FISH POISONS — KILI^IP AND SMITH 405 



Spanisli-speaking countries, was applied to all fish poisons, though 

 Lonchocai'pus nicou was soniotinies ,si)()ken of as havhasco Icgitimo. 

 The word harhasco is said to bo derived from Ycrhascum^ a genus of 

 Scrophulariaceous plants used formerly in Spain ami other European 

 countries as fish poisons. From this we have also t »iJ>arha.<icar, to 

 fish with poisonous plants, and barha^scaJ, a plantation ui)on which 

 fish poisons are grown. 



The harhaj^caJcs of Lonchorarpxtfi nicou vary greatly in size from 

 small rlearings of 2.") (o 100 i)lants, intended to meet the wants of 

 a single Indian and his family, to large plantings of as many as 

 10.000 trees, the .source of supjily for a whole neighborhood. This 

 species grows best in fairly open, well-diained, sandy soil, and is 

 propagated by means of cuttings, a piece of the stem about a foot 

 long being placed horizontally a few inches below the surface. The 

 cuttings grow rapidly, and at the end of the fourth year the plants 

 may be as much as 15 feet high. In general appearance they greatly 

 resemble coffee plants, the individual leaflets, indeed, having much 

 the shape of the leaves of Coffnca arahrca. There is a central main 

 stem or trunk, which in the young stages of growth is erect. Later, 

 if there is a tree trunk available for support, the uppvr part of the 

 stem may bend toward it and climb upward to a height of 50 feet 

 or more. This accounts for the varying descriptions of cube given 

 during the early part of our trip as a tree and a vine. The roots 

 are usually dug at the end of the second, third, or fourth year. 

 The root system of a single individual is very large; one from a 

 plant 2 years old weighed 3 pounds when fresh and II/2 pounds 

 when dry. 



In spite of prohibitions concerning it, harhasco is used by both 

 aborigines and Spanish-Peruvians. It was our good fortune to 

 attend a fishing party whicii took place on one of the streams empty- 

 ing into the Huallaga. Such an affair is an occasion for gayety 

 and excitement. An arm of the stream or a small lagoon wliere 

 the current is not swift is chosen and on the appointed morning 

 two or three hundred people assemble. Some come from consid- 

 erable distance, afoot or by canoe. The canoes are substantial 

 craft made of a single tree trunk capable of carrying several 

 people. 



Some participants bring large baskets of harhasco roots, others 

 who are less provident come empty-handed to enjoy the fun or to 

 get an undeserved share of fish. Many families make temporary 

 camps along the shore, and everyone is in good humor. The hai-hasco 

 is chopped into small pieces with a machete and .several basket fuls 

 are emptied into each canoe. It is then covered with water until 

 the canoe is about a qnartei- full. The men and boys tread this 

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