CHAPTER III 



Having now followed the Indian in the chase, 

 and described the poison, let us take a nearer view 

 of its action, and observe a large animal expiring 

 under the weight of its baneful virulence. 



Many have doubted the strength of the wourali- 

 poison. Should they ever by chance read what 

 follows, probably their doubts on that score will 

 be settled for ever. 



In the former experiment on the hog, some faint 

 resistance on the part of nature was observed, 

 as if existence struggled for superiority; but in 

 the following instance of the sloth, life sank in 

 death without the least apparent contention, with- 

 out a cry, without a struggle, and without a groan. 

 This was an Ai, or three-toed Sloth. It was in 

 the possession of a gentleman who was collecting 

 curiosities. He wished to have it killed, in order 

 to preserve the skin, and the wourali-poison was 

 resorted to as the easiest death. 



Of all animals, not even the toad and tortoise 

 excepted, this poor ill-formed creature is the most 

 tenacious of life. It exists long after it has re- 

 ceived wounds which would have destroyed any 

 other animal; and it may be said, on seeing a 

 mortally-wounded sloth, that life disputes with 

 death every inch of flesh in its body. 



The Ai was wounded in the leg, and put down 

 on the floor, about two feet from the table ; it con- 



uo 



