read of a tribe described by McClintock as superior in
domestic virtues to most of their countrymen. The Acawoios, or Kaphons,
though warlike, differ from other tribes in many points. Polygamy is
not permitted before a suitable age. The women are virtuous, and
attentive both in sickness and old age. After a birth, the mother is
relieved even from the labour of preparing food for her husband, that
she may attend to her child. They are cleanly, hospitable, and
generous, and passionately fond of their children. They seldom talk
above a whisper among themselves, and however intoxicated--which they
sometimes become--never quarrel; nay, more, an angry look is never
discernible. They use tobacco; not chewing it, however, but simply
keeping it between the lips, for the purpose of appeasing hunger and
preserving their teeth. They live towards the head-waters of the
Essequibo. On the whole, a more orderly and peaceably-disposed people
can scarcely be found anywhere.
The customs of the fierce tribes, though differing in some respects,
agree in many others. They are in general indolent, and find clothing
unnecessary; they have little to provide beyond their daily food, and
thus spend much of their time in their hammocks, leaving the women to
labour in the plantations and attend to their domestic concerns. They
are, perhaps, more apathetic in manner than reality, having great
control over their feelings. Like the whole race, their senses are
extremely acute, and kept in constant exercise by following game or
tracking an enemy through the forest. They are keen observers of
natural objects, and have a considerable knowledge of medicinal and
poisonous plants, as well as of the habits of the animals, birds,
reptiles, and insects which inhabit their country. They observe the
virtue of hospitality, and are fond of paying visits to their friends at
a distance--expecting to be treated in the same way. Theft is unusual
among them; and so great is their love of liberty that they can seldom
be induced to follow the customs of civilised life.
Drunkenness drives them often to fearful excesses--most of their
quarrels springing from that cause. Their dances, though in a certain
degree graceful, consist chiefly in stamping on the ground, balancing on
one foot, and staggering in different attitudes as if intoxicated--the
music being generally monotonous and dismal. Mr Brett describes a
curious trial of strength which the Guaranis exercise at their drinking
bouts. Each of the antagonists is furnished with a shield made of
strips of the mauritia, cut into equal lengths, and firmly lashed across
a frame three or four feet in height, but somewhat less in width, and
slightly bending downwards. The front of each shield is painted in
various colours with some peculiar device, while fastened to the upper
edge are elastic stems adorned with coloured tassels and streamers.
Each champion grasps the edges of his shield firmly with both hands,
and, after various feints and grimaces to throw his opponent off his
guard, a clash is heard as one springs forward and his shield strikes
that of his antagonist. The contest is generally one of mere strength,
the shield being pushed forward by the whole force of the body and
supported by one knee, while the other leg is extended firmly behind.
Sometimes one of the players is able to push the other off the ground,
or, by a dexterous slip and thrust on the flank, sends him rolling on
the sand; but more frequently they remain pressing, panting, and
struggling until exhausted, when the contest ceases by mutual consent.
It is then a point of etiquette to shake the shields at each other in a
jeering manner--with a tremulous motion of their elastic ornaments--and
to utter a defiant sound like the whinnying of a young horse. This is
generally followed by a hearty, good-natured laugh, in which the
bystanders join. Another couple then step forward and engage.
Polygamy exists among most of the tribes, and is the great bane of
Indian domestic life. Among the Caribs, especially, the woman is always
in bondage to her male relations. To her father, brother, or husband
she is a slave, and seldom has any power in the disposal of herself.
Among the Macusis, the custom of selling even their near relations
prevails. When a man dies, his wife and children are at the disposal of
his eldest surviving brother, who may sell or kill them at pleasure.
Among their worst features is their proneness to blood revenge, by
which, as among other savages, a succession of retaliatory murders is
long kept up. They believe also, when a person dies, that his death is
caused by the agency of an evil spirit secured by some enemy; and,
having settled who that person is, will follow his steps till they find
an opportunity of assassinating him. They are acquainted with several
poisonous plants, to which they sometimes resort to destroy those whom
they consider their enemies.
Although the savage Indian has some idea of the power of God, which he
deduces from the phenomena of nature--such as thunder and lightning--and
believes in his goodness in supplying him with cassava and other
provisions, yet his whole worship is devoted to propitiate the malignant
spirits, to avert evil which might otherwise overtake him; while he has
great faith in the power of the native sorcerers, who practise on his
credulity. The Guaranis are the most renowned as sorcerers. The huts
which are set apart for the performance of their superstitious rites are
regarded with great veneration. They believe in various spirits--some
of the forests and others of the water--as also in the power of charms
and potions; while they have numerous legends by which they account for
the creation of the world, the deluge, and many natural objects--some of
them apparently derived from the Peruvians and Mexicans, and other more
civilised races.
The languages spoken by different tribes are very dissimilar, many
common objects being called by names which have no approach to each
other in sound. This, however, rather proves the length of time they
have existed in the country, their isolation from each other, and the
admixture which has from time to time taken place, than that they sprang
originally from different stocks. The Guarani appears to be the
simplest and most easily acquired of any of the languages, and is still
spoken as far south as the La Plata, as well as on the banks of the
Orinoco. The Arawak language is remarkable for its softness. The Carib
tongue, somewhat more guttural than the former, is spoken in a smart,
vivacious manner. "Those who speak it in its purity, regard as corrupt
the language of those Caribs who elsewhere have intermarried with other
races," observes Mr Brett. It may easily be understood how an
unwritten tongue can, in the course of ages, be thus totally changed, so
as to bear no resemblance to the original language. Although in some
there is a wide distinction, there are others in which all the Indian
dialects seem to agree. In their method of numeration, especially, the
first four numbers are represented by simple words. Although the Indian
children learn to read and write with facility, they acquire with
difficulty the simplest rudiments of arithmetic. This arises from their
general method of numeration--five is represented by one hand; two
hands, ten; then they use the toes, and call twenty by the name of
"loko," or man. They then proceed by men or scores. Thus forty-five is
laboriously expressed by a word signifying two men and one hand upon it.
Some of the Indian words are of great length. Among the Arawaks, such
words as _lokoborokwatoasia_ (his thought, or remembrance),
_rabuintimen-rutibanano_ (eighteen), are continually used.
"Notwithstanding these," says Monsieur du Ponceau, "the Indian languages
are rich in words and grammatical forms, and in their complicated
construction the greatest order, method, and regularity prevail."