FIRST JOURNEY. 45 



"Wishful to obtain the best information concerning 

 this poison, and as repeated inquiries, in lieu of dissi- 

 pating the surrounding shade, did but tend more and 

 more to darken the little light that existed ; I deter- 

 mined to penetrate into the country where the poisonous 

 ingredients grow, where this pernicious composition is 

 prepared, and where it is constantly used. Success 

 attended the adventure ; and the information acquired 

 made amends for one hundred and twenty days passed 

 in the solitudes of Guiana, and afforded a balm to the 

 wounds and bruises which every traveller must expect 

 to receive who wanders through a thorny and obstructed 

 path. 



Thou must not, courteous reader, expect a disserta- 

 tion on the manner in which the wourali poison ope- 

 rates on the system ; a treatise has been already written 

 on the subject, and, after all, there is probably still 

 reason to doubt. It is supposed to affect the nervous 

 system, and thus destroy the vital functions ; it is also 

 said to be perfectly harmless, provided it does not 

 touch the blood. However, this is certain, when a suf- 

 ficient quantity of it enters the blood, death is the 

 inevitable consequence ; but there is no alteration in 

 the colour of the blood, and both the blood and flesh 

 may be eaten with safety. 



All that thou wilt find here is a concise, unadorned 

 account of the wourali poison. It may be of service to 

 thee some time or other, shouldst thou ever travel 

 through the wilds where it is used. Neither attribute 

 to cruelty, nor to a want of feeling for the sufferings 

 of the inferior animals, the ensuing experiments. The 

 larger animals were destroyed in order to have proof 

 positive of the strength of a poison which hath hitherto 



