Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-07

How three white men were ma
rooned among hostile Indians, whose
poison darts caused death in 10
seconds, was related by Mr.. Mac
Creagh last week. Their posses
sion of calling stick" carved TO
indicate the standing and record
Of the bearer. and their knowledge
of the complicated ceremony OF
making a call on chief. gave
them hospitality and enabled them
to win the friendship of their saw
age hosts.
In the following article, the final
one OF four Mr. MacCreagh de-
scrihes a ceremony never before
witnessed by white men, and eX-
plains why the expedition came 10
q sudden and unforeseen end
BY GORDON MacCREAGH.
II HAD heard of caapi. the drink
that makes men brave. It had
been reported by explorers as
i far back as Koch and Gutenberg.
But it was always rumor. No
body had seen this caapi ceremony.
Imagine. then, the thrill of learning
that here were these Tiquie people
practicinS the rite in the most remote
and hidden Of their villages.
thing? That no other white man had
more than heard of 1t was proof that
it was no ceremony that was gener
ally broadcast. There had been
sickness at one OF the biggest villages,
and one Of our boats crew Contided
the deep secret TO me that a great
.lurupary-heating, ceremony of de-
flying the devil, was to be held as soon
as the white men should terminate
their visit.
Naturally I made up my mind that
the visit should not terminate until
after this unique ceremony. 1t was
matter, OF course. that rested with
the ipageS or witch doctors.
These Tiquie ipages lived in little
huts apart in the jungle. So | sent
my carved stick to the chief ipage of
the metropolis of Manatee Rapids,
with the intimation that I should like
to give him present 10 make friend.
ship between us.
When the ipage's stick came back
with my own. I stalked forth to the
little group Of hidden huts and went
through all the breaking of bread and
the soaring of my throat with the chilli
stew. in solemn privacy with a great
wizard: and then I laid before him a
wondrous magic-a large round disk
OF clear glass. convex on both sides.
For what purpose is this magic
good?" asked the lpge. politely
enough, but not exactly leaping with
enthusiasm.
Sunlight was available IN powerful
equatorial quantities right outside the
witch-doctor's door. There took
dry leaf and focused the glass on it.
1t was a very large ana , good lens.
Tn Sazp-,S -Io ff--fA -
trated heat smo,GereG. smoked and
burst into flame. The wizard c.apped
his hand 10 his mouth.
'Amn-mu. that is a very good
magic" said he.
And" said 7. y give you this
magic TO make friendship between US"
"Mm-mm. thea binle." muttered the
wizard. And what can I give kariwa
to make friendship"
Look" said. II am the friend OF
all the Tiquie people. Everything
that they do, do with them. hunt
with them. fish with them. I spear
the manatee with them: make music
with them. And therefore. Ipage." ]
concluded. II want also to make this
Jurupary- hunting with Them
"Mm-mm NM the wizard intoned
again. and squatted, thinking. Then:
Let us laIk OF OlneT lHlTBS, hdTlWd. |
I will talk with my brothers about
the hunting"
X X X
TN few days the wizard sent his
= carved stick down to our boat, and
! sent mine back, and he came and
was properly entertained on the pri-
vate yacht; and he told us that 1t
was all agreed.
The whole purpose of the thing, as
] have said. Is to fight the Jurupary,
the evil spirit that is the only concept
they have Of a supernatural being.
In its entirety ii Is protracted ordeal
consisting of three days OF continuous
dancing. accompanied by the drinking
OF the caapi drug that enboldens the
men to meet their devil face to face, |
and to show him that they are in no
way afraid Of him.
AS evening approaches. the men
for women mustn't touch caapi-sit
opposite one another in little groups
and intone long chant:
Now we are about to drink the
caapi Now we shall be brave. We
shall not fear the Jurupary when we
see him.
This goes on for an hour or so; and
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