The poisons and narcotics of four tribes of Indians of Arawak origin are discussed. Each tribe the Deni, Paumari, Jamamadi, and Jarawara have both narcotics and poisons. The use of the little-known Paumari snuff from the Bignoniaceae species Tanaecium nocturnum (Barb. Rodr.) Bur. & K. Schum. is described in detail. The other three tribes have a tobacco based snuff. In addition the Deni use the hallucinogenic beverage Ayahuasca made from a species of Banisteriopsis (Malpighiaceae) and the Paumari also use a Virola based snuff. All four tribes use fish poisons and the Jarawara and J amamadi use a curare type of arrow poison. The ethnobotanical diversity between these four closely related tribes is pointed out as well as the urgency for ethnobotanical studies of tribes which are fast becoming acculturated.