Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 37.djvu/879

Rh extending farther south, and operations have been successfully begun in the northern section of Alabama. This region offers a promising field for the enterprise, with the prospect of supplies to last for a long time to come. Particularly in the mountainous and hilly districts, extensive tracts, unfit for the cultivation of the soil, will probably remain, if not violently interfered with, in the condition of woodlands. "Thus we find the interest of the healing art closely connected with the question of the preservation of the forests of our country, and the pharmacist should feel in duty bound to unite his efforts with those who are already striving to secure this important object."

The Doctrine of Spirits in New Guinea.—The natives of British New Guinea, according to Mr. H. H. Romilly, believe that human appetites remain with the spirits of their deceased friends, just as if the body had not died. Hence the spirit must be kept supplied with food and water at the grave and in the accustomed haunts of the dead man. But if he has been killed in battle, the head of one of the enemy's tribe or race is sufficient; and if the slayer is a white man, the spirit can be appeased by payment in goods. They regard dreams as voices from the land of spirits, telling them what to do, for whom to work, from whom to plunder, and what to steal. When any mischief befalls a place where a white man happens to be, the blame is laid upon his attendant spirit, and the injury must be atoned for—by payment if he is a friend, or otherwise if not. Certain trees are supposed to have spirits, for which a part of the food or feasts is set away. It is noteworthy that all these spirits are malignant and the savages do not seem able to grasp the idea of a beneficent spirit. They have to be overcome by force of arms, blessings, or cursings, but are most effectively dispelled by fire. They can not be seen, but use arrows and spears when they are vexed. Sorcerers are guarded against by wearing charms, the character of which is regulated largely by the fancy of the sorcerer or the purchaser. Sometimes the charm is a bit of bark, sometimes it is a fantastically worked crab's claw; but great faith is reposed in its potency.

Lepidosirens.—The Dipnoi, one of the oldest types of water animals, are now represented by only four species: Lepidosiren paradoxa, a very rare species inhabiting the river Amazon; two species of Ceratodus or Barramunda, plentiful in certain rivers of Australia; and L. cannectens, which is the most abundant, being found throughout tropical Africa. The lepidosiren, or "African mud-fish," has a somewhat eel-shaped body and four limbs, which are round and taper to a point, being the simplest form of limb known. The breathing-organs consist of both gills and lung-like sacs; the skeleton is part cartilage and part bone; the nostrils, of which there are two pairs, are placed within the opening of the mouth. It is the organ of smell which determines that the lepidosiren is a fish and not a reptile. In every fish this organ is a short sac opening only upon the outer surface of the body; in every reptile it is a canal with both an external and an internal opening. Though lepidosirens are without doubt fishes, they spend a considerable part of their existence out of the water, as they inhabit shallow waters which periodically dry up. During the dry season they inclose themselves in balls of clay, which are lined with mucus, and have a small hole at each end to admit air. In these they remain torpid until the rains refill their pools. Lepidosirens attain a length of from three to six feet; they are carnivorous, feeding on frogs, fishes, and other aquatic animals.

Indian Tribes of the Amazon.—Of the Indian tribes of the Amazonian river Purus, the Pammarys are described by Dr. P. Ehrenreich as being pure water-men. Most of their life is spent in their canoes, and they are conspicuous by a peculiarity of their skin, which is covered with black and white spots that cause many of them to look as if they were dappled. The same skin affection exists among other tribes of the western Amazons, and is very mysterious. The Pammarys are industrious collectors of caoutchouc and copaiva, and have provided themselves with many European articles of commerce. The Jamamadis make their homes in the forests; are without a knowledge of navigation; are clever agriculturists; avoid trade with the settlers, and seldom leave their dense forests.