xxvn THE GENTLE ART OF POISONING 245 



The most widely used is that brewed from the 

 inner bark of the mwavie tree, of which there are 

 two species, very similar in appearance, the one 

 being distinguished from the other by a slight 

 difference in the leaves. The commoner species of 

 mwavie is used for the poison ordeals, and the effect 

 depends upon the quantity administered, a small 

 dose causing death, but a large one only inducing 

 violent vomiting, which obviates a fatal issue. The 

 other species (also extracted from the inner bark of 

 the tree) is used by the tribes inhabiting the regions 

 about Lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika, and is called 

 lepunganonie by the Angoni. A dose of this poison 

 means certain death, but it has this distinctive 

 quality when inserted in native beer and left for 

 two or three hours, it imparts a reddish tinge to the 

 liquor and thus discloses its presence. The 

 powdered bark, however, is almost colourless 

 and tasteless, and, when mixed with food, defies 

 detection. 



Another most virulent poison is procured by 

 reducing the roots of the manyanga shrub to a 

 powder, but it has one defective quality as far as its 

 use by natives is concerned, i.e., it exudes a most 

 obnoxious odour. Unfortunately, it is so deadly 

 that a small dose mixed in beer or food may pass 

 undetected, and death will ensue in about two hours 

 after consumption. 



