The second have been misled by disappointment caused by neglect in keeping
the poisoned arrows, or by not knowing how to use them, or by trying
inferior poison. If the arrows are not kept dry the poison loses its
strength, and in wet or damp weather it turns mouldy and becomes quite
soft. In shooting an arrow in this state, upon examining the place where it
has entered, it will be observed that, though the arrow has penetrated deep
into the flesh, still by far the greatest part of the poison has shrunk
back, and thus, instead of entering with the arrow, it has remained
collected at the mouth of the wound. In this case the arrow might as well
have not been poisoned. Probably it was to this that a gentleman, some time
ago, owed his disappointment when he tried the poison on a horse in the
town of Stabroek, the capital of Demerara; the horse never betrayed the
least symptom of being affected by it.

Wishful to obtain the best information concerning this poison, and as
repeated inquiries, in lieu of dissipating the surrounding shade, did but
tend more and more to darken the little light that existed, I determined to
penetrate into the country where the poisonous ingredients grow, where this
pernicious composition is prepared and where it is constantly used. Success
attended the adventure, and the information acquired made amends for one
hundred and twenty days passed in the solitudes of Guiana, and afforded a
balm to the wounds and bruises which every traveller must expect to receive
who wanders through a thorny and obstructed path.

Thou must not, courteous reader, expect a dissertation 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