SOUTH AMERICA. 
40 
and afforded a balm to the wounds and bruises which first 
,, . , .TOURNEV. 
every traveller must expect to receive who wanders-- 
through a thorny and obstructed path. 
Thou must not, courteous reader, expect a disser¬ 
tation on the manner in which the wourali poison 
operates on the system; a treatise has been already 
written on the subject, and after all, there is probably 
still reason to doubt. It is supposed to affect the 
nervous system, and thus destroy the vital functions; 
it is also said to be perfectly harmless, provided it 
does not touch the blood. However, this is certain, 
when a sufficient quantity of it enters the blood, death 
is the inevitable consequence; but there is no alter¬ 
ation in the colour of the blood, and both the blood 
and flesh may be eaten with safety. 
All that thou wilt find here is a concise, unadorned 
account of the wourali poison. It may be of service 
to thee some time or other, shouldst thou ever travel 
through the wilds where it is used. Neither attri¬ 
bute to cruelty, nor to a want of feeling for the 
sufferings of the inferior animals, the ensuing ex¬ 
periments. The larger animals were destroyed in 
order to have proof positive of the strength of a 
poison which hath hitherto been doubted; and the 
smaller ones were killed with the hope of substan¬ 
tiating that which has commonly been supposed to 
be an antidote. 
It makes a pitying heart ache to see a poor crea¬ 
ture in distress and pain ; and too often has the 
compassionate traveller occasion to heave a sigh as 
he journeys on. However, here, though the kind- 
E 
