Wanderings in South America, the North-West of the United States, and the Antilles, in the years 1812, 1816, 1820, and 1824. With original instructions for the perfect preservation of birds, &c. for cabinets of natural history / By Charles Waterton.

  • Charles Waterton
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Wanderings in South America, the North-West of the United States, and the Antilles, in the years 1812, 1816, 1820, and 1824. With original instructions for the perfect preservation of birds, &c. for cabinets of natural history / By Charles Waterton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/343 (page 33)
    ApouFci-poiirti is nearly one tliird tlie size of tlie Deine- rara at Stabroek. For two days you see nothing but level ground, richly clothed in timber. You leave the Sipa- rouni to the right hand, and on the third day come to a little hill. The Indians have cleared about an acre of ground on it, and erected a temporary shed. If it be not intended for provision ground alone, perhaps the next white man who travels through these remote wdlds will find an Indian settlement here. Two days after leaving this, you get to a rising ground on the western bank, where stands a single hut; and about half a mile in the forest there are a few more ; some of them square, and some round, with spiral roots. Here the fish called Pacou is very plentiful: it is per- haps the fattest and most delicious fish in Guiana. It does not take the hook, but the Indians decoy it to the surface of the water by means of the seeds of the crab- wood tree, and then shoot it with an arrow. You are now within the borders of Macoushia, inha- bited by a different tribe of people, called Macoushi Indians; uncommonly dexterous in the use of the blow- pipe, and famous for their skill in p]*eparing the deadly vegetable poison, commonly called Wourali. It is from this country that those beautiful paroquets, named Kessi-kessi, are procured. Here the crystal moun- tains are found; and here the three different species of F First Journey. Macoushi Indians.