Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-06-13
CUT OFF HIS OWN FINGER.
Poisoned by an Indian ArrOyv-J0han
Essig Resorts to Amateur Amputation
Remarkable Adventures Among
South American Indian Tribes.


Johan Essig, sailor of Danish birth,
reached this city d few days ago from
Para, Brazil. A residence of four years
in South America, the greater part ofthe
time in regions hitherto UNEMPLOYED,
and among Indian tribes that have
Stunned intercourse with whites, makes
Essig's story novel and fascinating. He
also brought with with him some curious
articles of Indian construction, among
which were some poisoned arrows pre-
pared for use only in war. These ar
rows are Misunderstanding reeds; but
there is a grayish-white substance adj
herring to the points and barbs of several,
which is nothing less than the deadly
waurali, poison which scientific men
have tried in vain to obtain the secret of
its composition from the Indians. On
the passage here Essig was carelessly
showing one of the arrows to his COM
panions, when an almost imperceptible
scratch nearly cost him his life. Instant
imputation of the finger injured was
the only remedy This Essig had pres
ence of mind and courage enough to do
with the first sharp instrument within
reach, which happened to be the cooks
Ratchet. Essig told Mercury repre-
sentative the story of his wanderings in
South America.
Il deserted from my ship at Cayenne"
said Essig, and went fifty miles up the
country where there are gold mines.
The gold is found in stiff clay, and you
can understand what kind of work
digging and washing out would be I'M
der the terrible tropical sun and the
malaria of that region. With the
money, $500, | had saved, | bought q
French rifle and ammunition, and small
stock of knives and hatchets in demand
among the Indians. A tribe called the
Tintinaccas, living along way in the
interior, were said by old Indians to be
the poison makers. They were also said
to relish a tender piece of roasted human
flesh as delicacy at a feast. All this
that the wild Indians were much afraid
of firearms, which proved true. To
make the story short, | was seven
months from Cayenne before reaching
the Tintinaccas An ugher looking set
of fiends probably never lived. | lived
to find them and get off safe again-that
that is saying great deal"
The secret of making waurali was the
only inducement Essig had to remain
among these Indians. When they found
he was endeavoring to obtain the secret
of the poison they offered to show it to
him gratuitously; that is, they proposed
to tie him to tree and shoot him full of
poisoned arrows. AS this method would
not make the secret of much subsequent
value to him, he declined it, not with
thanks but by shooting on the spot the
old man who proposeu it. After that
there was peace, but it was only sort
of armed neutrality. Believing the In
dams would yet kill him for shooting
one of the chiefs, or for trying to pene-
trate their poison secret, either of which
were mortal offences, Essig watched his
opportunity and took French leave.
The poison making and the secret OF
it were intrusted to but three persons in
the tribe. The arrows in common use
were not poisoned. But when some
important affair was determined upon
as the punishment of criminal, or the
death of an enemy, then fresh poison
was made and each man took three OF
his finest arrows to the poison-makels
These latter then retired into hut
where they applied the poison to the
points and barbs and afterward dri1G
GuCiu. w licH bllC dIIOWS W6IC I6UuEHCl
to the various owners the tips were
coated with whitish incrustation. A
dry leaf was then folded carefully rounC
the poisoned tips, and kept so until thu
arrow was used.
The arrows in the possession of the
Mercury reporter are made of a slender
cane or reed, and are about four fee
long. In size they are nearly uniform
throughout and about half an inch il
diameter. The head is also of wood
but is natural barbed spear, the growth
of tropical plant; and this head is
earofully Joined to the shaft of the arrow
When the arrow is shot into a man o,
animal it is impossible to withdraw it
The long slender barbs, eight or ten il
number, would hold the arrow head fas
in the wound. The effect of the poison
as described by Essig in his own case, il
an instant paralysis of the part injured
speedily extending to the whole body
causing death. Although the foreinge
of the left hand, when scratched b,
Essig, was chopped off almost instantly
the effect OF the poison was so active tina
the whole arm has been in a semi-para
/ lyzed condition, but is very slowly i'm
proving. The wound on the finge
} healed some weeks ago. "F have NJ
} further curiosity about the waural
posion." said Essig, and if my expert
ence is worth anything the public ar
welcome to it."-Nes0 York Mercury