FEBRUARY 2.
One of the deadliest poisons used by the negroes (and a great
variety is perfectly well known to most of them) is prepared
from the root of the cassava. Its juice being expressed and
allowed to ferment, a small worm is generated, the substance of
which being received into the stomach is of a nature the most
pernicious. A small portion of this worm is concealed under
one of the thumb-nails, which are suffered to grow long for this
purpose ; then, when the negro has contrived to persuade his intended
victim to eat or drink with
him, he takes an opportunity,
while handing to him a dish or cup, to let the worm fall, which
never fails to destroy the person who swallows it. Another
means of destruction is to be found (as I am assured) in almost
every negro-garden throughout the island: it is the arsenic-bean,
neither useful for food nor ornamental in its appearance ; nor
can the negroes, when questioned, give any reason for affording
it a place in their gardens ; yet there it is always to be seen.
The alligator's liver also possesses deleterious properties; and
the gall is said to be still more dangerous.
