136 "WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



sooner, and this stupor manifests itself by an apparent un- 

 willingness in the bird to move. This was very visible in 

 a dying fowl. 



Having procured a healthy full-grown one, a short piece 

 of a poisoned blow-pipe arrow was broketa. off and run up 

 into its thigh, as near as possible betwixt the skin and the 

 flesh, in order that it might not be incommoded by the 

 wound. Tor the first minute it walked about, but walked 

 very slowly, and did not appear the least agitated. During 

 the second minute it stood still, and began to peck the 

 ground ; and ere half another had elapsed, it frequently 

 opened and shut its mouth. The tail had now dropped, 

 and the wings almost touched the ground. By the ter- 

 mination of the third minute, it had sat down, scarce able 

 to support its head, which nodded, and then recovered itself, 

 and then nodded again, lower and lower every time, like 

 that of a weary traveller slumbering in an erect position ; 

 the eyes alternately open and shut. The fourth minute 

 brought on convulsions, and life and the fifth terminated 

 together. 



The flesh of the game is not in the least injured by the 

 poison, nor does it appear to corrupt sooner than that killed 

 by the gun or knife. The body of this fowl was kept for 

 sixteen hours, in a climate damp and rainy, and within 

 seven degrees of the equator; at the end of which time 

 it had contracted no bad smell whatever, and there were 

 no symptoms of putrefaction, saving that, just round the 

 wound, the flesh appeared somewhat discoloured. 



The Indian, on his return home, carefully suspends his 

 -blow-pipe from the top of his spiral roof; seldom placing 

 it in an oblique position, lest it should receive a cast. 



Here let the blow-pipe remain suspended, while you take 

 a view of the arms which are made to slay the larger 

 beasts of the forest. 



