is uppermost, is guarded by two little pieces of wood crosswise, with a
hoop round their extremities, which appears something like a wheel, and
this saves the hand from being wounded when the quiver is reversed in order
to let the bunch of arrows drop out.

There is also attached to the quiver a little kind of basket to hold the
wild cotton which is put on the blunt end of the arrow. With a quiver of
poisoned arrows slung over his shoulder, and with his blow-pipe in his
hand, in the same position as a soldier carries his musket, see the
Macoushi Indian advancing towards the forest in quest of powises, maroudis,
waracabas and other feathered game.

These generally sit high up in the tall and tufted trees, but still are not
out of the Indian's reach, for his blow-pipe, at its greatest elevation,
will send an arrow three hundred feet. Silent as midnight he steals under
them, and so cautiously does he tread the ground that the fallen leaves
rustle not beneath his feet. His ears are open to the least sound, while
his eye, keen as that of the lynx, is employed in finding out the game in
the thickest shade. Often he imitates their cry, and decoys them from tree
to tree, till they are within range of his tube. Then taking a poisoned
arrow from his quiver, he puts it in the blow-pipe and collects his breath
for the fatal puff.

About two feet from the end through which he blows there are fastened two
teeth of the acouri, and these serve him for a sight. Silent and swift the
arrow flies, and seldom fails to pierce the object at which it is sent.
Sometimes the wounded bird remains in the same tree where it was shot, and
in three minutes falls down at the Indian's feet. Should he take wing his
flight is of short duration, and the Indian, following the direction he has
gone, is sure to find him dead.