66 WANDERINGS IN 



FIR8T an inch deep, is then made in the end of this piece 



JOURNEY. 



of hard wood, done tight round with cotton to 



keep it from splitting. Into this square hole is 

 fitted a spike of Coucourite wood, poisoned, and 

 which may be kept there, or taken out at plea- 

 sure. A joint of bamboo, about as thick as your 

 finger, is fitted on over the poisoned spike, to pre- 

 vent accidents, and defend it from the rain, and 

 is taken off when the arrow is about to be used. 

 Lastly, two feathers are fastened on the other end 

 of the reed to steady it in its flight. 



Besides his bow and arrows, the Indian carries 

 a little box made of bamboo, which holds a dozen 

 Spikes. or fifteen poisoned spikes, six inches long. They 

 are poisoned in the following manner : a small 

 piece of wood is dipped in the poison, and with 

 this they give the spike a first coat. It is then 

 exposed to the sun or fire. After it is dry it 

 receives another coat, and then dried again ; after 

 this a third coat, and sometimes a fourth. 



They take great care to put the poison on 

 thicker at the middle than at the sides, by which 

 means the spike retains the shape of a two-edged 

 sword. It is rather a tedious operation to make 

 one of these arrows complete ; and as the Indian 

 is not famed for industry, except when pressed by 

 hunger, he has hit upon a plan of preserving his 

 arrows which deserves notice. 



About a quarter of an inch above the part 

 where the Coucourite spike is fixed into the square 



