SOUTH AMERICA. 73 



upon full-grown healthy fowls, but they all died, 

 as though no steps had been taken to preserve 

 their lives. Rum was recommended, and given 

 to another, but with as little success. 



It is supposed by some, that wind introduced 

 into the lungs by means of a small pair of bellows, 

 would revive the poisoned patient, provided the 

 operation be continued for a sufficient length of 

 time. It may be so ; but this is a difficult and 

 a tedious mode of cure, and he who is wounded in 

 the forest, far away from his friends, or in the hut 

 of the savages, stands but a poor chance of being 

 saved by it. 



Had the Indians a sure antidote, it is likely 

 they would carry it about with them, or resort to 

 it immediately after being wounded, if at hand; 

 and their confidence in its efficacy would greatly 

 diminish the horror they betray when you point 

 a poisoned arrow at them. 



One day while we were eating a red monkey, 

 erroneously called the baboon, in Demerara, an 

 Arowack Indian told an affecting story of what 

 happened to a comrade of his. He was present 

 at his death. As it did not interest this Indian 

 in any point to tell a falsehood, it is very pro- 

 bable that his account was a true one. If so, it 

 appears that there is no certain antidote, or, at 

 least, an antidote that could be resorted to in 

 a case of urgent need; for the Indian gave up 

 all thoughts of life as soon as he was wounded. 



FIRST 

 JOURNEY. 



