362 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



frame as themselves, but having tails more or less long (3 to 4 

 inches in length). This member is described as smooth and without 

 the power of motion. The Haoussas massacred these unfortunate peo- 

 ple, and among the slain were found the bodies of several females bear- 

 ing the same appendage. All were entirely naked. The Haoussas 

 remained six months in that country, which they describe as covered 

 with rocks of great height ; the greater part of the Niam-Niams lived 

 in caves, although sortie had built themselves huts of straw. They 

 cultivate rice, Indian corn, and other grain, unknown in the country 

 of the Haoussas. They have small oxen without horns, sheep, and 

 goats. The only thing in the shape of furniture which they possessed 

 were benches furnished with holes to accommodate their tails. This 

 region is situated south-west of Lake Tchad. 



" I saw seven or eight blacks who assured me that they had been on 

 these expeditions, that they had seen the tails, and had cut them off in 

 some instances, &c. .1 give the facts as they were stated to me, with- 

 out in the least being responsible for their truth." 



We afterwards find, in the minutes of the society, that on M. de Tre- 

 meax observing, (in answer to these remarks of M. de Castelnau,) that 

 during his residence in Soudan he had heard of certain tribes who 

 clothed themselves in the skins of animals, the tails of which passing 

 through their legs seemed to make part of the body, and that probably 

 such appearances had given rise to the report of the blacks, M. de Cas- 

 telnau added that in the accounts he had received it had been stated that 

 the Niam-Niams go naked, and that the blacks whose deposition he had 

 taken asserted that they had attentively examined those killed in bat- 

 tle, and found that they had real tails. M. de. Castelnau was then 

 requested to put in writing this interesting communication. .Bulletin 

 Geo. Soc. 4th series. 



ON THE ARSENIC-EATERS OF AUSTRIA. 



AT a late poisoning trial in Vienna, some curious facts were disclosed 

 relative to the existence of a class of persons who habitually, for various 

 reasons, eat arsenic. The following evidence in relation to the subject 

 is given by a Dr. Von Tschudi : "In some districts of Lower Aus- 

 tria, and in Styria, especially in those mountainous parts bordering on 

 Hungary, there prevails the strange habit of eating arsenic. The 

 peasantry in particular are given to it. They obtain it, under the name 

 of hedri, from the travelling hucksters and gatherers of herbs, who, on 

 their side, get it from the glass-blowers, or purchase it from the cow- 

 doctors, quacks, or mountebanks. The poison-eaters have a twofold aim. 

 in their dangerous enjoyment : one of which is to obtain a fresh, 

 healthy appearance, and acquire a certain degree of embonpoint. On 

 this account, therefore, gay village lads and lasses employ the danger- 

 ous agent, that they may become more attractive to each other ; and 

 it is really astonishing with what favorable results their endeavors are 

 attended, for it is just the youthful poison-eaters that are, generally 

 speaking, distinguised by a blooming complexion, and an appear- 



