

WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 113 



Ara are seen in great abundance. Here, too, grows the tree 

 from which the gum-elastic is got : it is large, and as tall 

 as any in the forest. The wood has much the appearance 

 of sycamore. The gum is contained in the bark : when that 

 is cut through, it oozes out very freely : it is quite white, 

 and looks as rich as cream : it hardens almost immediately 

 as it issues from the tree ; so that it is very easy to collect 

 a ball, by forming the juice into a globular shape as fast 

 as it comes out : it becomes nearly black by being exposed 

 to the air, and is real India-rubber without undergoing 

 any process. 



The elegant crested bird called Cock of the Rock, 

 admirably described by Buffon, is a native of the woody 

 mountains of Macoushia. In the daytime, he retires amongst 

 the darkest rocks, and only comes out to feed a little 

 before sunrise, and at sunset : he is of a gloomy disposition, 

 and, like the houtou, never associates with the other birds 

 of the forest. 



The Indians, in the just-mentioned settlement, seemed 

 to depend more on the wourali-poison for killing their 

 game than upon anything else. They had only one gun, 

 and it appeared rusty and neglected; but their poisoned 

 weapons were in fine order. Their blow-pipes hung from 

 the roof of the hut, carefully suspended by a silk-grass 

 cord; and on taking a nearer view of them, no dust 

 seemed to have collected there, nor had the spider spun 

 the smallest web on them ; which showed that they were 

 in constant use. The quivers were close by them, with 

 the jaw-bone of the fish Pirai tied by a string to their 

 brim, and a small wicker-basket of wild cotton, which 

 hung down to the centre ; they were nearly full of poisoned 

 arrows. It was with difficulty these Indians could be 

 persuaded to part with any of the wourali-poison, though a 

 good price was offered for it ; they gave me to understand 



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