^■HH 







176 



THE MANDIOC. 



which was filled with the juice, and although it 

 was almost immediately perceived and driven 

 away, still the effect of the small quantity which 

 had been taken began to show itself in a very 

 few minutes ; — the animal tottered and fell, 

 rising again, and again falling. Oil was poured 

 down its throat in considerable quantities, but 

 to no purpose. The body swelled to an enor- 

 mous size, and the animal was dead in about 

 ten minutes after it had drank of the juice.* 



The insect which is mentioned by Piso (quoted 

 by Mr. Southey) under the name of tapuru, and 

 is said to be generated by the juice of the man- 

 dioc, after it has become putrid, I have often 

 seen. It is still known under the same name, 

 which however is not peculiar to this worm, but 

 it is likewise applied to maggots of every kind. 

 The juice is not kept for any purpose, but it re- 

 mains in the trough occasionally for some days, 

 owing to the carelessness of the person under 



* Du Tertre gives three remedies for those who have drank 

 of the juice : — " Le premier que fay veu pratiqucr heureuse- 

 meni e'est dt Loire de I'huile d'olive avec dc I'eau liede, cc qui 

 fait vomir tout ce quon a pris ; le second qui est ires-assure 

 est de boire quantite de sue d' ananas, avec quelqucs goutes dc 

 jus de citron ; mais sur tons les remedes, le sue de Vherbe aux 

 couleuvres, dont tous les arbres de ces isles sont rev^tus, est le 

 .souverain antidote, non settlement contre ce mal, mais encore 

 contre toute sortc de venin." — Histoire des Antilles, &c. 

 torn. ii. p. 118. 



Labat does not believe in the virtue of the herbe de couleu- 

 vres in this case. 



14 



