. Bulletin. Ethnology. TAYtOR] THE CARIBS OF DOMINICA 125 serted (fig. 12). It is known as an/'attrappe-la-main," or "wife ; They also make two toy figures from strands of split coconut palm. One, accordeonlike and sometimes several feet long, they call a "musique" (fig. 13) (Roth found these among the Guiana Indian children, who call it a rattle); the other, known as "soufHette" (or whistle) strangely resembles in miniature the large trumpets of spirally rolled manjagua bark from the Rio Uaupes, de- scribed by Roth. Perhaps one reason why the Carib ch
. Bulletin. Ethnology. TAYtOR] THE CARIBS OF DOMINICA 125 serted (fig. 12). It is known as an/'attrappe-la-main," or "wife ; They also make two toy figures from strands of split coconut palm. One, accordeonlike and sometimes several feet long, they call a "musique" (fig. 13) (Roth found these among the Guiana Indian children, who call it a rattle); the other, known as "soufHette" (or whistle) strangely resembles in miniature the large trumpets of spirally rolled manjagua bark from the Rio Uaupes, de- scribed by Roth. Perhaps one reason why the Carib child does not "waste" energy in play is that he or she is expected at an early age to exert himself or herself to help the parents with their tasks: Carrying up water from the river, running errands, and so on. Later they work in the provision grounds, catch crayfish, and cut or carry louarouman from the woods for basket making—and all this in conjunc- tion with supposedly daily attendance at school. I have seen girls of 12 sent oft' with a nine-hand bunch of bananas (70 pounds or more) on their heads, carry it without any rest over 10 miles of rough hilly road, and return some hours later witli a heavy basket load of provi- sions. Nor is this to be regarded as the result of unkindness: the parents unpose much harder tasks upon themselves, and are ignorant of the require- ments of immaturity. What wonder, then, if such premature labor, often coupled with an insuffi- ciency of sleep and nourishment, result in a small- statured race who mature late (the average age for puberty in girls is 15) and grow old early? The Carib children of Dominica undoubtedly owe such health and strength as they possess to a sound stock, to their daily baths in the river pools, and to the sun's rays that constantly embrace their little bodies; but I very much doubt whether their lot, today at any rate, is as enviable as Ober supposed it to Figure 12.—"Attrappe-la- main" or
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