SOUTH AMERICA. 61 



and the pulp inside is easily extracted, by steeping F1RST 



. X J 3 JOURNEY. 



it for a few days in water. 



Thus the ourah and samourah, one within the 

 other, form the blow-pipe of Guiana. The end 

 which is applied to the mouth is tied round with 

 a small silk grass cord, to prevent its splitting ; 

 and the other end, which is apt to strike against 

 the ground, is secured by the seed of the acuero 

 fruit, cut horizontally through the middle, with a 

 hole made in the end, through which is put the 

 extremity of the blow-pipe. It is fastened on 

 with string on the outside, and the inside is filled 

 up with wild bees'-wax. 



The arrow is from nine to ten inches long. It The arrow. 

 is made out of the leaf of a species of palm-tree, 

 called Coucourite, hard and brittle, and pointed as 

 sharp as a needle. About an inch of the pointed 

 end is poisoned. The other end is burnt, to make 

 it still harder, and wild cotton is put round it for 

 about an inch and a half. It requires consider- 

 able practice to put on this cotton well. It must 

 just be large enough to fit the hollow of the tube, 

 and taper off to nothing downwards. They tie it 

 on with a thread of the silk grass, to prevent its 

 slipping off the arrow. 



The Indians have shown ingenuity in making a The quiver, 

 quiver to hold the arrows. It will contain from 

 five to six hundred. It is generally from twelve 

 to fourteen inches long, and in shape resembles a 

 dice-box used at backgammon. The inside is 



