er; it is most commonly to be met
with on the ground. The other is a little red ant, which stings like a
nettle, and generally has its nest under the leaf of a shrub. After
obtaining these, he has no more need to range the forest.

A quantity of the strongest Indian pepper is used; but this he has
already planted round his hut. The pounded fangs of the labarri snake,
and those of the counacouchi, are likewise added. These he commonly has
in store; for when he kills a snake, he generally extracts the fangs, and
keeps them by him.

Having thus found the necessary ingredients, he scrapes the wourali vine
and bitter root into thin shavings, and puts them into a kind of colander
made of leaves; this he holds over an earthen pot, and pours water on the
shavings: the liquor which comes through has the appearance of coffee.
When a sufficient quantity has been procured, the shavings are thrown
aside. He then bruises the bulbous stalks and squeezes a proportionate
quantity of their juice through his hands into the pot. Lastly, the
snakes' fangs, ants, and pepper are bruised, and thrown into it. It is
then placed on a slow fire, and as it boils more of the juice of the
wourali is added, according as it may be found necessary, and the scum is
taken off with a leaf: it remains on the fire till reduced to a thick
syrup of a deep brown colour. As soon as it has arrived at this state, a
few arrows are poisoned with it to try its strength. If it answers the
expectations, it is poured out into a calabash, or little pot of Indian
manufacture, which is carefully covered with a couple of leaves, and over
them a piece of deer's skin, tied round with a cord. They keep it in the
most dry part of the hut; and from time to time suspend it over the fire,
to counteract the effects of dampness.

The act of preparing this poison is not considered as a common one: the
savage may shape his bow, fasten the barb on the point of his arrow, and
make his other implements of destruction, either lying in his hammock, or
in the midst of his family; but if he has to prepare the wourali-poison,
many precautions are supposed to be necessary.

The women and young girls are not allowed to be present, lest the
yabahou, or evil spirit, should do them harm. The shed under which it
has been boiled has been pronounced polluted and abandoned ever after.
He who makes the poison must eat nothing that morning, and must continue
fasting as long as the operatio