WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 79 



skin, tied round with a cord. They keep it in the 

 most dry part of the hut ; and from time to time 

 suspend it over the fire, to counteract the effects 

 of dampness. 



The act of preparing this poison is not consid- 

 ered as a common one: the savage may shape his 

 bow, fasten the barb on the point of his arrow, 

 and make his other implements of destruction, 

 either lying in his hammock, or in the midst of his 

 family; but, if he has to prepare the wourali- 

 poison, many precautions are supposed to be nec- 

 essary. 



The women and young girls are not allowed to 

 be present, lest the Yabahou, or evil spirit, should 

 do them harm. The shed under which it has been 

 boiled is pronounced polluted, and abandoned 

 ever after. He who makes the poison must eat 

 nothing that morning, and must continue fasting 

 as long as the operation lasts. The pot in which 

 it is boiled must be a new one, and must never 

 have held anything before, otherwise the poison 

 would be deficient in strength: add to this, that 

 the operator must take particular care not to ex- 

 pose himself to the vapour which arises from it 

 while on the fire. 



Though this and other precautions are taken, 

 such as frequently washing the face and hands, 

 still the Indians think that it affects the health; 

 and the operator either is, or, what is more prob- 

 able, supposes himself to be, sick for some days 

 after. 



Thus it appears that the making the wourali- 

 poison is considered as a gloomy and mysterious 

 operation; and it would seem that they imagine 



