On the urari : the deadly arrow-poison of the Macusis, an Indian tribe in British Guiana / by Richard Schomburgk.

  • Richard Schomburgk
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the urari : the deadly arrow-poison of the Macusis, an Indian tribe in British Guiana / by Richard Schomburgk. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Upper Rupnnuni, he was fortunate enough to see a part of his wish fulfilled, in obtaining at least a botanical knowledge of the dangerous plant which forms the main ingredient in the preparation of the urari. In the Wapisiana settlement, Aripai, on the Rupununi, in 3° N. latitude, he was informed that the plant was found growing in the Canuku Mountains, about one and a half days’ journey distant from Aripai. Accompanied by some Indians he went to the place. After a wearisome march they reached the mountains near Mamesna, a Wapisiana settlement, where they stayed all night, and where to his great joy he found an inhabitant who not only was well acquainted with the place where the plant grew, but who also understood the preparation of the urari. He was quite willing to bring him bark and branches of the plant in any quantity, but refused to guide my brother to the place where the plant was growing. Only large presents at last induced him to act as a guide. The next morning they set out, and after great difficulties—the road winding through a very stony country—they discovered the first plant. Although this neither showed flowers nor fruit, my brother recognised in it a new species of Strychnos (which he named (Strychnos toxifera). No persuasion could induce the Indian to prepare the urari in the presence of my brother. During my brother’s second expedition up the Essequibo, he had an opportunity of visiting the region of the urari plant. During his stay in Pirara, a Macusi settlement, lat. 3° 33' N., long. 59° 16' W., he was informed that near the Canuku Mountains a Macusi Indian was living, who was known as the most renowed preparer of the urari in the whole tribe. He inquired for him, and he was successful in persuading him to prepare the poison in his presence. In the company of the poison-maker he first made an excursion to the western part of the Canuku Mountains, where it was said the plant was also in existence, not only to get from thence the materials to prepare the deadly extract, but also to endeavour to see the plant in flower. The Ilamiki- pang was about eighteen miles in a south-easterly direction from the place he was staying at. Under difficulties like those which I experienced afterwards, they reached the first plants; and although he found them without flowers, he saw the fruit, which confirmed his supposition of its being a Strychnos. After collecting some of the necessary bark of the urari plant, only taken from such plants as were in full sap, they returned to Pirara. The preparation of the poison was delayed for some days, as the preparer of urari stated that to enable him to produce the poison he had to subject himself to a strict fast. During that time a notorious chief, named Kanaima, from the Rupnnuni, arrived in Pirara, w ho persuaded the preparer of the urari to withdraw his promise to prepare the poison in the presence of my brother. The Indian with great energy asked my brother to return the bark of the Strychnos, to which request my |
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