ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



5«3 



mentioned: and as the lobe increafes in length, fo likewife does it in magnitude. 

 Others paint fome parts of their bodies ; fome the whole. All have fomething peculiar ' ' 

 in their modes and cuftoms, but generally of fuch a nature, that Europeans wonder 

 how they could ever enter the thoughts of rational creatures. * 



After defcrlbing this great river, and giving an account of the villages and nations 

 near its banks, I fhall proceed to fome other particularities relating to it ; as the ex- 

 traordinary fpecles of fifli found in its waters, and likewife the birds and other animals 

 feen In the adjacent countries through which it flows. Among the various kinds of 

 fifli, are two of an amphibious nature ; the caymans or alligators, and the tortoife, 

 which fwarm on the fhores and iflands. Its tortoifes, for tafte, are preferred to thofe 

 of the fea. Another remarkable fifh here is the pexe-buey, or fea-cow, fo called from 

 its refembling the land quadruped of that name. This is one of the largefl fpecies 

 known in the river, being generally three or four yards in length, and of a proportional 

 thicknefs : the flefli is very palatable, and, according to fome, has pretty much the ^ 

 tafte of beef. It feeds on the herbage growing along the fhore, but the ftru£ture of 

 its body does not admit of Its coming out of the water. The female has dugs for 

 fuckling its young ; and whatever fome may have faid of any farther refemblance to 

 the terreftrial fpecles of that name, it has neither horns nor legs. It has Indeed two 

 fins, which ferve equally for fwimming, and fupporting itfelf on the banks whilft feed- 

 ing. The general method of the Indians for fidimg. Is with inebriating herbs, like that 

 I have mentioned on the river Guayaquil. On fome occafions they make ufe of arrows 

 dipped in poifon, of fuch an adivity, that the flighteft wound immediately kills the 

 fifli. This is alfo their method of hunting ; and In both they are fo very expert and 

 aftive, that they are very feldom known to mifs their aim. This powerful venom is 

 principally the juice of a bejuco, near fix fingers broad, and flat on both fides, of a 

 brownifli colour, and growing in very damp marfhy places. In order to prepare 

 the poifon, they cut It into pieces, which they brulfe and boil in water. On taking it 

 off the fire, they add to it a particular ingredient which caufes a coagulation. With 

 this they rub the point of their arrows; and when dry, for want of frefli undion, ^ 



they molften it with their fpittle : the quality of it is fo frigorlfic, that it immediately 

 repels all the blood to the heart, where the veflels burft, being unable to contain fuch yU:Ur> 

 a torrent as fuddenly ruflies into them. But what is moft furprifing here, is, that the 

 creature thus killed, and its coagulated blood, are eaten without any inconveniency. 

 The moft powerful antidote to this venom is, immediately to eat fugar: but this 

 fpecific, though often falutary, is not infallible, as feveral melancholy inftances have 

 demonftrated. 



The borders and parts adjacent to this famous river, as well as thofe contiguous to 

 the others which difcharge their waters into it, abound with large and lofiy trees, the 

 wood of which is of different colours ; fome white, others of a dark brown ; fome red, 

 or veined with variety of colours. Some of another fpecies diftll balfams of an exqui- 

 fite fragrancy, or rare and medicinal gums ; others are noted for their delicious and 

 falubrious fruits. Among thefe the wild cacoa, by the mere goodnefs of the foil, with- 

 out any culture, grows in the greateft plenty, and yields fruit of a goodnefs equal to 

 that in the jurlfdidion of Jean and Quixos. Here alfo are gathered great quantities of 

 ■ farfaparilla, vanillas, and a bark called Declavo, or cloves : for though it refembles 



* Another remarkable cuftom is, that of their tying their privities in a bladder before they go into 

 the water. A. 



VOL. XIV. 3 u cinnamon 



