1.When a native of the forest region of Guianagoes in questof feathered game，he seldom carries hisbow and arrows.It is the blow-pipe that he then uses.
This extraordinary tube of death is perhaps one of the greatest natural curiosities of Guiana.The Indians say that it grows in the south-west of the country，in thewilds which extend between them and the Rio Negro .
2.The reed must grow to an amazing length，as the part which the Indians use is from ten to eleven feet long；and no taperingcan be perceived in it，one end beingas thick as the other.It is of a bright yellow colour，and perfectly smooth both inside and out.It grows hollow；nor is there the least appearance of a knot or a joint throughout its whole extent.The natives call it “ourah.”
3.This reed is of itself too slender to serve for a blow-pipe；but there is a species of palm common in Guiana which is larger and stronger，and this the Indians use as a case in which they put the ourah.It is called “samourah，”and is of a brown colour，and full of knots.
Thus the ourah and the samourah，one within the other，form the blow-pipe of Guiana.The end which is applied to the month is tied with a small silk-grass cord to prevent it from splitting.
4.The arrow is from nine to ten inches long.It is made out of the leaf of a species of palm tree，hard andbrittle，and pointed as sharp as a needle.About aninch of the pointed end is poisoned.The other end is burned to make it still harder，and about an inch and a half of it is wound round with wild cotton.The cotton must be just large enough to fit the hollow of the tube，and it requires considerable skill to put it on well.It is tied on with a silk-grass thread to prevent it from slipping off the arrow.
5.With a quiver full of poisoned arrows over his shoulder，and his blow-pipe in his hand，in the same position as a soldier carries his musket，see the Indian advancing through the forest in quest of game.The birds generally sit high up in the tall and tufted trees，but still they are not out of the Indian‘s reach，for his blow-pipe will send an arrow to a height of three hundred feet.Silent as midnight he steals upon them，and so cautiously does he tread the ground that the fallen leaves rustle not beneath his feet.
6.His ear is open to the least sound，while his eye，keen as that of the lynx，is employed in finding thegame in the thickest shade.Often he imitates their cry，and decoysthem from tree to tree till they are withinrange of his tube.Then taking a poisoned arrow fromhis quiver，he puts it in the blow-pipe，and collects his breath for the fatal puff.
7.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.Should it take wing，its flight is of short duration，and the Indian，following in the direction it has taken，is sure to find it dead.Even when only a slight wound is inflicted，the poison works so quickly that the bird can live but a few moments.The flesh is not in the least injured by the poison，and can be eaten with perfect safety.
