SOUTH AMERICA. 
47 
sive wilds of Demerara and Essequibo, far away first 
from any European settlement, there is a tribe 0 f 
Indians who are known by the name of Macoushi. 
Though the wourali poison is used by all the 
South American savages betwixt the Amazons and 
the Oroonoque, still this tribe makes it stronger than 
any of the rest. The Indians in the vicinity of 
the Rio Negro are aware of this, and come to the 
Macoushi country to purchase it. 
Much has been said concerning this fatal and ex- its effects, 
traordinary poison. Some have affirmed that its ef¬ 
fects are almost instantaneous, provided the minutest 
particle of it mixes with the blood; and others again 
have maintained that it is not strong enough to kill 
an animal of the size and strength of a man. The 
first have erred by lending a too willing ear to the 
marvellous, and believing assertions without suffi¬ 
cient proof. The following short story points out 
the necessity of a cautious examination. 
One day, on asking an Indian if he thought the Anecdote, 
poison would kill a man, he replied, that they always 
go to battle with it; that he was standing by when 
an Indian was shot with a poisoned arrow, and that 
he expired almost immediately. Not wishing to 
dispute this apparently satisfactory information, the 
subject was dropped. However, about an hour 
after, having purposely asked him in what part of 
the body the said Indian was wounded, he answered 
without hesitation, that the arrow entered betwixt 
his shoulders, and passed quite through his heart. 
Was it the weapon, or the strength of the poison, 
