WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 131 



When the Indian intends to chase the peccari, or 

 surprise the deer, or rouse the tapir from his marshy retreat, 

 he carries his bow and arrows, which are very different from 

 the weapons already described. 



The bow is generally from six to seven feet long, and 

 strung with a cord, spun out of the silk-grass. The forests 

 of Guiana furnish many species of hard wood, tough and 

 elastic, out of which beautiful and excellent bows are 

 formed. 



The arrows are from four to five feet in length, made of 

 a yellow reed without a knot or joint. It is found in great 

 plenty up and down throughout Guiana. A piece of hard 

 wood, about nine inches long, is inserted into the end of 

 the reed, and fastened with cotton well waxed. A square 

 hole, an inch deep, is then made in the end of this piece of 

 hard wood, done tight round with cotton to keep it from 

 splitting. Into this square hole is fitted a spike of Cou- 

 courite wood, poisoned, and which may be kept there, or 

 taken out at pleasure. A joint of bamboo, about as thick 

 as your finger, is fitted on over the poisoned spike, to 

 prevent accidents and defend it from the rain, and is 

 taken off when the arrow is about to be used. Lastly, two 

 feathers are fastened on the other end of the reed to steady 

 it in its flight. 



Besides his bow and arrows, the Indian carries a little 

 box made of bamboo, which holds a dozen or fifteen 

 poisoned spikes, six inches long. They are poisoned in the 

 following manner : a small piece of wood is dipped in the 

 poison, and with this they give the spike a first coat. It 

 is then exposed to the sun or fire. After it is dry, it 

 receives another coat, and is then dried again ; after this 

 a third coat, and sometimes a fourth. 



They take great care to put the poison on thicker at the 

 middle than at the sides, by which means the spike retains 



