A Native Opiate. 
81 
without a trace, make of tlie tree one of tlie grandest ornaments in a 
tropical landscape. A botanical exhibit, equally interesling for me, was 
a large number of trees of the Mimosa ncacioidcs Benth., the Parica or 
Paricarania of the Indians: the British Guiana aborigines apply its seeds 
to tlie same purpose as the Otomacs and Guajibos of the Orinoco put the 
beans of Acacia Niopo Humb. Bonp., and as Asiatic peo]des use opium. 
They ])Ound the beans to a fine powder-, burn it and inhale the smoke or 
else rub it into tlie eyes and ears. Either mlethod soon puts them into a 
drunken and ecstatic condition lasting several hours, in its extreme 
degree bordering on madness, that is succeeded by a stage of great ex- 
haustion and drowsiness. 
205. jS^ext morning, under a clear sky, we continued our way through 
the trackless savannah with the Takutu lying about 2 miles away on our 
left. Our course was directed to the western spur of the Canuku Range. 
During the afternoon we crossed the Sawara-auuru which, owing to it.s 
being so considerably swollen from yesterday's rains, could only be effect- 
ed after overcoming the many difficulties placed in our way by the num- 
ber of rounded quartz and granite l)oulders. The day was not yet suffi- 
ciently advanced to allow of onr pitching camp just yet, and we therefore 
continued to push, along: certainly, to our subsequent keen regret 
because, in spite of the showers of the day before, we searched for- Avater 
in vain. We were so often deceived, particularly by a I2 to 2 ft. high light 
green and bluish grass swaying in the breeze that is generally present 
in swampy situations, is spread over large areas, and exactly simulates 
a wavy water-surface, that we liad already despaired of satisfying our 
cravings, when our patience was nevertheless rewarded by a pool, con- 
taining a liquid of almost thickened consistency, close to the foot of Cnra- 
tawuiburi, on the western spur of the Canuku Range. 
20G. Thankful to find this darkish fluid, we pitched our camp under 
some CurateUa and Boivdichia trees. AVhci e the pool was still a bit deep, 
it was regularly crammed with a tasty fish, the Enjthrinus uiiitaematus 
which thus became the easy victims of our companions. To this very wel- 
come dish, I soon added a second dainty, namely a large quantity of 
honey. Several bees that were buzzing around had led the ever attentive 
Indians to make careful search of the neighbouring CuratcUa and Bon- 
(licJiia trees, and a loud shout soon indicated that their efforts had not 
been in vain. These interesting honey-bees fix their often 2 to 3 ft. long 
nests Avhich in sulistance and internal structure correspond fairly well 
with those of our wasps, to the Itranches of the trees. The cells Avithin 
this paper Imilding likewise consist of six-sided paper-like prisms and 
contain the larvae and the honey. The latter differs in its intense sweet- 
ness from the acidulous kind of the small stingless bee which builds its 
nest in hollow trees. The body of the about four-tenth inch-long insect is 
dark brown and thickly haiivd : its under-A\'ings are black with rust- 
coloured edges, and the sting is extremely painful. The IMacusis called 
the bee Wampang: the Wapisianas Camuiba. Our companions tied bun- 
dles of dried grass to a pole, set them alight, and held them under the 
nests so that the dangerous owners might be driven off by the smoke. 
The larvae were Just as great a delicacy to the Indians as the honey w'af? 
