50 



WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



the ants, whose sting causes a fever, and the teeth of 

 the Labarri and Counacouchi snakes, which convey 

 death in a very short space of time, are essentially 

 necessary in the composition of his poison ; and being 

 once impressed with this idea, he will add them every 

 time he makes the poison, and transmit the absolute use 

 of them to his posterity. The question to be answered 

 seems not to be, if it is natural for the Indians to 

 mix these ingredients, but, if they are essential to 

 make the poison. 



So much for the preparing of this vegetable essence ; 

 terrible importer of death, into whatever animal it 

 enters. Let us now see how it is used ; let us examine 

 the weapons which bear it to its destination, and take 

 a view of the poor victim, from the time he receives 

 his wound, till death comes to his relief. 



When a native of Macoushia goes in quest 

 of'^thrbiow^ of feathered game or other birds, he seldom 

 carries his bow and arrows. It is the blow- 

 pipe he then uses. This extraordinary tube of death 

 is, perhaps, one of the greatest natural curiosities of 

 Guiana. It is not found in the country of the Macoushi. 

 Those Indians tell you that it grows to the south-west 

 of them, in the wilds which extend betwixt them and 

 the Eio ll^egro. The reed mast grow to an amazing 

 length, as the part the Indians use is from ten to eleven 

 feet long, and no tapering can be perceived in it, one 

 end being as thick as the other. It is of a bright yellow 

 colour, perfectly smooth both inside and out. It grows 

 hollow ; nor is there the least appearance of a knot or 

 joint throughout the whole extent. The natives call it 

 Ourah. This, of itself, is too slender to answer the end 

 of a blow-pipe ; but there is a species of palma, larger 



