30 FISHES OF WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA 
observed the introduction into streams of a poisonous liana (Paullinia pinnata), 
prepared by crushing into a pulp. Under the rather commonly used name timbé 
Orton discusses it (page 169). Kingston’s “‘liana’”’ (page 465), “poured from a 
calabash” is probably the same. Fleming observed the Indians whipping the 
water with a bush, name forgotten (page 153). 
One or more species of the leguminous genus Lonchocarpus have been reported 
as fish-poisons from a wide area. By im Thurn (page 233) L. densiflorus is des- 
ignated as the agent employed by Guiana Indians, who create pools for poisoning 
by constructing dams. In my own observation temporary dams were constructed of 
rock, brush, and earth (Fig. 12), not for creating pools, but to divert much of the 
water of a stream for the opposite purpose of reducing the volume to be poisoned. 
Im Thurn gives the name havari (Arawak) to the plant. Three others he names are: 
connamt (Clibadium aspersum), the seed of which is employed; haiari-balli (Mullera 
moniliformis); and yarro-conalli (Tephrosia toxicaria), used by the Macusis. Kahn 
was informed of a Lonchocarpus, the juice of which his Djukas extracted for poison- 
ing, and which they call nekku. 
Orton’s list of fish poisons includes an ‘evergreen bush, Jacquinia armillaris, 
and MacCreagh refers to the thorny-boled tree solyman and bush-barbasco (as 
though he had knowledge also of a vine-barbasco). Paez (page 432) mentions a 
poison only occasionally referred to by others, cuna, a Venezuelan name. It has a 
clover-like leaf, and a turnip-like bulb, and is obviously the Ovalis of other regions. 
The various authors give accounts of the matter which seem to be founded 
largely upon hearsay rather than careful observation. The name barbasco is 
loosely applied to several plants in different regions, of very different nature, the 
name being no more specific than the word ‘‘poison’’. Thus Paez calls it a vine 
(page 432), as does Up de Graff (page 204), while Grubb (page 34) calls it a crushed 
liana. 
Kigenmann (1912, page 39, figs. 10 and 11) took advantage of the custom of 
using timboé in British Guiana. 
On our arrival ‘‘on the hill” in Central Peru we were informed of the use by the 
inhabitants of a poisonous root called cubé (pronounced koo-bay), or barbasco. 
It was, furthermore, known to be imported by the people of the mountain region 
from the tropical lowlands for use as an insecticidal dip for stock. But due to its 
misapplication in the unlawful poisoning of streams, it was officially contraband, 
not only as to use, but even to possession and sale. We canvassed Oroya, Cerro 
de Pasco, and Junin in the hope of obtaining it for collecting purposes, but of 
course no one thus approached by strangers had ever heard of it. When Prof. 
Eigenmann reached Huancayo, and formed the acquaintance of Mr. Dennis, the 
director of the Methodist Mission school, the latter was able to make the necessary 
contacts. At his magic words, little stocks of cwbé began to come forth from beneath 
counters and back rooms in the little shops all around the town. With this supply 
we were enabled to collect in many streams of the highlands which otherwise would 
have yielded nothing. 
Two years later, returning via Lima and Oroya enroute to the lowlands of the 
interior, I also stopped off at Huancayo, and also visited Mr. Dennis. Again 
