C18 WOU.RALI POISON. 



makes a noise almost as loud as a pop-gun when flying from 

 the muzzle. An expert Indian can propel arrows so as to 

 kill at a distance of fifty or sixty yards. It is more useful 

 in the forest than a gun, for the report of fire-arms alarms 

 the birds or monkeys, while the silent poisoned dart brings 

 them down one by one, until the sportsman has a heap of 

 slain by his side. 



WOURALI POISON. 



The wourali poison is made chiefly by the natives of the 

 northern part of the Amazonian valley. It is looked upon as 

 an important and somewhat mysterious operation. Waterton 

 and Schombergh describe it. The Indian, when preparing to 

 concoct this deadly compound, goes into the wilds where 

 grows a vine — the strychnos toxifera. After this he collects 

 a number of bundles, and then takes up a root with an especi- 

 ally bitter taste. After this he searches for two bulbous plants, 

 which contain a green and glutinous juice ; and lastly, collects 

 two species of ants — one very large and black, and so venom- 

 ous that its sting produces fever, and another little red ant 

 which stings like a nettle. Having scraped the wourali vine and 

 bitter root into thin shavings, he puts them into a sieve made 

 of leaves, which he holds over the earthen pot, pouring water 

 on them. A thick liquor comes through, having the appearance 

 of coffee. He then produces the bulbous stalks, and squeezes 

 a portion of the juice into the pot. He now adds the pounded 

 fangs of the labam and counacouchi snakes, — which he gener- 

 ally has in store, as well as the ants. The ingredients are 

 next boiled over a slow fire, and the scum being taken off*, the 

 liquid remains till it becomes reduced to a thick syrup of a 

 deep brown colour. It is now fit for use. The aiTows are 



