128 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



when he tried the poison on a horse in the town of 

 Stabroek, the capital of Demerara; the horse never be- 

 trayed tlie least symptom of being affected by it. 



Wishful to obtain the best information concerning this 

 poison, and as repeated inquiries, in lieu of dissipating the 

 surrounding shade, did but tend more and more to darken 

 the little light that existed, I determined 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 hun- 

 dred 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 dissertation 

 on the manner in which the wourali-poison operates 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 sufficient 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 been doubted: 



