420 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 



remaining fumes, but now he must shake off his 

 drowsiness by renewing the dance. 



I had gone with the full intention of experiment- 

 ing the caapi on myself, but I had scarcely dis- 

 patched one cup of the nauseous beverage, which 

 is but half a dose, when the ruler of the feast- 

 desirous, apparently, that I should taste all his 

 delicacies at once came up with a woman bearing 

 a large calabash of caxiri (mandiocca-beer), of which 

 I must needs take a copious draught, and as I knew 

 the mode of its preparation, it was gulped down 

 with secret loathing. Scarcely had I accomplished 

 this feat when a large cigar, 2 feet long and as 

 thick as the wrist, was put lighted into my hand, 

 and etiquette demanded that I should take a few 

 whiffs of it /, who had never in my life smoked a 

 cigar or a pipe of tobacco. Above all this, I must 

 drink a large cup of palm-wine, and it will readily 

 be understood that the effect of such a complex dose 

 was a strong inclination to vomit, which was only 

 overcome by lying down in a hammock and drink- 

 ing a cup of coffee which the friend who accom- 

 panied me had taken the precaution to prepare 

 beforehand. 



White men who have partaken of caapi in the 

 proper way concur in the account of their sensations 

 under its influence. They feel alternations of cold 

 and heat, fear and boldness. The sight is disturbed, 

 and visions pass rapidly before the eyes, wherein 

 everything gorgeous and magnificent they have 

 heard or read of seems combined ; and presently 

 the scene changes to things uncouth and horrible. 

 These are the general symptoms, and intelligent 

 traders on the Upper Rio Negro, Uaupes, and 



