50 Remarks on the Worari and Sirvatan. 



I have made no attempt to place the strata in the order of 

 nature, for sufficient reasons. In the first class, there is no 

 order in nature ; there is none in the coal series. In the fifth 

 class, the order of England is an order among varieties which are 

 excluded by the arrangement. In the seventh, the same is 

 true. I could gladly have extended the minute commentaries 

 on some of the names ; but that was inconsistent with the 

 tabular form ; and as I have now exceeded the prescribed 

 bounds of this paper, I cannot venture to add them in any 

 manner. 



Remarks on the Worari and Sirvatan, 



Centuries have now elapsed since this dreaded weapon, which 

 takes away life like a magic wand, without causing the slightest 

 pang, became known to Europeans, in its effects at least. It 

 is strange, therefore, that the subject should still remain in- 

 volved in such profound mystery, with regard to the poison, 

 the mavacuri plant, which affords it, and that instrument, the 

 sirvatan or blow-pipe, through which it is propelled upon the 

 victim. 



The question, what plant affords the worari poison, involves, 

 I presume, one of the most interesting inquiries in the whole 

 department of natural history at the present day, and deserves 

 from us a particular and attentive investigation. 



Having examined the Mandavacs, Francisco and Domingo, 

 two intelligent Indians, who were born and bred on the spot, 

 of the tribe most famed for producing the most active worari, 

 and who lived in the vicinity of the mountains which produce 

 both the deadly poison and the instrument of its conveyance, 

 I have received from them separately a most correct and satis- 

 factory account of this affair. 



These Indians stated, that, both for the mavacuri and sarsa, 

 they go up the Siapo and contiguous streams, or about the 

 mountains of Unturan and of Achivucary, as observed by 

 Humboldt*. 



* They persist that there is no sarsa in Cassiquiari nor in the Rio Negro. 



