60 OK THE VEGETABLE POISO:?^S OF THE SAMOAN ISLANDERS. 



food, aud thus surely effect her purpose. And however much 

 she might feign grief, the symptoms of the sufferer would at once 

 proclaim the cause and the author of his agonies and death ; for 

 men never resorted to such means of revenge. 



"W hen introduced into the system on the points of spears or 

 arrows, the effects were often diversified. In some instances the 

 local pain would be very severe, followed by general disturbance 

 of the system in two or three days, and ending in convulsions, 

 lock-jaw, and death. If the incisions were in such cases made at 

 an early stage, the patient might recover. 



In other instances the effects were more gradual and insidious, 

 causing at first but little local or constitutional disturbance, but 

 gradually inducing fever, convulsions, lock-jaw, and death. The 

 tetanus was one symptom of every fatal case. 



There were men who professed a knowledge of antidotes to the 



poison 



W 



against every thing which might startle him, as a very slight shock 

 would induce convulsions and lock-jaw, and render the case hope- 

 less. The antidotes were kept a secret by the craft ; but Pomare, 

 who had often been wounded, assured his son that his conviction 

 was that he had been saved, not by these antidotes, but by making 

 free incisions in different parts of his body, so as to allow the 

 escape of the poisoned blood. 



Upolu, Samoa, Oct. 1, 1876. 



