SOUTH AMERICA. 



59 



susceptible of a fine polish, and appears as if it had joints First 



Journey. " 



five or six inches from each other. It is called Samonrah, 



and the pulp inside is easily extracted, by steeping it for 

 a few days in water. 



Thus the Ourah and Samonrah, one within the other, 

 form the blow-pipe of Guiana. The end which is applied 

 to the mouth is tied round with a small silk grass cord, to 

 prevent its splitting ; and the other end, which is apt to 

 strike against the ground, is secured by the seed of the 

 Acuero fruit, cut horizontally through the middle, with a 

 hole made in the end, through which is put the extremity 

 of the blow-pipe. It is fastened on with string on the 

 outside, and the inside is filled up with wild bees' -wax. 



The arrow is from nine to ten inches long. It is made The arrow, 

 out of the leaf of a species of palm-tree, called Coucom'ite, 

 hard and brittle, and pointed as sharp as a needle. About 

 an inch of the pointed end is poisoned. The other end 

 is burnt, to make it still harder, and wild cotton is put 

 round it for about an inch and a half. It requires con- 

 siderable practice to put on this cotton well. It must just 

 be large enough to fit the hollow of the tube, and taper off 

 to nothing downwards. They tie it on with a thread of 

 the silk grass, to prevent its slipping off the arrov/. 



The Indians have shown ingenuity in making a quiver Tiie quiver, 

 to hold the arrows. It will contain from five to six hun- 

 dred. It is generally from twelve to fourteen inches long, 

 and in shape resembles a dice-box used at backgammon. 



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