INDIAN- FEAST. 235 



named kiracaguera. At the moment when this addition CHAP. xix. 



is made to the fluid, now kept in a state of ebulHtion, .r — ,. 



the whole blackens, and coagulates into a substance poison. 



resembling tar or thick syrup. The curare may be 



tasted without danger ; for, like the venom of serpents, 



it only acts when introduced directly into tlie blood, 



and the Indians consider it an excellent stomachic. It 



is universally employed by them in hunting, the tips of 



their arrows being covered with it ; and the usual mode 



of killing domestic fowls is to scratch the skin with one 



of these infected weapons. Other species of vegetable 



poison are manufactured in various parts of Guiana. 



After seeing this composition prepared, the philo- Festival of 

 sophers accompanied the artist to the festival of the tiiejuvias. 

 juvias. In the hut where the revellers were assembled, 

 large roasted monkeys blackened by smoke were ranged 

 against the wall. Humboldt imagines that the habit 

 of eating animals so much resembling man has in some 

 degree contributed to diminish the horror of anthropo- 

 phagy among savages. Apes when thus cooked, and 

 especially such as have a very round head, bear a hideous 

 likeness to a child ; and for this reason such Europeans 

 as are obliged to feed upon them separate the head and 

 hands before the dish is presented at their tables. The 

 flesh is very lean and dry. 



Among the articles brought by the Indians from their interestinj,' 

 expedition were various interesting vegetable produc- vegetable 

 tions ; fruits of different species, reeds upwards of fifteen 

 feet long, perfectly straight and free of knots, and bark 

 used for making shirts. The women were employed in 

 serving the men with the food already mentioned, 

 fermented liquors, and palm-cabbage, but were not per 

 mitted to join in the festivities. Among all the tribes 

 of the Orinoco the females live in a sort of slavery, 

 almost the whole labour devolving upon them. Poly- 

 gamy is frequently practised, and on the other hand a 

 kind of polyandry is established in places where the 

 fair sex are less numerous. When a native who has 

 several wives becomes a Christian, the missionaries 



