4&2 
DR. SCHOMBURGK’S RESEARCHES IN GUIANA. 
Mimosa nudiflora ; Randia acuieata ; Cactus Royeni, trigonus ; Agave; &c. 
We quitted Pirarara, returned to the Annay, and arrived at the settlement at 
the mouth of that brook after an absence of about six weeks. We, however, 
left this place immediately, and removed to a hut at Currassawaak, which was 
our residence during the remainder of our stay at the Rupunoony. 
The chief here had shot during one of his excursions on the Rupunoony, with 
an arrow provided with a spike poisoned by the Wourali, a young Tapir, or 
Mypourie* ( Tapir Americanus ) ; and though the point of the arrow had only 
penetrated the skin, and caused scarcely any loss of blood, it was sufficient to 
destroy life.f I was glad to have an opportunity of inspecting the animal, which 
hitherto I only knew from descriptions and drawings. It was from the nose to 
the tail eight feet long, and nearly three feet high; in its shape it most resembled 
the Hog, with the exception that in proportion it had much shorter legs ; on the 
fore feet it had four toes, and three behind ; from the forehead projects a bone 
which is connected with the upper lip, forming with the nostrils a kind of 
proboscis not unlike that of the Elephant; the Tapir makes in many respects a 
similar use of it.J The skin is very thick, and covered with short hair of a dusky 
grey colour; the ears are small and pointed. In the upper jaw I counted seven 
Incisors on each side, four teeth in front, and two tusks; in the under jaw six 
Incisors and one tusk on each side. The three kinds of teeth formed an uninter¬ 
rupted line. We found its meat uncommonly good, resembling beef. 
It had been my wish to see the tree which produces Caskapreciosa of the 
Brazilians, or “ Amapiama of the Indians, which, however, was not to be found 
In the neighbourhood of Currassawaak, but at some distance. I therefore resolved 
to accompany the chief to the place, and, following the course of the brook, we 
started on our journey. It was a wild path, if indeed path it could be called. 
We approached a thicket of wild Bamboo (Nactus), and while we were still a 
few yards from it, a large Guana-snake ( Scytale , spec. ? perhaps catenatus) came 
out of the brushwood, and ran towards the brook; it was shot by one of the 
attendants. Like the Guana it had a pouch under the throat; the mouth was 
protected by large plates ; the head covered with scales; and the belly and tail 
* When full grown the American Tapir is about the size of an ordinary Donkey; and, small as 
it is, it is the largest of the land Mammalia of the rich and humid places of South-America, over 
which it is pretty generally distributed; but is nowhere very abundant. It feeds during the night 
on wild fruits and other pulpy and succulent vegetables, and sleeps the greater part of the day. 
It is fond of the water, and swims well, with a leaping motion, something like that of a Pig.—H. B. 
£ The Tapir r is in general very tenacious of life. D’Azzara mentions having seen one runs 
for some time after two musket balls had passed through its heart.—.H. B. 
£ It has not action enough for actually seizing any substance, but it may assist the animal in 
opening a passage among the thick and tangled vegetation. It is not used in rooting in the 
ground, and is not adapted for it,—H. B, 
