Poisoning , caused by the Honey of the Lecheguana Wasp. 99 
to him as if covered with a glutinous matter. However, as our 
new guide had arrived the evening before, we set off betimes, in. 
order to get away from a place which we could no longer look 
upon but with a kind of horror. Through the whole day, I 
found it impossible to think of any thing else than the events of 
the preceding day; and when we halted, I noted them down 
such as I have related them above. 
I had said to one of my soldiers, that 1 should like to possess 
some wasps of the species which produced the honey, whose 
troublesome effects we had experienced. A little before arri- 
ving at the place where we put up the day after the accident 
had befallen us, I was called by the soldier, who shewed me a 
wasp’s nest similar to that of the day before. It had the same 
form, the same dimensions, the same consistence; it was equally 
suspended from one of the lower branches of a small shrub ; and 
my Guarani labourer, as well as the new guide, another labourer, 
and several Indians whom the guide had brought with him, re- 
cognised this wasp as belonging, like that of the preceding day, 
to the species known in the country by the name of Lecheguana . 
My soldier took possession of the nest, and brought me some of 
the flies, as well as fragments of their abode. The combs which 
I have sent, along with the wasp, to the Royal Cabinet, were 
similar to those which I had in my hands the day before ; and 
the honey which they contained was of the reddish colour of 
that of the common bee, and was, like it* very fluid. 
One may easily imagine the astonishment and chagrin which 
I experienced, when the soldier told me, that my Botocudo In- 
dian, who had been a witness of the manner in which we had 
been affected, and the labourer of the guide, had eaten of the 
honey, and that their example had influenced my Guarani la- 
bourer. I could not help loading these men with all the marks 
of my indignation and disdain. “ This honey will do me no 
harm, replied the Botocudo coolly to me, it is so sweet !” — words 
perfectly characteristic of the Indian, who is always full of the 
present, and never looks to the future. 
Expecting a recurrence of the scenes of yesterday, I prepared 
emetics. I sent my people to lie down, and went to work in 
my cart. In a minute, all was in the most profound quiet a- 
g 2 
