SOUTH AMERICA. 



35 



the smallest web on them ; which showed that they were First 



Journey. 



in constant use. The quivers were close by them, with 



the jaw-bone of the fish Pirai tied by a string to their 

 brim, and a small wicker-basket of wild cotton, which 

 hung down to the centre : they were nearly full of 

 poisoned arrows. It was with difficulty these Indians 

 could be persuaded to part with any of the wourali 

 poison, though a good price was offered for it : they 

 gave to understand that it was powder and shot to them, 

 and very difficult to be procured. 



On the second day after leaving this settlement, in 

 passing along the Indians show you a place where once 

 a white man lived. His retiring so far from those of his 

 own colour and acquaintance seemed to carry something 

 extraordinary along with it, and raised a desire to know 

 what could have induced him to do so. It seems he had 

 been unsuccessful, and that his creditors had treated 

 him with as little mercy as the strong generally show to 

 the weak. Seeing his endeavours daily frustrated, and his 

 best intentions of no avail, and fearing that when they 

 had taken all he had, they would probably take his 

 liberty too, he thought the world would not be hard- 

 hearted enough to condemn him for retiring from the 

 evils which pressed so heavily on him, and which he had 

 done all that an honest man could do, to ward off. He 

 left his creditors to talk of him as they thought fit, and, 

 bidding adieu for ever to the place in which he had once 



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