I always wondered how folks could safely eat those monkeys they'd shoot with poisoned arrows.

Now I know.

When I was about nine I read a book called THE WHITE PANTHER that got me all fired up about all things jungle, so I read a bunch on South America. Curare was one of the interesting things I read about, I always wanted some for the "Authentic Jivaro Blowgun" kit that I ordered out of the back of FIELD&STREAM, I'm not sure what I would have used it on, but my older brother would have been an tempting target.

From the same region, Cassava is also an interesting subject, a staple foodstuff that is very toxic if prepared improperly, the compounds in it combine to form cyanide, yummy. Tapioca is just one of the things made from it.