The North-West Amazons: Notes of some months spent among cannibal tribes

Chapter 51: APPENDIX VIII

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About This Book

The author recounts months of travel in upper Amazonian forests, combining natural-history observations with detailed ethnography of indigenous groups: settlement layout, material culture, agriculture, hunting, weapons, and crafts; social organization, marriage, kinship, law, and taboos; religious and magical beliefs, role of the shaman, funeral practices, and ceremonies; music, dances, myths, language features, and communication methods; practical aspects of travel, climate, flora and fauna, food, drugs and poisons, medicine, and warfare including rituals of anthropophagy. Chapters intersperse descriptive narrative, comparative notes, and appendices intended to aid students of cultural contact.

APPENDIX VIII

Oikommo is within the hofo,[451]

With our tribe there is Oikommo,

And whence cometh Oikommo,

And from where does he come?

He comes from the clouds,

From the clouds he comes;

And why does he come so far?

And why does he come?

In his land are no bread and few women

In his land is no bread;

And what is the name of the stranger,

And what is his name?

His name is Whiffena Ri-e-i,[452]

His name is Whiff-en-a,

And partly his name is Itoma,[453]

Itoma is also his name;

And what is he called by his man friends.

And what is his other name?

His privy name is Ei-fo-ke,[454]

Ei-fo-ke is his privy name;[455]

And why is he called Ei-fo-ke?