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Bernau (28) In 1347 described the use of rjuananii leaves [ Tephrosia 
toxicaria j and hai-arry root as fish poisons "by the natives of British 
Guiana. The rocts are pounded; the juice of the root is washed into canoes 
nearly full of water; then the poison is thrown in all directions. 
Kappler (232) in 1854 described the use of Stinkolz (Loncho carpus) 
conami and Gunapalu (family Eaphorbiaceae) for catching fish in Surinam, 
Brett (46) in 1368, in an account of the Indian tribes of Guiana, 
wrote that the Acawoios supply the coast tribes with considerable quanti- 
ties of the haiarri root, which is used in poisoning fish. These roots are 
usually cut in pieces of about two feet in length, and tied up in small 
bundles which have a powerful and disagreeable scent. 
Lindley (262) in 1876 referred to the use by the Indians of South 
America of the leaves and- young branches of several species of Loncho carpus 
for intoxicating fish. One species used in Guiana is nicou (L. rufescen s) . 
Boddam-Whctham (31) in 1879 described the taking of fish by the 
natives of British Guiana by the use of the Juice beaten from the roots of 
the leguminous creeper bai-ari. 
Crevaux (98) in 1883 stated that the natives of Trench Guiana use the 
cultivated plants conami and sinapou and the wild plant Lonchocarpus (Eobinia) 
nicou , which is collected in the forests along rivers, for taking small fish. 
Kappler (233) in 1887 described fishing in Surinam with the sap of 
narcotic plants. One of the 3 plants used is Kekko, stated to be Lonchocarpus 
scandens [ Dcrris scandens ] 
Ernst (131) in 1887 listed 187 species of plants used as fish poisons. 
Lonchocarpus species include the following: L. de nsifloru s Bcnth. , L. flori - 
bundu s Bcnth. , L. l atifolius H. B. K. , L. nicou DC. , and L. rari flora s Mart. 
Among doubtful. species of Lonchocarpus are tulonimibi and inecu, from the 
Antilles. 
Ernst (132) in 1863 identified the fish-poisoning plant inecou of Bre- 
ton ("Diet. Caraibc-francais, Auxcrrc 1665, p. 244) as Lonchocarpus nicou DC. 
Koch-Grunberg (247) in 1923 wrote that in northwest Brazil the term 
timbo includes a great number of fish poisons, but Pa ullini a pinnata is 
usually meant. 
Roth (360), of the Bureau of American Ethnology, in 1924 published a 
study of the arts, crafts and customs of the Guiana Indians. Timbo is the 
lingua geral and barbasco the Spanish tern for vegetable poisons in general. 
On the upper Rio Negro these would include species of Paullinia and Sorjjania. 
The publications of earlier writers arc thoroughly reviewed. The following 
are certain of the fish poisons that have been identified; Lonchocarpus of 
various species C e »£« densiflor us, rufescens ). It is known as haiari, heri, 
or nako, as nekko in Surinam, apparently identical with the Robinia nicou , 
or inekou, of Cayenne. Dance mentions three kinds of haiari bush rope — a 
white, red, and black.. 
