OF THE AMAZON. 41 



breath more readily fills the whole tube and propels the 

 arrow with great velocity. The vertical direction is 

 that in which the surest aim can be taken, and for 

 which the gravatana is best adapted. When birds are 

 feeding at the top of a lofty tree where the result of a 

 gun-shot would be doubtful, a skilful Indian will take 

 his station beneath it, and with a puff from his powerful 

 lungs, will send up his little poisoned arrows with un- 

 erring aim. The w T ounded birds sometimes turn giddy 

 and drop in a few seconds, or fly away to a neighbour- 

 ing tree and in a minute fall heavily to the ground, or 

 try to pluck out the arrows with their beaks, which, 

 however, invariably break in the wound. The hunter 

 carefully marks the direction in which each one falls, 

 and when his quiver is emptied of arrows or the tree 

 of birds, walks round and gathers up the game. His 

 weapon makes no noise, and he therefore often does 

 more execution than the best European sportsman 

 armed with his double-barrel Manton. 



On Plate XV. fig. 1. is a fruit of the natural size; 

 fig. 2. is the gravatana or Indian blowpipe. 



