ROTH] ANIMAL FOOD 2038 
210. The following are certain of the fish poisons that have been 
identified: Lonchocarpus of various species (e. g., densiflorus, ru- 
jescens). It is known as haiari, heri, or nako (StC, 1, 318-319), 
as nekko in Surinam (AK, 189), apparently identical with the 
Robinia nicow (Cr, 45). or inekou, of Cayenne (PBA, 157-158). 
One of the earliest descriptions of its practical application is written 
by Hilhouse in connection with the catching of the pacu. The pacu 
is generally taken with haiari in the following manner: The Indians 
select a part of the falls where the weya, an aquatic vegetable eaten 
by the pacu and other fish, is plentiful and traces are visible of the 
pacu, which is gregarious, having lately fed. They then enclose 
this place with a wall of loose stones, a foot above the surface of the 
water, leaving two or three spaces about 10 feet broad for the fish 
to enter. For these spaces they prepare parrys, or wooden hurdles, 
and about two hours before daybreak they proceed silently to stop 
the apertures with them. The fish are thus inclosed in a temporary 
pond, which is inspected at daybreak, and if they are found to be in 
sufficient number to pay for the haiari they commence beating it. 
They beat it (these haiari roots are about 3 inches in diam- 
eter) with heavy sticks until it is in shreds like coarse hemp. They 
then fill a corial with water and immerse the haiari in it. The water 
immediately becomes of a milky whiteness, and when fully saturated 
they take the corial to the spot they have selected, and throwing 
over the infusion, in about 20 minutes every fish within its influence 
rises to the surface and is either taken by the hand or shot with 
arrow (HiA, 30). Certain of the stone dams mentioned in section 
202 may have been employed for “ poison” purposes. The haiari 
can also be used in any inclosed piece of water, in ponds after the 
inlets have been stopped (BW, 155), or in a small stream, at the turn 
of the tide when there is little or no current (Br, 143). Dance men- 
tions three kinds of haiari bush rope—a white, red, and black 
(Da, 332). 
211. Clibadium, various species; e. g., asperum, swrinamense; also 
known as quanami (BE, 39), gonami (HiC, 237), conami (Cr, 45; 
AK, 189; PBA, 157-158; IT, 234), konami or kunami (Da, 212), and 
on the Pomeroon as kunalli. Whereas Schomburgk, Dance, and 
Bernau speak of the leaves being put to use, as I have myself ob- 
served, Im Thurn and Barrére refer to the employment of its seeds 
and fruit. The small shallow pits, wherein the leaves have been 
pounded, are much in evidence around the dwellings of the upper 
Pomeroon and Moruca River Carib. After pounding they chop the 
leaves to a pulp, mix with finely cut flesh, and make up into small 
balls, which are thrown into the water as bait. It is greedily 
swallowed by one species of fish (the Leporinus friderici Agassiz). 
which, coming to the surface, dies (SR, 1, 484). On the Demerara a 
