antidotes.

It has been already remarked that in the extensive wilds of Demerara and
Essequibo, far away from any European settlement, there is a tribe of
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 extraordinary poison. Some
have affirmed that its effects 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 sufficient proof. The following
short story points out the necessity of a cautious examination.

One day, on asking an Indian if he thought the 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 that brought on immediate
dissolution in this case? Of course the weapon.