Maguire • Exploration 



juice, extremely glutinous, drawn from 

 a tree with large leaves, called kiraca- 

 quero, is poured into the concentrated 

 infusion. At the instant, it blackens, 

 and coagulates into a mass of the con- 

 sistence of tar, or of a thick syrup. This 

 mass is the curare of commerce. 



The Indians consider the curare, 

 taken internally, as an excellent stom- 

 achic. At the Orinoco the curare de raiz 

 (of the roots) is distinguished from the 

 curare de bejuco (of lianas, or of the 

 bark of branches). We saw only the 

 latter prepared; the former is weaker. 



51 



and much less esteemed. Scarcely a 

 fowl is eaten on the banks of the Ori- 

 noco which has not been killed with 

 a poisoned arrow, and the missionaries 

 allege that the flesh of animals is never 

 so good as when this method is em- 

 ployed. Indians who have been 

 wounded in battle by weapons dipped 

 in the curare feel congestion in the 

 head, vertigo, and nausea. They are 

 tormented by a raging thirst, and 

 numbness pervades all the parts that 

 are near the wound. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Why did the Indians think curare was 3. Can the poison be taken internally? 

 superior to gunpowder? 



2. What part of the plant contains the "^^ ^ow is curare used to kill game? 

 poison? 



Bassett Maguire 



Exploration 



Reprinted with the permission of the author 

 and pubhsher from A.I.B.S. Bulletin 7(5): 

 14-17, 1957. 



"Exploration" is a term of broad ritories, to obtain new sources of basic 



concept and application. Historically, materials, and to seek out new geo- 



great voyages and travels have sought graphical and scientific knowledge, 



to establish trade routes, to acquire Perhaps the time of classic exploration 



land possessions, to open up new ter- marked by such heroic episodes as the 



