POISOKS USED BY THE SAMOAN ISLANDEH. 59 



The fine dust of an old piece of Casimrina equisetifolia, 

 Einely powdered dust of accumulations formed by a 



species of wasp. 

 To be well rubbed together. 



Add the putrid liquid of HolotJiuria vittatay sufficient 

 to form a thin paste, and evaporate all humidity. Add 

 the expressed juice of an old cocoa-nut ; stir frequently 

 for about a month till the mass becomes a dark cloudy 

 oil ; bottle and preserve for twelve months, when it will 

 be fit for use. 



Hon of the Foison to the Points of the Spears and Arrows. 



When about to apply the poison to the points a kind of kiln 

 was prepared for smoking them. One hole was made in the 

 ground in a slanting direction, and another perpendicularly to 

 serve as a chimney. lu the slanting one was made a fire of the 

 Casuarina w^ood. The spears and arrows already prepared were 

 placed ready at hand. A bottle of the poison was taken down, 

 and a small portion taken out on the point of a stick ; this was care- 

 fully rubbed on the bone point of the spear or arrow, which was 

 then held over the smoke ascending from the chimney. Having 

 been well smoked, it was carefully placed upon a rack over the 

 common fire-place. A large number were prepared in this way 

 at one time. 



When 



pinnatif% 



and protected, the arrows were tied in bundles and placed in a 

 quiver formed of one of the cylindrical layers of the trunk of the 

 Banana, and again hung up over the fire-place to keep them dry. 

 They were thus ready for use or for sale whenever needed. It 

 will be observed that from first to last great care was used to 

 exclude humidity. The reason of this may be that humidity 

 destroys the virulence of the poison ; and hence the comparative 

 harmlessness of the poison of such arrows as have been obtained 

 as specimens by gentlemen of war- vessels and others. 



The points of the spears were carefully preserved from injury 

 in the spathe of the Mountain Plantain {Musa troglodytarum, 



Linn.). 



Effects of the Poison and tie Means of Cure 

 taken internally, was always fatal. Hence occasionally a woman 

 when determined to get rid of a hated husband, would scrape off 

 the poison from the point of an arrow, put it in her husband's 



Th 



