Poisoning , caused by the Honey of the Lecheguana Wasp. 95 
Mulatto. Frequently, after having experienced long accessions 
of the most lively and agreeable good humour, he was, without 
any apparent reason, seized with a gloomy melancholy, which last- 
ed for some weeks, and, on such occasions, he found causes of ir- 
ritation in the most innocent words, and even in the most delicate 
attentions. Joze Mariano (for this was his name) came up to me, 
and told me, with an air of gaiety, and yet with somewhat of an 
odd expression, that half an hour ago he wandered in the coun- 
try without knowing where he went. He sat down under the 
cart, and engaged me to take my place beside him. I had much 
difficulty in dragging myself so far, and, as I felt an excessive 
degree of weakness, I reclined my head upon his shoulder. 
It was then that I began to experience the most cruel agonies. 
A thick cloud darkened my eyes, I distinguished nothing more 
than the figures of my companions, and the azure of the sky, 
traversed by some light vapours. I did not experience any 
great degree of pain, but I fell into the lowest state of debility. 
The concentrated vinegar which my people made me breathe, and 
with which they rubbed my face and temples, revived me with 
difficulty, and I experienced all the torments of death. How- 
ever, I have perfectly preserved the recollection of all that I 
said and apprehended in these painful moments, and the 
recital which a young Frenchman, who then accompanied me, 
has since made to me, is in perfect accordance with my own re- 
collections. — A violent combat took place in my mind, but it 
lasted only a few moments ; I triumphed over my weakness, and 
became resigned to death. What affected me most, was the 
loss of my Botocudo Indian, whom I had taken from the woods, 
and who, I believed, would, after my death, be condemned to 
slavery. I conjured those who were about me to have pity up- 
on his inexperience, and to inform my friends, when they should 
see them again, that my last prayers had been for this unfortu- 
nate young man. I felt an ardent desire to speak in my native 
language to the Frenchman, who lavished his cares upon me ; 
but I found it impossible to recollect a single word that was not 
Portuguese, and I could not account for the shame and back- 
wardness which caused this defect of memory in me. 
When I began to fall into this singular state, I attempted to 
take water and vinegar ; but having obtained no alleviation from 
