substances found in Guiana. 235 



M. Humboldt speaks of this product as consisting of di- 

 vers kinds. At the page just cited he has a note of inquiry, 

 " Are not the substances known by this name (Carana) at the 

 Orinoko partly gums ? I was assured at Esmeralda, that sa- 

 vage nations living to the east of the high mountains of Duida 

 eat the Carana. This name is given to very different plants.'- 



The cause of disappointment and error here chiefly arose 

 from M. Humboldt's being surrounded by people who regard- 

 ed the Carana only as an article of traffic, who considered his 

 inquiries as having no other aim ; and, in answering these 

 inquiries, were ambitious only of giving information of every 

 thing that could possibly answer for Carana, for stopping ca- 

 noes, or to send to Angostura for sale ; for these they heap 

 together from every tree that affords a gummy resinous exu- 

 dation. M. Humboldt has hence confounded the Carana, the 

 Mani, Hyowa, Courucay, and several resinous substances which 

 are as yet undefined. 



Of the true Carana there is but one kind, viz. the Ackaiari 

 of the Caribes and Macosis. 



This gum resin possesses much bitterness which seems to 

 reside in an extractive principle, but is not well determined. 



The Indians make use of it principally in two ways ; either 

 as medicine or as a perfume. 



For the latter purpose they mix it with the paint and oil 

 which they use for anointing their bodies ; being in a recent 

 state either soluble or miscible in oils. 



As a medicine, they use it for catarrhal defluxions, coughs, 

 and affections of the lungs, inhaling the fumes arising from 

 its combustion ; and it is spoken of by the upper Indians as a 

 sovereign remedy in such complaints. 



The coloured people of the Essequebo say, that, melted 

 with oil, it makes an excellent plaster, both for recent cuts and old 

 ulcers ; and it is certainly true that the pure Carana melted with 

 a little tallow, forms an ointment of a most healing nature ; 

 but as it contains, besides resin and essential oil, a portion of 

 gummy and extractive matter, it will not at all dissolve with 

 the grease. It should therefore be strained whilst hot, and 

 the residue rejected. — These remarks are equally applicable 

 to the Hyozm gnm, which also forms a choice ointment. 



