394 
Labaria Fishes for Its Food. 
riiglit. We quickly stKirted on the chase again until the re- 
newed barking of a dog indieated that the hunted creature was 
set. On this occasion likewise we found the hound in front 
of an overturned liollow tree into which the game had made 
its escape. So as not to let the frightened animal get away a 
second time the prudent huntress stopped the hole into which one of the 
dogs had followed. By the latter's barking in the tree-trunk we could tell 
the exact spot where tlie laba Avas, and our cutting down onto it with an 
axe seemed to inspire its yelp all the more furiously. After an hour or 
two the bottom was reached, the daring woman inserted her arm to drag 
the game out I)ut suddenly burst into loud laughter and assured me that 
instead of a laba, there was a big armadillo in the tree. The dogs had 
(probably lost the tracks of the former and struck the scent of the latter. 
When effecting its escape the l^iba tries if possible to make 
for water so as to get away by diving, but however good a swimmer and 
diver it may be, it must come up to the surface at intervals to breathe, 
when it is easily shot. 
984. On a subsequent excursion with the brown-skinned Diana up 
the Haiama Creek, that falls into the Demerara above the "Sandhills," 
she drew my own and Smith's attention to a peculiar movement in the 
water, and told us that a labaria was just then "fishing" here. At first 
I was unable to distinguij^h the snake under the water, but I really soon 
saw something like one that was on the prey: for it now dived as quick 
as thought to the bottom and again appeai'ed nearer the surface, and 
sw«am at first slowly, than more quickly in all directions round al)out 
the area and finally cre])t on to the bank where 1 killed it. It was 
the very dangerous ground adder {Trigonoeephali(f< ofro.r). My com- 
panion's statement was confirmed, because on opening it u]) T found two 
finger-long fish in its stomach. Tt is common knowledge that almost 
all snakes swim very well, but that ]K)isonons ones should also hunt in 
the water for theii- food was new to me and seemed to l)e not generally 
known. The clayey banks of the Haiama were specially rich in infusoria. 
08."). Beyond the Sandhills the wild cashew ( Aimcardium rluno- 
corpus DeC), as the Colonists Cflll it, appears especially plentiful in 
among the forest trees. It is one of the hugest trees of Guiana, and in 
that respect differs essentially from Anncardinm occidentnle : its fruits 
have the same construction and taste, but are somewhat smaller and 
ruddier than those of the latter. Dr. Hancock notes that he has made 
use of the l)ark with success in cancer- and other cancerous ulcers. The 
fruits are just as eagerly sought by human beings as they are by 
animals: the Indians make an intoxicating drink of it. From what 
my female com])anion told me, the tapir and monkeys eat ever so 
plentifully of them when ri]>e that they get quite drunk and then fall 
an easy prey to the hunters. The spirit distilled from it even exceeds 
rum and arak in strength, and on this account is generally preferred for 
I lie pi"epa ration of punch. Cashew wine and spirit are used in the 
Colony as diuretics. 
08(1. Among insects on the Sanrlhills T particularly found several 
species of the prettily spotted but at the same time very dangerous 
