72 



WANDERINGS IN 



having said that, he took ofF his httle bamboo poison 

 box, which hung across his shoulder, and putting it 

 together with his bow and arrows on the ground, he laid 

 himself down close by them, bid his companion farewell, 

 and never spoke more. 



He who is unfortunate enough to be wounded by a 

 poisoned arrow from Macoushia, had better not depend 

 upon the common antidotes for a cure. Many who have 

 been in Guiana, will recommend immediate immersion in 

 water, or to take the juice of the sugar-cane, or to fill 

 the mouth full of salt ; and they recommend these anti- 

 dotes, because they have got them from the Indians. 

 But were you to ask them if they ever saw these antidotes 

 used with success, it is ten to one their answer would be 

 in the negative. 



Wherefore let him reject these antidotes as unprofitable, 

 and of no avail. He has got an active and deadly foe 

 within him, which, like Shakspeare's fell Sergeant Death, 

 is strict in his arrest, and will allow him but little time — very 

 — very little time. In a few minutes he will be numbered 

 with the dead. Life ought, if possible, to be preserved, 

 be the expense ever so great. Should the part affected 

 admit of it, let a ligature be tied tight round the wound, 

 and have immediate recourse to the knife : 



Continuo, culpam ferro compesce priusquam, 

 Dira per infaustum serpant contagia corpus." 



