INDIAN BITTEN BY A SNAKE. 225 



munication. They cultivate cassava, plantains, and CIIAP.XVIIL 



sometimes maize ; but shift from place to place, so that ^ , r~ . 

 ., ,-11 ^1 1 , , . . , Cultivation, 



they entirely lose the advantages resulting m other 



countries from agricultural habits. They have two 

 great objects of worship, — the good principle, Cachimana, 

 who regulates the seasons and favours the harvests ; and 

 the evil principle, Jolokiamo, less powerful, but more 

 active and artful. They have no idols ; but the botuto, 

 or sacred trumpet, is an oliject of veneration, the initia- 

 tion into the mysteries of which requires pure manners 

 and a single life. Women are not permitted to see it, 

 and are excluded from all the ceremonies of this religion. 



It took the Indians more than four days to drag the Bite of a 

 boat upon rollers to the Rio Fimichin. One of them, a *"^®' 

 tall strong man, was bitten by a snake, and was brought 

 to the mission in a very alarming condition. He had 

 dropped down senseless, and was afterwards seized with 

 nausea, vertigo, and a determination of blood to the head, 

 but was cured by an infusion of raiz de mato ; respecting 

 the plant furnishing which, Humboldt could obtain no Ciuo. 

 satisfactory information, although he supposes it to be of 

 the family of Apocynese. In the hut of this individual 

 he observed balls of an earthy and impure salt, two or 

 three inches in diametei*. It is obtained by reducing to 

 ashes the spadix and fruit of a palm-tree, and consists 

 of muriate of potash and soda, caustic lime, and otlier 

 ingredients. The Indians dissolve a few grains in water, 

 which they drop on their food. 



On the 5th May the travellers setoff on foot to follow Dangerous 

 their canoe. They had to ford numerous streams, the ^"'^'^ 

 passage of which was somewhat dangerous on account 

 of the number of snakes in the marshes. After passing 

 through dense forests of lofty trees, among which they 

 noted several new species of coffee and other plants, they 

 arrived toward evening at a small farm on the Pimichin, 

 where they passed the night in a deserted hut, not 

 without apprehension of being bitten by serpents, as 

 they were obliged to lie on the floor. Before they took 

 possession of this shed their attendants killed two great 



