72 WANDERINGS IN 



FIRST Q n taking a retrospective view of the two 



JOURNEY. f 



different kinds of poisoned arrows, and the animals 



General ob- 

 servations, destroyed by them, it would appear that the 



quantity of poison must be proportioned to the 

 animal, and thus those probably labour under an 

 error who imagine that the smallest particle of it 

 introduced into the blood has almost instantaneous 

 effects. 



Make an estimate of the difference in size be- 

 twixt the fowl and the ox, and then weigh a 

 sufficient quantity of poison for a blow-pipe arrow, 

 with which the fowl was killed, and weigh also 

 enough poison for three wild-hog arrows, which 

 destroyed the ox, and it will appear that the fowl 

 received much more poison in proportion than the 

 ox. Hence the cause why the fowl died in five 

 minutes, and the ox in five and twenty. 



Indeed, were it the case that the smallest par- 

 ticle of it introduced into the blood has almost 

 instantaneous effects, the Indian would not find 

 it necessary to make the large arrow ; that of the 

 blow-pipe is much easier made, and requires less 

 poison. 



Antidotes. And now for the antidotes, or rather the sup- 

 posed antidotes. The Indians tell you, that if 

 the wounded animal be held for a considerable 

 time up to the mouth in water, the poison will 

 not prove fatal; also that the juice of the sugar- 

 cane poured down the throat will counteract the 

 effects of it. These antidotes were fairly tried 



