454 EXPLANATORY INDEX. 



Pepper-Black. {Piper nigrum^) 



Peppeb-Eed {Capsicum cmnuum). — Few plants are more 

 valued both abroad and in England than the Capsicum. 

 In its small state it is known as " chili," and is sometimes 

 gathered before it has obtained the red stage of existence. 

 "When ground, it is sold as Cayenne pepper, the species 

 usually employed for this purpose being Capsicum frutescens. 



It grows well in England, if care be taken of it, and is a 

 very pretty and ornamental plant, especially when the pods 

 attain their brilliant red hue. 



Pekai {Serrasalmus piraya). — This fish is quite as much 

 dreaded as the alligator or cayman in the rivers, or the 

 shark in the sea. Indeed, its teeth, sharply pointed and 

 razor- edged, very much resemble those of the shark. Its 

 voracity seems to know no bounds. It will attack other fish, 

 such as the gilbacker, lowlow, paraima, &c., bite large pieces 

 out of their fins and tails. Even when scarcely larger than 

 an English gudgeon, the Perai, which is sometimes called the 

 Blood-fish of the Orinoco, can make fatal attacks on human 

 beings, its numbers compensating for its small size. 



The following account of it is taken from Mr. C. B. Brown's 

 work to which reference has already been made : — 



" The Corentyne and its branches were literally teeming with 

 fish of various kinds, the greater number being haimara and 

 Perai. The latter were so abundant and ferocious that at 

 times it was dangei'ous, when bathing, to go into the water to 

 a greater depth than up to one's knees. Even then small 

 bodies of these hungry creatures would swim in and make a 

 dash close up to our legs, and then retreat to a short distance. 

 They actually bit the steering paddles as they were drawn 

 through the water astern of the boats. A tapir which I shot 

 swimming across the water had its nose eaten ofi by them 

 whilst we were towing it to the shore. 



" Of an evening the men used to catch some of them for 

 sport, and in taking the hook from their mouths produce a 

 wound from which the blood ran freely. On throwing them 



