FIRST JOURNEY. 



but tbis be bas already planted round bis but. Tbe 

 pounded fangs of tbe Labarri snake, and tbose of tbe 

 Counacoucbi, are likewise added. Tbese be commonly 

 bas in store ; for wben be kills a snake, be generally 

 extracts tbe fangs, and keeps tbem by bim. 



Having tbus found tbe necessary ingredients, be 

 scrapes tbe wourali vine and bitter root into 



Preparation t . t • t j> 



of the wourali tbm sbavings, and puts tbem into a kind oi 

 poison. colander made of leaves : tbis be bolds over 

 an eartben pot, and pours water on tbe sbavings : tbe 

 liquor wbicb comes tbrougb bas tbe appearance of 

 coffee. Wben a sufficient quantity bas been procured, 

 tbe sbavings are tbrown aside. He tben bruises tbe 

 bulbous stalks, and squeezes a proportionate quantity 

 of tbeir juice tbrougb bis bands into tbe pot. Lastly, 

 tbe snake's fangs, ants, and pepper are bruised, and 

 tbrown into it. It is tben placed on a slow fire, and as 

 it boils, more of tbe juice of tbe wourali is added, ac- 

 cording as it may be found necessary, and tbe scum is 

 taken off witb a leaf : it remains on tbe fire till reduced 

 to a tbick syrup of a deep brown colour. As soon as it 

 bas arrived at tbis state a few arrows are poisoned witb 

 it, to try its strength. If it answer tbe expectations, it 

 is poured out into a calabash, or little pot of Indian 

 manufacture, which is carefully covered with a couple 

 of leaves, and over them a piece of deer's skin, tied 

 round witb a cord. They keep it in the most dry part 

 of the but ; and from time to time suspend it over tbe 

 fire, to counteract the effects of dampness. 



The act of preparing this poison is not considered as 

 a common one : tbe savage may shape bis bow, fasten 

 the barb on the point of bis arrow, and make his other 

 implements of destruction, either lying in his hammock, 



