AFRICA. ' 67 
armed with a fmall iron hook, placed on one 
of its fides in fuch a manner, that by its re- 
fiftance, and the new lacerations it occafions 
in the flefh, it renders ufelefs all thofe means 
which art might devife to extrad it. This 
bone alfo is dipped in a poifon which has 
the confiftence of maftich ^ and they often 
add to its point a fmall triangular bit of iron 
well fharpened, which renders the weapon 
ftill more terrible. 
Each horde have a peculiar method of 
compofing their poifons, according to the 
different milky plants which grow in their 
neighbourhood, the dangerous juice of which 
they extradt. They procure fome alfo from 
certain kinds of ferpents; and thefe, for 
their aftivity, are thofe which are moft fought 
after by thefe favages, and which they prefer 
to all others, efpecially in their expeditions 
and combats. It is not pofTible to draw any 
certain information from them refpefting 
their manner of preparing that poifon which 
they extradl from ferpents : it is a fccret 
which they fo carefully conceal, that all I 
can affirm concerning it is, that it operates 
very fpeedily ; and I often had occafion to 
make experiments with it. I am however 
F 2 incline4 
