56 BEV. T. POWELL ON THE YEGETaBLE 



points made of them were often very short, in order to have them 

 perfectly straight. These, however, were considered the choicest. 



For a saw they used the spines of the large Echinus. To make 

 these answer this purpose, two sharp edges were formed on each 

 by rubbing it on stones. Each spine, therefore, M^as equal to two 

 saws. A goodly number of these were needed, as they soon be- 

 came dull. 



The points, when finished, were inserted into a cane shaft made 

 of a species probably of Joinvillea^ aad fastened in the same way 

 as the spear-points. They were then ready for the application of 

 the poison. 



Frepai^ation of tlie Poison* — In this preparation a great num- 

 ber of poisonous plants were used — different plants by different 

 persons. Three, however, were used in common. 



1. The most virulent of all is called on Efat Na Toto ; na is 

 the article, toto the noun. This is a large tree, which my informant 

 compares to a Calo'pTiyllum InopJiyllum. Inflorescence abundant, 

 white. Emit a drupe, about the size of an almond, dark red 

 when ripe, attached to a long peduncle. Every part of the tree 

 is a virulent poison. When cut, a white milk exudes from it, 

 which causes blindness when brought into contact with the eyes. 

 Its sap, when introduced into the circulation, causes death. Of 

 both these effects my informant gave me a memorable illustration, 

 of which his own mother was an eye-witness. She was a Samoan, 

 and one of a party who, with a number of Tongans, were drifted 

 from Samoa in a double canoe to the New Hebrides about fifty 

 years ago. They landed on the western end of Efat and acted 

 the part of freebooters. Again embarking, they proceeded east- 

 ward, calling at several villages and acting in the same way, in- 

 tending finally to make their way back to Samoa. At a place 

 called Mole, near Eraker, the people, expecting a visit from these 

 depredators, prepared for them in a way which they little sus- 

 pected. They had, as is common in similar places, an enclosure 

 of water on the beach which at low tide served both for drinking 

 and bathing. They pounded a quantity of the leaves of the toto 

 previously dried in an oven ; and when they saw the canoe coming 

 they threw these pounded leaves into the bathing-place. As soon 

 as the canoe anchored, most of the crew, after native fashion, 

 rushed to the fresh water to drink and to bathe. They were im- 

 mediately thrown into convulsive agonies : those who only bathed 

 became blind ; and those who drank died. The survivors settled 



