(probably a corruption of the word Carib), an anthropophagite or human being that eats human flesh. A tribe of this name inhabited a part of the Antilles before the arrival of the Spaniards, who destroyed nearly the entire race. In the island of St Vincent, where their numbers were originally very large, their descendants are still to be found greatly reduced in power, and considerably modified in character. They are, in general, downcast and given up to idleness and day-dreams. They have dark-olive complexions, and flat brows and nostrils. They are well-made, however, and possess great strength and powers of endurance. When roused from their usual apathy, they make excellent warriors, and are peculiarly formidable from their skill in archery. Their arrows are made in such a manner, that they cannot be extracted from the body against which they have been aimed without tearing the wound, and are, besides, dipped in the deadly juice of the manchineel. Polygamy is universal among them. As they have always been represented as in the habit of roasting and eating the flesh of their prisoners, their name has passed into a proverb in all languages. It is not altogether established whether they indulged in this horrid practice from the difficulty of obtaining more legitimate means of subsistence, or from a cruel desire to take the most complete vengeance over their enemies. The Caribs, however, were far from being the only savages among whom the custom prevailed. Among certain tribes of North American Indians, the flesh of conquered enemies was consumed on principle; and the greatest luxury which a successful warrior could enjoy, was the heart of some brave chief whom he had slain in battle. Considerable diversities of taste, however, prevailed among the savages in different parts of the world, as to the most delicate portions of the human frame. Among the South Sea Islanders, the palm of the hand, especially of a young girl, was long looked upon as the most dainty morsel; while the New Zealanders gave a decided preference to the foot. The epicures among the Feejee Islanders were said to regard with great aversion the flesh of the civilized white man; and instances are on record, in which they are reported to have spared the crews of English and French ships wrecked on their coasts, as they had found by experience that the flesh of such persons was tainted to an unpalatable extent by the savour of salt and tobacco.