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A N

ESSAY

O N T H E

NATURAL HISTORY

O F

GUIANA,

In SOUTH AMERICA.

CONTAINING

A Defcriptlon of many Curious Productions
in the Animal and Vegetable Systems
of that Country.

Together with an Account of

The Religion, Manners, and Customs
of feveral Tribes of its Indian Inhabitants.

Interfperfed with
A Variety of Literary and Medical Observations.

In Several LETTERS

FROM

A Gentleman of the Medical Faculty,
During his Refidence in that Country,

— Ad res pulcherriraas ex tenebris ad lucem erutas alieno
labore deducimur.

Seneca, De hrenjitate njit^, cap. xiv.

LONDON,

Printed for T. B e c k e t and P. A. D e H o n p t

in the Strand. MDCCLXIX. ^, A

« 1 ^ I

i-

1

(l-..

if.* -. -
ADAMS

V_.'

T O

William Pitcairn, M.D,

Fe L L o w of the Royal College of
Physicians in London,

AND

Physician of St. Bartholomew's
Hospital,

This essay

Is Infcribed,
With Refpeft and Gratitude,

By his mod humble,

and moft devoted Servant,

Edward Bancroft.^

€1

■^7

< •

Advertifement.

TH E Author of this E% had
determined to conceal his
Name from the Public; but
fince the Letters and Title Page
were printed, his Friends have repre-
fented the impropriety of publifhing
an Account of the unknown Produc-
tions of an almoft unknown Country,
on the flender fupport of anonymous
Authority ; and the juftice of their re«
monftrance overcoming his juvenile ti-
tnidity, has encouraged him to fub-
ijcribe his Name to the Dedication ; not
with a prefumptuous expectation of ac-
quiring Honour from the Work, but
folely to add to its Credibility.

Thefc

ii A D V E R TIJE ME NT.

Thefe Letters originally con-
tained only the more carious Particulars
in the Animal and Vegetable Syftems of
Guiana, and many things have been
fince added, from the Writer's Memoirs,
which were made w^ithout deiign of
publication, and in feveral inftances do
not defcend to fuch minute objeds
as he could have wiflied ; and he
is too fenfible of the imperfedlions of
memory to add much on that autho-
rity.

The Order which has been obferved
in thefe Defcriptions, though fomewhat
unufual, appears m^ofl natural, and is
expofed to feweft inconveniencics. Had
the Author firii: defcribed the Man-
ners and Cuftoms of the Inhabitants, it
would have been neceffary to fuppofe
m.any things known, with which the
Reader could not be acquainted, and

confe-

ADVERTISEMENT, iii

confequently the Defcriptions, in many
particulars, mull: have been unintelligi-
ble, or the Writer muft have recurred
to frequent repetitions, which are now
avoided.

It is necelTary to inform the Reader,
that the Author's Oblervations on this
Subjedl, have been confined within the
limits of the Dutch territories in Gui-
ana ; thofe of Spam being inacceflible
to Foreigners, with whom all intercourfe
is prohibited : nor is the communica-,
tion with the French and Portuguefe Co-
lonies, on this Coaft, much lefs embar-
raffed. So imperfed has our knowledge
of this Country hitherto been, that the
lateft Compilers of Modern Hiftory
have not been able to determine whe-
ther its native Indians lived in congre-
gated multitudes, inhabiting fplendid
opulent cities 5 or whether, as is the

cafe.

iv ADVERTISEMENT.

cafe, they were difperfed in families
over the whole country, agreeable to
the natural and primitive fimplicity of
mankind.

Gm'ana, on account of the diverfity
and fertility of its foil, together witl^
its vicinity to the Equator, affords
almoft all the produftions of the diffe-
rent American Countries between the
Tropics, whether infular or continen-
tal, befides a variety of curious objed:s
peculiar to itfeif; from all which the
Author flatters himfelf, that this Effay
will not be unacceptable to the Public.

A N

( ^ )

A N

ESSAY

O N T H E

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

GUI A N A.

Rio Demeraryy July 8, 1766.

Dear Brother,

N compliance with your reite-
rated defires, and my repeated
promife, I propofe in this, and
feveral fubfequent Letters, to give you
an Effay on the Natural Hiftory of

B Guiana ;

( 2 )

Guiana 3 a country, which, except
its fea coaft, and the lands adjacent to
its rivers, remains hitherto unexplored,
by the fubjeds of any European State,
and unknown to all, but its aboriginal
Natives. Yet if we may be allowed
to form an idea of things undifcover-
ed, by the immenfe variety, uncom-
mon mechanifm, and properties, of
its Animal and Vegetable Productions,
which have fpontaneouily prefented
themfelves within the confined limits,
to w^hich our indolent enquirers have
extended their obfervations, we may
juftly conclude, that the bleffings of Na-
ture, have in no part of our habitable
lyftem, been difpenfed with a more
liberal hand, and that no part of this
Terreftrial Globe, affords more abund-
ant caufe, to admire and adore, the itu-
pendous Power, Wifdom, and Benefi-
cence of its Creator.

I mufl:

( 3 )

I muft, however, prevloufly tell you,
that you have engaged me, to afiume'a
tail^, to which I am confcious, that my
flender abilities, are very unequal, and
which I am particularly unable to exe-
cute with advantage, from the little

acquaintance I have had with the ftudy
of Botany, and my entire ignorance
of the art of Drawing, w^hich would
have enabled me, agreeably to illuftrate
my verbal defcriptions. I am likewife
but little acquainted with the Indian
languages, w^hich are indifpenfably ne-
ceflary, for acquiring that knowledge of
the properties, and effedls of the feve-
ral clafTes of Animals, and Vegetables,
which experience, during a long fuc-
ceffion of ages, muft have fuggefted
to thefe natives. I have, in vain,
endeavoured to overcome this difficulty,
by the afliftance of an Interpreter.

B 2 An

( 4 )

An intercourfe, fupported through fuch
2n imperfed: medium, muft ever be
confined, precarious, and difagreeable.
Add to this, in my prefent lituation,
I am almoft entirely deftitute of books,
by Vv'hich I might corredt my errors,
and elucidate my ideas, and confequent-
]y debarred, from imitating the practice
of authors, who pretty generally purfue
the advice of Seneca *, v/ith advantage.
Perhaps, however, this deprivation, may
not be very coniiderable, fince little
has been wrote on this fubjedt, which
can deferve attention.

* Nos qucque has Apes (qui ilores ad mel
faciendum idoneos carpunt et qui collegerunt,
in hunc faporem mixtura quadam, et proprietate
fpiritus fui mutant) debemus imitari ; et quae-
cunque ex diverfa ledlione ccngeirimus, fepa-
rare : Deinde adhibita ingenii noftri cura, et
facultate, in unum faporem, varia ilia libamenta
confundere : ut etiam fi apparuerit unde fump-
tum fit, aliud tamen efle, quam unde fumptum eft,
appareat. Epijh 84.

^ . Yet

( 5 )

Yet notwithftanding thefe difficulties,
I have refolved to profecute my under-
taking, not only in compliance with
. your delires, to Vv'hich I fhall ever pay
the moft affedionate attention, but from
ccnfidering, that though this country,
has been difcovered for more than two
centuries and an half, and has, at dif-
ferent periods, fince its difcovery, been
inhabited by the fubjeds of many Euro^
fcan Powers, yet it Hill continues almoft
wholly unknown in Europe-, nodefcrip-
tion of it worthy of notice having ever
been publiflied ; and indeed, if we re-
folve to wait until the fubjed is affumed
by a capacity adequate to its extent and
importance, we fliall probably continue
in our prefent ignorance a much longer
term -, as few, who vifit thefe countries,
are qualified for the undertaking, and
all are more attentive to the acqui-

B 3 fition

( 6 )

fition of wealth, than natural know-
ledge.

Guiana was firfl difcovered by
Chrijlopher Columbus y in the year 1498.
It is fitaated between the feventh de2:ree
of north, and the fifth degree of foiith
latitude, and between the fifty-third,
and fixtieth degrees of longitude weft
from Lo7idon. It is bounded on the
north and eafl: by the Atlantic Ocecaiy
on the v/eft by the great river of Oro-
noque, on the fouth by the river of
the Amazons, and on the fouth weft by
the xiv^r Negro, The communication
of this river with the two former, which
was originally believed, and afterwards
univerfally denied, on ftrength of mere
conje6ture, is now fufficiently demon-
ftratedj and Guianay which by the ri-
ver of the Amazons, is divided from
Brajtl, by the river Oronoque, from 'Terra

Firma,

( 7 )

Firma, and by the Negro, from the
kingdom of Peru, is by this com-
munication converted into an ifland,
the largeft which has been hitherto
difcovered.

The fea-coaft from the mouth of the
river Oronoque to that oi the Amazons,
is near three hundred leagues in length,
running from Cape Barimer near the
Oronoque, to the river Demerary, which
is upv/ards of twenty leagues, in a courfe
nearly eail fouth eaft; and from thence
to Cape Orange, near the river Oyapock,
with fom.e variation fouth eaft by eafl ;
from thence to the ifiand of Maraca^
and the North Cape, it fhapes nearly
fouth by eaft half eaft, continuing from
thence to the river of Amazons , in a
courfe nearly fouth,

B 4 Several

( 8 )

Several revolutions have happened in
the property of Guiana, fince its dif-
covery ; but it is now divided betv^een
the Spaniards, Dutch, French, and
Portuguefe ; the Spaniards, however,
have no other poffeffions in this country,
except their fettlements, on the eaft-
ern fide of the river Oronoque, near
the confines of its limits, and therefore,
can hardly be included, among the pro-
prietors of Guiana,

The Dutch territory is bounded by
the Spanijh fettlements on the weft, and
by the river Maroni on the eaft. With-
in thefe limits are the following; laree
navigable rivers, difchargingthemfeh^es
into ih.Q Atlantic Ocean, viz. Pomaroon,
EJfequebo, Demerary, Berbice, Curran-
tine, Surinam, and Merriwina, fituated
from weft to eaft in the order in which

they *

( 9 )

they are mentioned. A more particular'
defcription of thefe rivers, with their
fettlements, will be the -fubjedl of a
future Letter.

The French territory includes the
river Maroniy which is the boundary
to the Dutch poffeffions on the weft,
and extends to the territory on the
north fide of the river of the Amazons^
near Cape OrajigCy which a few years
fince was ceded by France to the do-
minion of Portugal, Within thefe li-
mits are the rivers Maronl, Sinamary,
Kourou, Amunihoy Organa^ Carinanama^
and Maccouria,

Dutch Guiana was formerly the
property of the Crown of Fnglandy and
the Englijh had made fettlements at
Surinam, where at this time a fpecies
of corrupt Engljjh is univerfally fpoken

by

( lO ) -

by the Negroes ^ but of thefe fettle^
ments, the Diitcb made themfelves
mafters, in the reign of Charles the
Secondy to retaUate the conqueft of
New Holland y and by a fubfequent
treaty, inFearuary, 1674, they obtained
a ceffion of all the Englijh territories
in Guiana^ in exchange for what they
had poffeffed in the province now called
New York,

The land in Dutch Guiana, for the
diftance of near fifty miles from the fea,
is every where flat and level, without
a finp-le hill ; and fo low, that during the

o

rainy feafons, it is ufually covered with
water near two feet in height. This,
however, has produced an effed fimilar
to that of the prolific inundations of the
Niky and rendered the foil more fertile
than that of any other part of the globe ;
infomuch, that the foil on the furface

of

( u )

of the earth, for twelve inches m
depth, is a fti-atnin of perfed: manare,
and as fuch, has been tranfported to
the ifland oi Barbadoes ^ but the wood-
ants, which are here very numerous,
committed fuch ravan:es in the veffel,
that a repetition of that projcdl has
not been attempted.

But to convey an adequate idea of
the foil of which I am writing, I need
only tell you, that in Ejfeqiieho it has
produced thirty crops of rattoon canes,
fuccediveiy, without replanting ^ where*
as, in the JFeJi India iflands, more than
two is never expecred. I have inllan-
ced E/fcquebo, not becaufe its foil is
more fertile than that of this river, or
Berhke, but becaufe no fettlem.ents
have been made on the lower parts
of thefe rivers, until very lately, the
Dutch havins: before cultivated the

more

(12)

more elevated, but lefs valuable lands,
farther up thefe rivers, while that ad-
jacent to the fea, was by them neglect-
ed, on account of thofe fuperundations,
w^hich are the fource of this redundant
fertility; which is even fomewhat dif-
advantageous, and proves, that even the
N greateftbkffings, may be difpenfed to ex-
cefs; as the inhabitants near the fea, are
.under the neceffity, of recurring to various
expedients, for diminifhing the excefiive
fertility of the foil, which they ufually
effect, by {locking it with plantin trees,
for two or three years, and afterwards
planting it with canes, which even, af-
ter this precaution, are ufually too ro-
bufl, and luxuriant to make fugar with
advantage, and are therefore, during
the firft and fecond crop, converted into
rum, which, until the late Ad: of the
Britijh Parliament, for prohibiting the
entry of foreign rum into her Ameri^

CiVi

(13)

can Colonies, was ufually fold to New^
England traders, in payment for their
commodities, but has lince been fent
to the coaft of Africa^ for the piirchafe
of flaves.

The timber, with which the land ad-
jacent to the fea is covered, is chiefly
fmall and low, confining moftly of Ma-
nicoles, which are a fmall fpecies of
Palm, and Troelies, which are a leaf
near thirty feet in length, ferving for
the thatch of houfes ; thefe, however,
at the edges of current water, are in-
termixed with large Mangroves, which
I ihall hereafter defcribe.

The foil in the inland elevated part
of the country, though fertile, is lefs
durable : It is, however, cloathed with
lofty ever verdant forefts, affording the
moft valuable fpecies of timber, either

for

fox^ folidity, weight, duration, or or-
nament. In this part of the country,
there are feveral ridges of fandy hills>
but no elevations, that can deferve the
name of mountains, between the fea-
coaft of the Dutch part of Giiia?2a, and
the river of the Amazons ; a Dutch Sur-
geon, more than twenty years iince, hav-
ing obtained from the Governor of Ef-
fequebo^ {t\^tx A Indians^ to condudl him
into the interior part of the country, in
queft of new difcoveries, with whom
he afcended the river oi Efequebo, three
hundred miles from the fea, near its
fource, and fi'om thence tranfportin?"
his canoe by creeks and 'rivulets, and
when thefe were wanting, by land, he
at length fell in with a branch of the
river Blanco^ by which he defcended
into the Negro, and from thence to the
river of the Amazons, without difco-
vering any confiderable mountain, in all

this

( 15)

this courfe. Here the Indians left him,
and returned, as he thought proper to
fix his relidence among the Portugiiefe,
This is probably the fame perfon, that
Monfieur de la Condamine faw, in de-
fcending the river of the Amazons in
1743, whom he names Nicolas Hortf-
man, and fays he mounted the river of
Effequebo, in 1740, in queft of the
Golden Lake of Parima.

But though the Dutch territories are
deftitute of mountains, thofe of Finance
are not, as there is a confiderable ridge
of them, about thirty miles from the
fea, on the continent oppolite the
ifland of Caye?2?2e, and a fiill larger
rid^e near three hundred miles farther
within the country, extending from eaft
to weft, according to the reports of the
Indians, for they were never vilited ex-
cept by the aboriginal Natives,

Befides

( i6 )

Befides the large rivers which I have
enumerated, there arc an innumerable
number of large and fmall creeks,
many of v/hich are navigable for vefTels
of fome burthen for many leagues ; and
but few countries can boaft of fuperior
dvantages in navigation.

Notwith{tanding the proximity of
Guiana to the Equator, there is no
country between the Tropics which
enjoys a more regular and uniform,
temperature of climate. The ccnftant
regularity of the trade winds during
the day, and of the land breezes, which
fucceed in the evening, joined to the
quick return, and invariable length of
the nights, with their refrefliing dews,
render the heat fo far from being ex-
ceffive, that it is feldom difagreeable,
efpecially to the white inhabitants,

who.

( »7)

who, except a very few, are unexpofed
to the rays of the fun near mid- day.
And furprizing as it may appear, I can
neverthelefs affure you, that the heat is
here lefs than in the ifland of Barba^
does, which is efleemed the moft tem-
perate and falubrious of all the tropical
iflands. Here we are not fubjedt to
thofe particular feafons for crops and
harveft, to which the inhabitants of all
the TVeJl-India iflands are confined;
every part of the year being proper
both for planting and gathering, and
in every part of the year blofToms, to-
gether with ripe and unripe fruit, ap*
pear on the fame trees. Revolving
years afford nothing but a perpetual
uninterrupted fummer.

" Stern winter fmiles on that aufplcious clime,
" The fields are florid with unfading prime ;
" From the bleak Pole no winds inclement bloWj,
" Mould the round hail, or flake the fleecy fnow."

Pope,

C The

( i8 )

The only divlfion of feafons in Gtii*
ana is into rainy and dry ; of each of
thefe there are annually two, of about
three months duration each. The
rainy feafons depend on the approaches
of the Sun, towards the Tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn, In the month
of Mayy when that luminary arrives
within ten or twelve degrees from the
Tropic of Cancery the iliowers begin,
and gradually increafe, both ia frequen-
cy and the term of their duration, un-
til the month of Juncy when the rains
become inceffant, accompanied with vio-
lent and frequent thunder, and thus conti-
nue until the beginning of y^/)/, when they
gradually decreafe with the Sun's retro-
grade motion towards the Equator, and
by the beginning of Auguji intirely ceafe.
The fame gradation is obferved as the
Sun approaches the Tropic of Capricorn i
but as we, in this part of Guiana^ are

fituated

( 19 )

fitaated at a greater diftancc from that>
than from the Tropic of Cancer, fo the
rains at that feafon are here lefs violent,
and of (liorter duration ; befides, they
are unaccompanied with thunder, which,
from whatever caufe it may happen^
is never heard here during thofe months
which conftitute winter in Europe.

The term of each dry feafon is during
fix or feven weeks before, and as many
after, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes*
During the continuance of thcfc fea-
fons, there is feldom a drop of rain i
the air is clear and fcrene, arid plen-
tiful dews fjpply the abfence of rain.
Thefe feafon s, however, are rnjj.ch
more unhealthy than the rainy, be-
caufe the water, which inundates all the
uncultivated land adjacent to the fea
coaft, during the wet feafon, and which
then preferves an inceffant tluvfcuation,

C 2 ilsg-

( 20 )

flagnatcs and corrupts during thofe
months in which the rains intermit, by
which the atmofphere becomes replete
with noxious particles, frequently ge-
nerating putrid fevers. But of thefe,
and the other difeafes of the country,
I iliall be more particular hereafter.

Having premifed this general account
of the fiiuation, extent, divilion, foil,
and climate of Guiana ^ I fli all next
proceed to accjuaint you with its vege-
table and animal produ6tions, in a
fimple, but, I hope, intelligible lan-
guage, avoiding all embellifhments of
Itile, which, in fubjecfls of this nature,
2ire incompatible with perfpicuity; nor
can I ever purfuc the following advice
of Seneca to Lucilius, with more pro-
priety than on the prefent occaiion :

<c

Nimis

( ^' )

'* Nimis anxlum te effc circa verba
'^ et compofitioncm, mi Lucili, nolo :
** Habeo majoraque curas, quere quid

** fcribas non qjem admodum

** Cujufcunque orationem vidcris folli-
*' Citam et po^itam fcito animum quo-
** que non minus pufilius occupatum."
115,

Concerning Foffils and Minerals, I
ihall only obferve, that above the Ca-
taradls of the river Demera?y, there
are abundance of red and white Agates,
which remain untouched by the Na-
tives, who avoid them from a princi-
ple of fuperftitious veneration, as they
are dedicated to the fervice of their
magical invocations. There are like-
wife a variety of ftones, which appear
to contain valuable ores, and there are
undoubtedly mines of gold and filver,

lince the Spaniards have difcovered

J.

C 3 feveral

( r,2 )

feveral in the interior part of the coun-
try, adjacent to the river Oronoqiie. It
is here, that the imaginary lake of
Parima, whofe fands were of gold, and
the fabulous golden city of Mama del
Dorado^ whofe walls were covered with
that idolized metal, were fituated ; and
until very lately, the nations of Europe
have entertained extravagant ideas of
the treafure of Guiana ; nor is it proba-
ble, that they were altogether chimerical.
But the genius and policy of the Dutch,
are wholly commercial. They are kn^
iible the wealth of A?nerica, has im-
poverifhed and depopulated the once
powerful Monarchy of Spain-, and have,
therefore, wifely prohibited the working
of mines within their territories in
Guiana,

In ranging the Vegetable Syftem of
Guianail ihalilirft confider thcfeproduc-

tion$

(23 )

tions which more immediately require the
aid of cultivation ; in defcribing feveral
of this clafs, I fhall be able to derive fome
affiftance from Mr. Hughes's Natural
Hijlory of Barbadoes ; though an ad-
herence to truth, and my own obferva-
tions, will, in feveral particulars, oblige
me to diflent from him ; probably, be-
caufe the difference of foil and climate
has occafioned a real difference in fome
of the produdlions of Barbadoes and
De?7ierary, though of the fame fpecies.
I have premifed this, to avoid the trou-
ble of unneceffary quotations j and, be-
caufe as Pliny juftly fays, " Eft benig-
" num et plenum ingenui pudoris fateri
<* per quos proficeris,'* Prcefatn

From thofe produdlions which are
more immediately affiled by cultiva-
tion, I fhall defcend into the furround-
ing forefls, where Nature fports in pri-

C 4 mccval

( 24 )

mseval rudencfs ; and, from the im-
menfe variety, which fhe has there fpon-
taneoufly produced in the vegetable
kingdom, I fhall feledt fuch, as from the
uncommon properties they have mani-
fefted, are more particularly v^orthy of
publick attention; and, in the re-
mainder of this, and my fucceeding
Letters, ihall ftudy, if poffible, to
avoid prolixity. *' Non multis opus eft
*^ fed efncacibus, facilius intrant fed et
" hsrent." Seneca, Epiji. 38.

The Cocao Tree, to which I have a
particular attachment, I fhall firft de-
fcribe. Its trunk is about fix inches in
diameter, and covered with a greenifh
white coloured bark ; it is intirely
deftitute of branches, until it arrives
eight or nine feet in height -, when it
reaches to twelve or fourteen feet, it is
ufually topped, to prevent its farther

growth.

(2S)

growth. Its leaves are about nine in-
ches in length, and three in breadth,
pennated, of a light green colour on
the upper fide, and of a deep green
on the lower, where they are ribbed ;
thefe are difpofed in alternate order.
From the trunk chiefly, and the lower
branches near the trunk, arife the
flower, confifting of fix petals of a pale
flefh colour, variegated v/ith reddiili
fpots : to thefe fucceed the pods, chan-
nelled into longitudinal grooves, and in
iize and fhace nearly refembhng a
melon, but pointed at the end ; thefe,
when nearly ripe, change to a yellow
colour. The pods are divided into fe-
veral longitudinal cavities, in which the
nuts, of an oblong roundifii form, and
about the fize of an olive, are difpofed
in rows. Thefe trees are uiuaily
planted in lines, at twelve, or fourteen
feet diftance, which form very agree-
able

(26)

able fliady walks, nor can any thing
fijrpafs the uniform beauty of a regular
Cocoa Plantation. Thefe trees grow
wild, to a great height, in the interior
parts of Guiana, adjacent to the rivers
Oronoque 2indL Amazons.

The Coffee Tree is feldom fuffered
to exceed fix feet in height. The main
ftem, or trunk, is covered with a brown-
ifh grey coloured bark, and puts forth
numerous branches clofe to the earth,
which diverge on every fide in a hori-
zontal diredlion. Thefe branches are
about eighteen inches in length near
the earth, from whence they gradually
become fhorter, as they approach to
the top. The branches are covered
with numerous beautiful green leaves,
about three inches in length, and one
and an half in breadth, being fharp
pointed, and elegantly finuated at the

edges.

( 27)

edges. The trunk and its branches,
thus cloathed in their leaves, by which
they are intirely obfcured, appear in
the form of a regular green cone, fix
feet in height, and near the earth about
nine in circumference. Numerous
flowers, of a beautiful white colour,
adhere both to the trunk and its
branches. They coniift of five round
pointed petals, which furround feveral
fhort ftaminoe, fupporting numerous
apices ; from within thefe arifes the
piftil, which contains the embryo of
the fucceeding berry. This confifts of
two kernels, which, by the junction of
their flat fides, form a round oval berry.
Thefe kernels are inclofed in a huflc,
which changes from a green to a bright
crimfon colour, when the kernels are
arrived to maturity. Of thefe there
are annually two crops, and in this
Colony, each of theie crops, from a

good

( 28 )

good tree, Is computed at a pound
and an half. The trees are planted in
ftraight lines, at five feet diftance from
each other; and a well ordered Coffee
Plantation may be juftly faid to form a
very agreeable profpeft.

The Cotton Trees are of feveral fpe-
cies, but have all a near refemblance
to each other. They confift of feveral
fmall ihrubs arifing from one common
root, and growing to about eight feet
in height. The leaves of each fpecles,
though they differ in fize, are indented.
The flowers confift of five large yellow
petals. Their piftils are covered on the
top with farina fcrcundans, of a yellow
colour, which when mature falls into,
and impregnates the fubjacent matrix.
When the petals fall off, a capful ar pod
arifes, furrounded by three triangular
leaves. The pod is fomewhat conic,

and

( 29 )

and divided into feveral bells, each cof-
taining a lock of cotton, intermixed with
fmall blackifli feeds. Thefe trees bear
after nine months growth, and produce
two crops annually, each crop amount-
ing to near a pound. The crops of
cotton, however, in this country, are
fomewhat precarious, and are frequent-
ly damaged by the early commence-
ment and long duration of the rainy
feafons.

The Sugar Cane has been fo cftea
defcribed, that I ihall. pafs it over in
filence.

The Plantin Tree is natural to Ame-
rica as well as Ethiopiay having been'
immemorially cultivated by the Indians
on every part of the Continent between
the Tropics. The trunk arifes from
feveral white bulbous roots, and is about

eight

(3°)

dglit inches in diameter, tapering up
to its height, which is about twelve
feet from the earth. Its internal her-^
baceous ftamen is enwrapped by about
fifteen green, porous, vafcular hulks,
near three lines in thicknefs. Thefe,
when they arrive at the top, (which
feveral of them do not) diverge alter-
nately, and form tapering footftalks^
and each of thefe becomes the middle
rib to the fucceeding leaf, which is
fmooth, and of a fea-green colour, near
five feet in length, two in breadth, and
of a long oval fhape. Its fibres run in
a lateral diredlion, to the rib, and are
cafily feparated. This rib, on the un-
der fide, is protuberant and convex; on
the upper it is concave, and its conca*
vity conveys the rain from the leaves
to the trunk, for its nourifhment. Thefe
leaves are ufually about ten in number.
Eight months after the tree has been

growing.

( 30

growing, there arifes from its fummit a
tough ligneous cylindrical ftalk, about
four inches in circumference, and near
three feet in length, bending fbmewhat
downwards, and terminated by a conic,
reddiili purple fpatha, which adheres
until the tree is cut down. This ftalk
is furrounded by numerous, monopeta-
lous hermaphrodite flowers, difpofed in
annular circles, at about three inches
diftance from each other. From thefe
arife fmall ftyles, terminated by a head,
or corona, which afterwards become
the Plantins. Thefe Plantins are white
farinaceous fruit, about eight inches in
length, and three and an half in cir-
cumference, bending fomewhat femi-
circularly, and inclofed in a fmooth,
angular, hufky tegument, w^hich chan-
ges, when the fruit is ripe, from a deep
green to a yellow colour. The Plan-
tins, when full grown, but unripe, fup-

ply

( 32 )

ply the place of bread, being either
roafted or boiled. When ripe, they are
a foft, fweet, yellow pulp, and are
eaten by way of defert, either raw,
fryed, or roafled in the hufk* About
fifty of theie grow in clufters on one
ftem, and form what is called a bunch.
To gather the bunch, of which only
one is produced on a tree, the tree is
firft cut down ; but its place is incef-
fantly fupplied by the young ilioots, of
which two or three are always ready at
its root. There is another fpecies of
larger Plantins growing on a fimilar
tree, but they are lefs delicate.

The Banana Tree diiTers but little
from the Plantin. The fruit, however,
is oval, being about four inches in
leno^th, and near five in circumference.
It is never eat until fully ripe, when it
is fragrant, agreeably f.vcet, and de-
licate.

The

( 33 )

The Cocoa Nut Tree is a fpecles of
Palm, and has been defcribed as pro-
ducing not only food and raiment, but
almoil all the neceflaries of life.
The trunk arifes from a larQ:e duller of
fmall fibrous roots, and grows about
fifty feet in height, undivided by branches
until very near its top. Its pofition is
feldom eredt, and its magnitude often
lefs at the middle than at either end.
Its bark, from the ground to the height
where the branches commence, is of
an afh colour, and from thence it be-
comes green. The branches are be-
tween twenty and thirty in number,
and about fifteen feet in length. Their
footftalks, as they arife from the trunk,
are inclofed in a ftrong reticular web-
like plexus, which is the cloathing this
tree has been faid to afford. On two
oppofite fides of the branches are dif-

D pofed

( 34 )

pofed numerous narrow petinated leaves,
about eighteen in.. lies long near the
trunk, from whence they gradua.ly di-
niinilh in length. The external fub-
flance of the tree is ftrcng, hard, and
ligneous ; its internal, like that of all
the Palm kind, is pithy. The trees
ufually produce nuts in about fix years,
from the time of planting : feveral of
thefe adhere to one ilalk, which arifes
from the trunk near the place where
the branches diverge. The colour of
its flowers is of a yellowilh white.
The nut is too generally known to need
a defcription.

The Pvicinus Americanus major, or
Phyfick Nut Tree, is a nuciferous, flen»
der, knotty &rub, about twelve or four-
teen feet in height; its leaves, which
arife at the extremities of the branf:hes,
are round, and flightly indented. The

kernel

( 35 )

kernel of the nut, which refembles aa
almond, and has an agreeable tafte, is
inclofed in a green huilcy tegument.
This kernel is feparated in the middle
by two thin white membranous folli-
cles, or leaves, which are generally faid
to contain the purgative and emetic
quality of the nut ; though this is by
fome denied; however, J believe it from
my own experience, having frequently
eaten the nut when divefted of thefe
leaves, without any fenfible effedl.

The Ricinus, Palma Chrifti, or Caftor
Bufli, is divided into two kinds, red or
white. The former is diftinguifhed by
a reddifti, and the other by a greeniih
flalk, which is about five feet in height,
and jointed. Both the ftalk and
branches are covered with numerous
leaves, near twenty inches in circum-
ference, and forming eight or ten fharp

D 2 pointed

( 36)

pointed cllvifions. The leaves are fup-
ported by foot-ualks near a foot in
Iengt!i. The flowers furround the
Hirnmlt of the main ilem, and confift
of fmall yellov/ifli ilamina, tipped with
apices. The hullv, which inclofes the
berry, is at firft green, but, as it ripens,
changes to a brown colour, and falls
off. The nut is of a triangular form,
compofed of three parts, and flightly
covered widi a browniili fur. Thefe
are replete with an oil, v»^hich, when
obtained by expreiuon, can fcarcely be
diilinguiliied fiom that of the olive.
It is gently purgative, and is now
efteemed a fpecific foe the CoUca Pi^o^
7tum, or J'VcJi India Dry Gripes.

The Manchineel Tree is fupported by
a trunk about two feet diameter, which
foon divides into many branches, like
an Apple Tree, Thefe are covered

with

(37)

v/Ith fmall round leaves. The wood
is beautiful, folid, and penrianent.
The fruit in figure and fragrance rc-
fembles the EngUfb Crab Apple.
Within its pulp is a hard, fulcated, un-
even kernel, containing the feeds of
the apple. The milky juice contained
in the bark of the tree, upon touching
the fkin immediately raifes w^t:ry vef-
ficles; and both that and the pu!p of
the fruit being taken internally, occa-
fion inflamjmations and death. Sea-
water, however, with the juice of
limes, and of the fig, and Whitevv'ood
Tree, are effectual remedies.

The GuavaTree is about twenty f.et
high, foon dividing into feveral branchcvS.
Its bark is fmoolh and grey. Its leaves
are of a deep green, rough, and point-
ed, being about three inches in length,
and one in breadth. The flowers are

D 3 : -white.

{ 38 )

white, and pentapetalous. The fruit is
globular, and of a deep green colour,
until It is ripe, when it cha-.ges to a
yellowifh white. The end, oppofite to
the ftem, has a fmall corona ; within
the rind, is a thin apple- like fubftance,
inclofing a reddifh pleafant pulp, inter-
mixed with numerous fmall hard feeds.
This fruit is the ufual fuccedaneum to
Apples j and its external fubftance is
iifed for tarts, marmalades, &c. The
inner pulp affords an excellent jelly.
The whole of the fruit is aftringent.
There is another fpecies, formed like a
Pear, but they are lefs common.

The Avigato Pear Tree is between
thirty and forty feet in height. Its trunk
feparates into widely diverging branches,
covered with large pointed leaves. The
flowers arife at the extremities of the
branches, and are hexapetalous. To

thefe

( 39 )

thefe fucceed the fruit, which refem*
-bles, when ripe, a large Pear, and is
either red, purple, or of a light green
colour. The pulp, within the rind, is
of a foft delicate texture, and has juftly
been (tiled a vegetable marrow, being
the mod nutritious, falubrious, and
agreeable, of all the tropical fruits. It
is ufually eaten with fait and pepper.
Within the pulp is contained a rulTet
coloured ftone, from which the tree is
produced.

The Caffava Shrub is about four feet
in height, knotted, and covered with
an afli coloured bark. Within it is
pithy. Near the top, it divides into
feveral {hort,fmall, green branches; from
thefe arife reddiili footftalks, about fix
inches in length, fupporting large digi-
tated leaves. The root is white, foft,
and farinaceous, of a cylindrical form,

D 4 near

( 40 )

near a foot in length, and five or fix
inches in circumference. This root is
grated on large copper graters, into
coarie meal, from which its juice is fe-
parated by expreflion. This meal is then
put on large plates of iion, placed over
a flow fire, and is formed into circular
cakes of different magnitude, and from
one to four lines in thicknefs; on thefe
plates it is baked, until the furface be-
comes brown* and will then keep fweet,
and wholefome, for many months. But
notwithftanding this is the ufual bread
every where on this Coaft, yet every
part of the root from which it is made,
is a fpeedy and fatal poifon, of the cold
kind, caufing, when internally taken,
violent fpafms, a tumefaction of the
abdomen, and a fpeedy ceffation of all
the vital functions. The aqueous part
is je;?cprefl!ed, not becaufe it is more
poifonous than the farinaceous fubflance,

but

( 4')

but to facilitate the baking. By the
inattention of the Slaves, this juice,
when expreffed, is frequently drank by
the Ineep, hogs, and pouhry, on the
Plantations, which ever proves fatal to
them : yet the animals thus poiibned,
are always eaten by the inhabitants.
Yet this poifon, fatal as it is in its cruds
ftate, is rendered perfectly innocent and
wholcibme by fire. Thus the meal,
by baking, is rendered innoxious and
nutritious-; and the poifonous juice of
the root, when exprefied, is, by the
Indians and White Inhabitants, boiled
with venifon, pepper, &c. and thus
affords an agreeable lalubrious foup.
The bcft antidotes that have hitherto
been diicovered againil: the poifonous
effefe of the Cafiava, in its crude flate,
are red pepper and rum, taken imme-
diately. The Sweet Caffava differs from
this only by being innocent, and hav-
ing

(42)

ing a tovigh ligneous fibre running
lor.gitadirially through the root.

The Female Poppau is of the Pru-
niferous tribe. Its trunk is hollow, and
ufually grov/s to about fifteen feet in
height, and fix or eight inches in di-*-
ameter ; being wholly deftitute of
branches. It is covered with bark of
a light brown colour, variegated by the
veftigia of the fallen off ftamina of the
leaves. The leaves on one tree are
ufually about fifteen in number, and
near four feet in circumference, di-
vided into {even or eight fecflions, which
are again irregularly fabdivided into
ethers, which terminate in obtufe
points. Thefe leaves are fupported by
as many hollow herbaceous foot-fialks,
near two feet in length, which arife in
a duller from the fumniit of the trunk,
fium whence the pedxles to the flowers

arife.

( 43 )

arife. Thefe pedicles are fliort, and
covered wiih ciuilers of pentapetalous
flowers, cf a yellowifh white colo'jr,
which are fragrant, and ufed for Sweet
Meats and Confedions. The Poppau
fruit, when young and fmall, make
excellent pickles. They are of an oval
form, about fix inches in length when
ripe ; at which time they change from
a green to a yellow colour. Their ex-
ternal fabftance refembles that of a
Pumpion ; and is boiled and eaten,
when the fruit is near ripe ; the milky
cauftic juice which it contains being
jfirft fultered to exude. Within the
external fubftance is a cavity filled
with a foit pulp, intermixed with nu-
merous fmall feeds. — The Male Pop-
pau differs from the Female in two
particulars. It produces no fruit ; and
the pedicles, to which its flowers adhere,
are near three feet in length.

The

( 44 )

The Pigeon, or Angola Pea Tree
is a branching fhrub, about nine feet
in height, covered with fmooth, long,
narrow-pointed leaves. Its flowers are
of the papilionaceous kind, and are
fucceeded by numerous pods of a ruffet
colour, fhaped like thofe of the EfigliJJj
Pea, but more flat. Thefe are divided
into four or five cells, containing as
many flattifli peafe, which are fome-
what aftringent, but agreeable and nu-
tritious.

The Arnotta, or Roucou Shrub, is
a woody plant, diverging into feveral
branches, ufually about nine feet in
heightj covered with long, narrow, point-
ed, green leaves, difpofed on the branches
in alternate order. The middle and
tranfverfe ribs, to thefe leaves, are of a
red colour. The flowers are pentapeta-
loas, and of a blueifli yellow colour. The

petals

( 45 )

petals indofe fevcral ftamina, crowned
with apices, of a purple colour : from
the middle of thefe arifes a ftyle, which
contains the embryo of a fucceeding,
echinated, conic pod, which is divided
into feveral longitudinal cavities, that
are filled with fmall feeds, which, when
ripe, are covered with a beautiful crim-
fon pulp. The Roucou is moftly culti-
vated by the Indians, and its feeds ma-
cerated in the juice of lemons, in which
the gum of the Mauna Tree has been
diflblved, yields the celebrated Indian
Pigment, or Crimfon Paint, with
which the Natives adorn their bodies.

The French Guava Tree is a ligneous
plant, compofed of feveral branches,
about twelve feet in height, with large
oval leaves, difpofed in pairs. From the
principal ftem arife feveral ered fpikes,
covered near the top with clufters of

yellow

yellow pendulous flowers. — Thefe fiow^
Cfs, when bruifed, afford a juice which
is highly allringent and deficcative, and
which Dr. Hillary efleems a fpecific
for iht cure of ring- worms, which in
this climate a.e extremely troublefome.

The American Aloes Tree, or May-
Pole, is no lefs admirable than beauti-
ful, being ufually planted in gardens
and walks. The trunk of this tree is
ever green, ufual^y about nine inches in
diameter, and twenty-five feet in height.
Its bark confifls of elegant triangular
lamina, or follicles, which terminate in
a prickly point; thefe gradually di-
minifh in fize, as they approach the
top. The internal fubitance, both of
the trunk and its branches, is a white
fpongy pith. The trunk, near the
earth, is furrounded by a thicket of
leaves arifmg immediately from the

roots.

( 47 )

roots. Thefe leaves are four feet in
length, fcven or eight inches in width
near the middle, where they are wider
than at or near the root; they are
pointed at the end, and are about half
an inch thick, covered with a fmooth
tegument of a beautiful green colour;
their internal fubftance is v/hite, ipungy,
and faponaceous. The branches arife
alternately, about ten feet below the
fummit of the trunk; they are fhort
and numerous, each futlaining a very
large compadclufter of yellow flowers i
each of thefe flowers is fupported by
fhort cylindrical light green pedicles,
and conflft of flx pointed petals, fur-
rounding an equal number. of long il:a-
mina, with large apices, _ v/hich are
Covered with yellow farinse. From the
centre arifes the piftii. As the flowers
fall off, their pedicles fhoot into broad
pointed leaves, clofely conneded in

form

( 48 )

form of a fucker. Thefe contain the
embryo of a future tree; Vvhen thefe
have arrived to maturity, the trunk of
the tree falls to rife no more, and its
furrounding leaves wither and decay.
This tree, after three months growth,
arrives at full magnitude, and puts
forth its blofToms in perfect bloom.

The Silk Grafs Plant nearly refembles
the American Aloes, but the height and
diameter of its trunk is lefs. Its flowers
are iingle, confifting of fix oval petals,
inclofmg as many flamina Vv^ith apices,
and furrounding a piftil. Its leaves
arife in a large clufler immediately from
the rooti they are about three feet in
leneth, and refemble thofe of the A?ne--
rican Aloes, but are fomewhat thicker,
and their edges are moderately indent-
ed, the fpaces between each indenture
riling into prickly points. The internal

fubflance

■ ( 49 )

fubllance of the leaves is a congeries
of ftrong, fmall, white fibres, or
threads, running longitudinally the
whole length of the leaf, and mixed
with a faponaceous pulpy fubftance,
which is ufed for walhing by the Ne-
groes. The threads are feparated from
this fubftance by bruifmg, macerating,
and beating. The Silk Grafs is chiefly
cultivated by the Indians, by whom it
is termed Curreta.

The Aloe Vulgaris, or Aloes Plant,
confifts of feveral leaves, which diverge
from the ftalk, at the very furface of
the earth. Thefe leaves are about two
feet in length, and five inches in breadth
at their middle, from whence they di-
miniih, terminating in a point. They
are about fix or ^cvtn lines in thicknefs,
and are covered with a flrong fmooth
green tegument, being laterally de-

E fended

( 50 )

fended by ftrong fmall prickles, placed
the whole length of the leaf, on each
fide, at half an inch diftance from
each other. In the center of the leaves
fifes a flender conic ftalk, growing
about eighteen inches above the fum-
mit of the leaves, being fometimes
forked. Near the top it puts forth fe-
veral pendulous, monopetalous, yellow
flowers, from which are produced nu-
merous feeds, which, when ripe, are
fmall, and of a blackifh colour. With-
in the external tegument of the leaf, is
contained a foft fucculent bitter pulp,
from which exudes a thick gelatinous
juice, which being indurated, either
by the heat of the Sun, or by boiling,
makes the Aloes. The Sun - dried
Aloes, however, is much the beft for
internal ufe, and fells for a much greater
price.

The

( sO

The Vegetable Muik Plant is about
four feet in height, dividing into fe-
veral fmall branches. Its leaves are
large, and divided into three fedion^,
each of which is indented, and point-
ed^ The fiower is of a beautiful yel-
low colour, confifting of five long oval
petals, which encircle a large piitil,
furrounded at its top with purple apices,
covered with yellow farin?e. Thefe are
fucceedcd by green conic fleihy pods,
about two inches in length, and one in
diameter. Thefe, together with the
leaves and branches, are guarded by
numerous, fine, hairy fpicuk, or feta»
which, when the pod is ripe, have
ftrength and elafticity fufficifent to create
a violent and painful itching, if they
are touched by the naked hand. The
internal cavity of the pod is divided
into longitudinal cells, correfpcnding
in number and direftion to its external

E ^ ' angles.

(50

angles. Thefe cavities are filled with
fmall oval feeds of a dark brov^n colour,
and bending fomewhat in a femicircular
form. Thefe feeds ftrongly diffufe the
fmell of Mufk, and are replete with oil,
which in this country is efteemed a Ipe-
cific for the bite of venomous fnakes,
when taken internally, as is alfo a cata-
plafm compofed of the bruifed feeds,
and applied to the w^ound; both of
thefe I have feen ufed with fuccefs.

The Ocro Plant nearly refembles that
of the Mufk, except its want of fmell,
and of thofe pointed feta which cover
the Mufk Plant. Its pods are boiled
when young and tender, and afford an
agreeable nutritious food; being of a
mucilaginous, flimy, and lubricative
texture. The female Slaves who intend
to procure abortion, have found the ad-
vantage of prevroufly lubricating the

uterine

( 53 )

Uterine paffages, by a diet of thefe
pods.

The Siliqua Hirfuta, or Cow Itch,
is a long flender creeping vine. Its
leaves, which are thin, of a middle
fize, and pointed, are difpofed in tri-
parture order, and covered with a foft
down. The flowers adhere in clufters ;
each flower is compofed of two narrow
purple leaves, about fix lines in length.
Between thefe, is a long white pointal, i
acutely pointed ; from this arifes feve-
ral ftamina, crowned with apices. Each
flower is fucceeded by a pod, in fliape
and fize nearly refemblinsf that of an .
Englijh Pea, but more flat, and contain-
ing feveral fmall purple beans. The
pod is obfcured by a thick brown coat,
compofed of very fine, fl:ift, elaftic
hairs, or fpicula, fo acutely pointed,
that, upon coming in contafl: with the >

E 3 fkin.

I

( 54 )

'ikin^ they excite an infuppoi table itch*
ing J but their vermifuge quality, which,
is unknown in Europe ^ juftly in titles
them to particular attention. Of this
\ fliall hereafter give you a very mi-
nute account, having been particularly
Gonverfant with examplesi of their un-^
common efficacy.

Ginger is a fpecies of Reed. From
its flalk, which is about fixteen inches
in height, arife, in alternate order, fe*
veral long narrow graminous leaves,,
which rife in a fpiral direction, termi-
nating in a iharp point. The roots are
found in the earth, in digitated races,
or cluflers. The foil of Guiana, near
the fea-coaft, is uncommonly favour a-
ble to the produ(!^ion of Ginger, as it
alfo is m^ore particularly to Rice, which
delights in a foil expofed to frequent
inundations of frefh water; and it is

here

{5S)

here found fufBcient, barely to free the
land from its trees, and fcatter the Rice
on the unbroken ground, which readily
takes root, and grows with the moft
luxuriant fertility, and yielding an amaz-
ing increafe.

The India?! Yams are peculiar to this
part of the Continent of America^ be-
ing unknown in any of the Wejl-India
iflands, and are different from either
the Guinea Yam, or that which is dif-
tinguifhed by a Prickly Vine, both of
which are here cultivated to great ad-
vantage. The Indian Yam is a fari-
naceous root, of a reddiih purple co-
lour, near the fize of a man's wTifl,
and feven or eight inches in length : It
fomewhat refembles the Potatoe, but
has a tafte peculiar to itfelf, which is
very agreeable. They are planted in
fmall hillocks, and produce a long flender

E 4 vine.

(56)

Vine, with large digitated leaves, and
^re about ten months in arriving to
maturity, from the time they are
planted.

I might here proceed to defcribe
tlie different fpecies of Shaddocs, For-
bidden Fruit, China, Seville^ and Sour
Orange trees ; as alfo thofe of the
Lijhon and St, Helena Lemon, The
Lime, Citron, Bcrgamot, Sappadilla,
Mammee, Cuflard Apple, and Cafhew
trees ; as alfo the Tamarind tree, the
Arabian JefTamy, Water Lemon, and
Granadilla Vine, together with the A-
nana, or Pine- Apple, &c. &c. But as
thefe are not peculiar to Guiana^ and
have been repeatedly defcribed already,
and as I have nothing new or important
to add to thefe defcriptions, I Ihall
pafs them over without farther notice,
being impatient to penetrate the vafl

furround-

( 57)

furrounding forefts, which I now furvey
with equal wonder and admiration,
cloathed in perpetual verdure, and ad-
orned with loftv trees, whofe eleva-
ted fummits are obfcured by the im-
pending clouds : Foreils, where the li-
beral hand of indulgent Nature has
ranged, in beautiful ruftic diforder, an
innumerable variety, an immenfe af-
femblage of vegetable produdions, feed-
ing and fheltering an equally innumera-
ble variety of animal beings. And here
I cannot but lament the unpardonable
indolence and inattention of the civi-
lized inhabitants of this country, few
of whom have ever penetrated the
woods farther than the confined li-
mits of their plantations; and hence
the properties of that vafl multitude
of plants and herbs with which the
earth is every where covered, remain
almoft v/holly unknown. Many of

thefe

thefe are known to be the moil; le-
thiferous poifons, and many of the
others fenfibly difcover very uncom-
mon properties, and might undoubt-
edly be converted into the mod falu-
tary medicines.

I have ipent many days in a dan-
gerous and almoft fruitlefs endeavour
to inveftigate the nature and qualities
of thefe plants ; and, by handling, fmel-
ling, tailing, &c. I have frequently
found, at different times, almoft all
the feveral fenfes, and their organs
either difordered or violently affedted,
without being able to determine to
which of the many fubjefts of my ex-
amination, I ought to attribute thefe
uncommon effeds. " Multa venientis
*'* sevi popalus ignota nobis fciet, Mul-
*' ta feculis, tunc, cum memoria noftri
^' exolverit, refcrvantur.'* Seneca.

In

(59)

In defcribing the fpontaneous vege-
table productions of Guiafiay I fhall ob-
Ibrve no other order but that of their
ma2:nitude, and even from that I fhall
fometimes deviate, amidft the rude dif-
order of thefe boundlefs and almod
unexplored forefls. — And here I muft
previoufly defire you to expedt no ac-
count of an immenfe variety of pro-
du(3:ions, whofe properties and ufes the
indolence of the prefent age has left
for the difcovery of a more inquifitive
pofterity.

The Cabbage Tree is firft to be con-
fidered in the order of magnitude,
which I have propofed to follow. Its
trunk, which arifes from innumerable
fmall long roots, is about k\Qi\ feet
in circumference, and ufually one hun-
dred and twenty feet in height ; being,
ftreight, ereft, and regularly tapering

from

( -6o )

from the root to the fummit, and en-
tirely deftitute of branches, until it is
near one hundred feet from the earth)'
at which place the bark changes from
a light grey to a deep green colour.
Near the top arife numerous green
branches, about twenty feet in length,
diverging on all fides, and extending
in an horizontal direction. To thefe,
on two oppofite fides, are compadlly
diipofed numerous pennated leaves,
about two feet and an half in length,
and between two and three inches in
width, and terminating in a point.
Thefe leaves diminifli in length the
nearer they are difpofed to the ends of
the branches. The flower, if it may
be fo called, arifes in that part of the
trunk where the afh-coloured bark joins
the green, ^nd at its firft: appearance
is a green hiifl.y fpatha, twenty inches
in len^nh, and four in breadth; its in-

Mi

iC

(6i)

fide being full of alternate protubera-
ting knobs, inclofed in fmall ftringy
filaments : From thefe are produced a
great number of fmall oval nuts, in
fize refembling unhuiked coffee-berries.
Thefe nuts contain each the rudiments
of a future tree. At the very fjmmit
of the trunk is found the cabbage, in-
clofed in a green huHiy tegument,
M'hich being exfoliated, the cabbage
appears in long, thin, white, tender
flakes, or ftrata, refembling the kernel
of an almond in tafte. The trunk of
the tree is of a ftrong ligneous fub~
ftance, but, like all of the Palm ipe-
cies, to which it belongs, has an inter-
nal longitudinal cavity, containing a
pithy fubftance.

The Eta Tree is of tlie ill me fpecies
with the foregoing, but fmaller. It
produces cabbage Hke that; but its

nuts.

( 62 )

fiut^> which grow in very large clufterg^
are globular, in magnitude equal to a
large grape fhot. They are covered
with a yellow pulpy fubftance, about
two lines in thicknefs, which is ex-
tremely delicate and pleaiant ; within
this pulp is a hard fhell, containing a
kernel, which is the embryo of a fu-
ture tree.

The Cokarito Tree refembles the
former, but is very {hort, feldom more
than thirty feet in height. It produces
the moft delicate and agreeable cab-
bage of any of the Palm kind. Its
nuts, though fomewhat like the former^
are lefs agreeable. The external fub-
ftance of its trunk, on account of its
exceffive hardnefs, is formed into point-
ed ipiinters, which being invenomed
by the poifon of Woorara, are ufed for
the points of their fmall poifon arrows ;

which

( 63 )

which are forced by the lungs through
hollow reeds, a confiderable diftance.

The Manicole is the fmalleft of all
the Palm kind ; though it often grows
ftraight, ered:, and gently tapering, to the
height of forty or fifty feet, yet its dia-
meter feldom exceeds eight or nine in-
ches. It is covered with a light brown
bark, clofely adhering to the wood ;
this, however, about three feet below
the top, changes to a green colour, and
forms a bulky integument to the cab-
bap-e. which is about the fize of a man's
wrift, and near three feet in lengthy
refembling that of the Cabbage Tree,
as does its leaves and branches, but they
are much fmaller and fhorter. The
trunk has joints, within two or three
feet from each other, its whole length.
Its external hard ligneous fubftance is
not above half an inch in thicknefs,

and

( 64 )

and is fpiit into a Ipecies of thin narrow
boards, which, in this country, fre-
quently ferve domeftic purpofes. It
produces neither flowers nor nuts, but
a fpatha, which arifes near the top,
and divides into twenty or thirty un-
even woody chords, or fibres. Thefc
are here called Broms, for which they
are ufed. The Cabbage Tree is com-
mon in many of the Weji-India Iflands,
but the Eta, Cokar-Eta, and Manicole,
fcem peculiar to Guiana and Terra Fir-'
ma. The cabbage which they afford,
is tender, delicate, and agreeable, and
is either boiled, or eaten as a fallad;
but a long continued ufe of it, has
here been found to generate flatulen-
cies and diarrhoeas ; thefe eftefts,
however, may be in a great meafure
prevented, by the copious ufe of red
pepper. Almoft the whole furface of
the earth on this coaft, within fifty

miles

( 65 )

miles of the fea, is covered with trees
of Manicolc, which are univerfally
efteemed a fure mark of a rich fertile
foil, wherever they are found.

The Silk Cotton Tree, in the order
of height, fhould have been confidered
immediately after the Cabbage Tree,
but I thought it mofi: convenient to de-
fcribe thofe of the Palm fpecies, in
courfe. It is near one hundred feet
in height, and about twelve feet in
circumference. The trunk is covered
with a light grey bark, fludded with
fhort thick prickles. It continues un-
divided by branches until it is feventy
or eighty feet from the ground. At
the extremities of each branch are fe-
ven long narrow leaves, orbicularly dif-
pofed, with fuch regularity, that they
appear like fo many fe<flions of one di-
gitated leaf. Juft without thefe arife

femicircular rofaceous flowers, confift-

F ing

( 66 )

ing of five white follicles, inclofing the
pointal within five ftamina tipped with
apices ; the whole being inclofed by a
green calyx : Thefe are fucceeded by a
pod of a conic form, and about four
inches in length. This pod, when
ripe, opens and expofes to the wind its
contained cotton, which confifls of
fliort, fine, filky filaments, intermingled
wdth fmall blackiih feeds. Thefe crops
are triennial. The trunk of this tree,
rendered concave by fire, makes the
India?! canoes, which are frequently fe-
venty feet in length, and capable of
carrying very great burthens.

The Locuft Tree is frequently feventy
feet in height, and nine in diameter,
being of the fiUquofe tribe. The
trunk is covered with light afh-coloured
bark, and continues deftitute of branches
until near the top, when they arile
pretty numerous, covered with oval

leaves.

( 67 )

leaves, about three inches in length,
and of a dark green colour; thefe are
difpofed in pairs, each pair having a
fingle flem, and are always unequally
divided by the middle rib. The flowers
are of the papilionaceous kind, and are
fucceeded by flattifh pods, about three
inches in length and one and an half in
breadth, of a light brown colour when
ripe, and containing three purple ker-
nels, fomewhat like Wind/or beans, but
fmaller : Thefe are covered with a light
brown, farinaceous, faccharine fubflance,
which the Indians eat with great avidity,
and vi^hich is indeed fweet and agreeable.
— From between the principal roots of
this tree, exudes a clear, tranfparent,
refinous gum, either of a yellow or red
colour : this is found colledted in the
earth among the roots, in large lumps,
and when difTolved in alcohol, or recti-
fied fpirit of wine, (for it is indilTolu-
ble by an aqueous menftruuni,) It af-.

F 2 fords

( 68 )

fords a varniili fnperior even to the
Chinefe Lacque. The wood is of a
light brown colour, folid, heavy, and
durable, finking in water, as do almofl
all the woods of this country.

The Green Hart, or Sipeira Tree,
in fize and altitude differs but little from
the Locuft. They are of two fpecies,
black and yellov/, which are diflinguiili-
able only by the colours of the bark and
wood, which in the former are much
darker than in the yellow. This tree
continues undivided by branches, until
near the top. The leaves are long,
narrow, and pointed, and are difpofed
on the branches in alternate order. The
flowers are of a yellowiih white colour,
and tetrapetalous. Thefe are fucceeded
by a farinaceous globular fruit, about an
inch in diameter, with which the In-
dians fometimes make a very indifferent
fpecies of bread, when they have neg-

ledted

( 69 )

]ecled providing themfelves with a fuf-
ficient quantity of plantins, caffava, &c.
The timber of Green Hart, efpecially
the black kind, is very valuable for its
weight, folidity, and permanence.

The Purple Hart Tree grows to equal
height and magnitude with the former.
It is covered with fmooth, dark brown-
colourer". bark, and its branches arife,
near the top, with middle-fized oval
leaves, difpofed in pairs ; the flowers
are of a reddilli colour, coHiiflins: of
five petals, thefe are facceeded by fmall
rrimfon berries, with feeds.-— This wood
is of a bright crimfon colour, but its
outfide, after being fome time expofed
to the air, changes gradually to a deen
purple colour. The timber is extreme!)'
heavy and durable, and is efleemed
more valuable than either of the
former,

F 3 The

(70)

The Bullet Tree ufually grows about
fifty feet in height, but is feldom more
than fix or feven feet in circumference.
It is covered with a grey, finooth, clofely
adhering bark. The trunk, like the
former, is deftitute of branches, until
near the top. Its leaves are long, and
narrow towards the foot-ftalk. The
flowers confifl: of five petals of a reddifh
blue colour, which are fucceeded by
fmall purple berries. The wood is ex-
tremely folid, heavy, and durable ; its
fpecific gravity being much greater even
than fea-water. It is of a dark brown
colour, variegated with numerous fmall
white fpecks, and is efteemed the moft
valuable timber for the arms, fhafts, &c.
of windmills, that the Continent any
where produces.

Bow Wood, or Wafceba, is in fize
and altitude nearly equal to the for-
mer. Its bark is brown, and fomewhat

falcated.

( 7' )

fulcated. The leaves are of a dark
green colour, and of a long oval form.
The flowers are white and numerous,
and the berries, which fucceed them,
are fmall, and of a brown colour. The
wood, which is of a light brown colour,
heavy, durable, and extremely elaftic,
is ufed by the Indians for making their
bows.

The Iron Wood Tree uflaally grows
about fifty feet in height, and the trunk
is five or fix feet in circumference,
covered with a greyifh Vv^hite bark.
The leaves are fmooth> and of a light
ereen colour, about three inches in
length, one and an half in breadth, and
narrowed towards the foot-flalk. The
flowers are white, fucceeded by fmall

berries with feeds; both the coat and
internal fubftance of thefe berries is of
a lively red. The gravity and durability
of this wood, has given it the name of

F 4 Iron

( 7^ )

Iron Wood. Of this the Indians form
large heavy clubs, with (harp edges,
which ferve them for ofFenfive weapons,
a fiiigle blow with them being more
riian fufficient to divide the fkulL The
LocufI:, Green Hart, Purple Hart, Bui-,
let Tree, Bow Wood, and Iron Wood,
all grow in the internal part of the
country, on a dry elevated foil. All
thefe trees are formed into pieces of
timber, adapted for the building of
windmills, and tranfported in great
quantities, and at a very great expence,
to the EngliJJj Weji-India Iflands, where
they are fold to the Planters for not lef^
than fifty pounds flerling each piece,
efpeclally the principal ones. This oc-
cafions the EngHJh Planters a vail: ex-
pence, which thofe of this country
intirely efcape, as they alfo do many
other difadvantages to v/hich they are
expo fed* ,

The

( 73 )

The Guaiacum Tree in this country
ufually grows to about forty feet in
height, and the circumference of its
trunk is between three and four feet,
dividing into numerous branches, on
which the leaves, ohtufdy pennated, arc
difpofed in pairs. The flowers are pen-^
tapetalous, and of a violet colour. Thefe
are fucceeded by berries of a reddifli
yellow colour, and teflicular form,
which are commonly ufed in diet
drinks. The ufe of the wood, and the
medicinal qualities of its gum, are al-
ready univerililly known. There is a
white fpecies of Guaiacum, which is
diftingu idled only by its white flower,
and alfo a baftard kind.

The Wild Cinnamon Tree is tall,
but flender. It produces leaves of the
Laurel fpecies, about four inches in
length, and one and an half in breadth,
fmooth, pointed, and of a deep green

colour.

( 74 )

colour. The flowers are yellow, and
fucceeded by fmall red berries. The
bark of the tree is rough, moderately
fulcated, near two lines in thicknefs,
of a brown colour, and having a fra-
grant, aromatic, and pungent tafle.

«

The Mawna Tree grows about fifty
feet in height, and its trunk foon di-
vides into many branches ; it is covered
with a thin uneven bark, of a light
brown colour. It produces leaves of an
oval form, with numerous crimfon pen-
tapetalous flowers, which are fucceeded
by nuts, which, when diverted of their
huflcy tegument, exadtly refemble, in
form and appearance, the Oriental Nut-
meg ; but they do not aflbrd, either in
tafl:e or fmell, the leafl; aromatic fra-
grance. When incifions are made in
the trunk of this tree, there exudes a
yellowifh gum, diflToluble in an aqaeous
menfl:ruum, and which is an ingredient

in

{ 75 )

m the compofition of the celebrated
Indian Pigment.

The Launa Tree grov/s about fifty
feet in heiglit, being compofed of nu-
merous branches, which are covered
v/ith a finooth grey bark, having leaves
of a dark green colour, and a long oval
form, being narrowed near the foot-
ftalk ; thefe are fomewhat rough on the
furface, and dilpofed in pairs. The
flowers are white, and of the tetrapeta-
lous kind ; thcfe are ilicceeded by an
oval fruit, in fize equal to a Lijhon
lemon, covered with a rough, greyifh
green Ikin. The internal fubftance of ■
the fruit refembles that of an apple,
both in colour and confiftence ; except
that it is fomewhat harder. The juice
of this fruit, after being a little time
expofed to the air, changes from a
whitifh to a beautiful deep bluiili pur-
ple colour, and the internal fubflance of

the

(76)

the fruit being bruifed and macerated in
water, affords the paint fo delightful to
the Indians^ and which in colour nearly
refembles Indigo. With this they or-
nament their bodies, by drawing a
variety of figures, agreeable to the
fuggeftions of a wanton ruftic fancy.
Thefe figures, when thus drawn on the
fkin, are perfectly indelible for the term
of nine or ten days, by any art hitherto
difcovered. When that time is elapfed,
they ufually begin to difappear, and are
foon after invifible. From this fruit, a
beautiful ink is likewife made, which,
however, in a ihort time, becomes in-
vifible, and is therefore capable of
ferving many fraudulent purpofes ; for
which reafon, its ufe is prohibited,
under the feverefi: penalties.

«

The Red Mangrove Tree is common
to almofl every part of the continent
between the tropics, but ha& been hi-

therta

i77)

therto very imperfedly defcribed, as the
manner of its vegetation is uncommon,
admirable, and peculiar to itfelf. It
arifes from feveral flrong ligneous roots,
which immerge above the furface of the
earth, two or three yards, before they
unite at the trunk, w^hich is large, tall,
and divides into numerous branches.
From the trunk feveral tough ligneous
{hoots, about three inches in circumfe-
rence, germinate, and, defcending, take
root in the earth. As the tree increafes
in height and magnitude, thefe (hoots
become more numerous, and are ftea
in great numbers, defcending not only
jfrom the trunk, but from its moil ele-
vated branches, like fo many ropes,
jointed at every few feet diftance, with-
out either leaf or branch, each termi-
nating in a depending pointed head,
which enters the earth and takes root.
Thefe fhcots, after entering the earth,
increafe in fize, flrength, and folidity,

and

( 78 )

and become fo many props to fupport
the tree againft the force of the current
tide, and to compenfate for the loofe-
nefs of foil in which they grow, and
altogether form an almofl impenetrable
thicket. The branches are covered
with green oval leaves. The flower is
a fmall hufky conic calyx, confiding of
four browniih petals, which furround
the piftil, to this fucceeds a flattifli
brown pod, containing feveral kernels
refembling beans. The external cu-
ticle of the bark is of a light grey,
but its internal fubftance is red, and
highly aftringent, and is ufed by the
Spaniards for tanning leather. The
wood is heavy, folid, and durable. I
ought to have premifed, that this tree
grows only in a low wet foil, by the fide
of current water. There is a fpecies of
White Upland Mangrove, which grows
at a diftance from water, and which,
as Nature never does any thing in vain,

is

( 79 )

IS deftitute of thofe fhoots which fup-
port the Red Mangrove.

The CafTia FIftula Tree ufually grows
between forty and fifty feet in height,
covered with bark of a light brown
colour, fomewhat fulcated, and uneven.
The branches, which are numerous,
arife near the top. The leaves are few
in number, of a middle fize, narrow,
and pointed. Near the extremities of
the branches arife clufters of numerous
yellow pentapetalous flowers, which are
fucceeded by depending cylindrical pods,
of a dark brown colour, and ufually
about eighteen inches in length, and
between two and three in circumference.
The fhell of this pod is joined on two
oppofite fides, from end to end, by lon-
gitudinal junftures, one of which is
fomewhat protuberant. The cavity of
the pod is feparated into fmall cells, and
each of the partitions, w^hich form thefe

cells.

( 8o >

cells, are covered with a fweet, blackifh,
laxative pulp ; between thefe are depo-
lited the feeds, which are fmooth and
fiat. This tree is natural to Guianay
where it fpontaneoufly grows in abun-
dance, notwithftanding what has been
aiierted to the contraiy.

The Tetermer Tree grows to near
fifty feet in height, and its trunk is
often eight or nine feet in circumfer-
ence, cloathed in a light coloured fome-
what uneven bark. The leaves are of
alight green, fmooth, about four inches
in length, and two in breadth, being
narroweft at the footflalk. The wood
very much refembles mahogany, but is
fomewhat inferior to it in weight, hard-
nefs, colour, and the texture of its
grain. It is, however, fufceptible of
a very good polifli, and makes good
furniture. Thefe trees grow in great
plenty, and afford boards for the ciel-

ing

( 8i )

ing of houfes, and almoft all domeftic

ufes.

The Caraba, or Crab Tree, grows
about forty feet in height, and confifts
of numerous branches, covered with
long narrow leaves, of a dark green co-
lour. It yields numerous white blof-
foms, which are fucceeded by nuts about
the iize of a large chefnut, being of a
flattifh angular form; within a thin,
brown, huilcy fhell is contained a white
oleaginous kernel. From thefe kernels
the Indiajis extradl, by bruifing, mace-
rating, and boiling, a yellowifli, bitter,
butyraceous oil, with which they con-
ftantly greafe and rub their naked fkins,
for feveral ufeful purpofes. As this
undion, by its exceffive bitternefs, de-
fends them from mufquitos, which, as
they are naked, would otherwife be very
troublefome, it likewife foftens their
fkins, indurated by being continually

G ex-

( 82 )

cxpofed to the rays of the fun, and
by obftrudling the pores, prevents
exceffive perfpiration, and preferves
them from taking cold by the dews,
rain, &c.

The Savory Tree confifts of many
branches, growing about forty feet in
height, and is covered with a dark brown
coloured bark. The leaves are of a light
green colour, of an oval form, and
large, being near five inches in length.
The flowers are of a yellowifh white
colour, confifting of five petals; thefe
arife at the extremities of the branches,
and are fucceeded by a large globular
depending fruit, about fifteen inches ii^
circumference. This fruit confifts of a
white, thick, fpongy, external tegu-
ment, inclofing two or more flat circu-
lar nuts, whofe fliells are of a reddifh
brown colour, and fulcated like peach-
ftones, but are much larger; within

each

( 83 )

each of thefe fliells is contained a ker-
nel of a white, delicate, tender fub-
ftance, and of a more agreeable tafte
than any other nut hitherto difcovered.

The Ducollabolla Tree grows about
forty feet in height, covered with rough
bark, of a reddifh brown colour. The
trunk of the tree feldom exceeds twenty
inches in diameter. The branches arife
near the top, and are covered with
fmall oval leaves. The flowers are but
few, and of a blueifh colour ; thefe are
fucceeded by fmall purple berries. The
wood, which alone renders the tree
worthy of attention, is fomewhat like
mahogany, but of fuperior quahty, be^
ing of a deeper red colour, of a finer
and more equal and compad: grain, of
greater hardnefs and weight, and capa-
ble of receiving a more elegant poliih.

Gz ' The

{ H)

The Simaruba Tree is peculiar to
Guiana. It grows ufually at a confide-
rable diftance from the fea, near the
fides of rivers. When at full growth,
it is about forty feet in height, branch-
ing, and fomewhat crooked. It is co-
vered with fmooth bark, of a light
brown colour. The leaves are large, of
a long oval form, and difpofed on the
branches in alternate order. I have
never {^tn it with either flowers or fruit.
The Simaruba is either the bark of the
roots, or branches. But the former is
the bell, and moft efficacious, in dyfen-
teries, for which it is efteemed a fpecific
cure. It is of a yellowifli white colour,
and bitterifh talle, being ftomachic,
fomew^hat aflringent, balfamic, and
diuretic.

The Wallabah Tree ufually grows
about forty feet in height, and two in
diameter. It is covered with bark of a

reddifli

( 85 )

reddifh brown colour, flightly falcated.
The leaves are large, of a deep green,
and narrow at each end. The wood
has a thin white fap, but within it is of
a deep red colour, beautifully variegated
with whitifli ftreaks and fpots. It is
hard, heavy, and fhining, and would
make elegant furniture, was it not fo
eafily fplit ; but, this quality renders it
fuitable for flave§ for fugar hogfheads,
for which alone it is ufed. The bark,
which is fomewhat bitter, is a very
good emetic, and the only one which
the Indians ever ufe in this part of
Guiana, They ufually boil two or three
drams in a quart of water, of v/hich
they drink a few fpoonfuls, which im-
mediately excite the ftomach to vomit-
ing ; thefe draughts are repeated, until
the neceffary evacuation is obtained.

T\\t American Nutmeg Tree is found
only in the far inland parts of the coun-

G 3 try.

( 86 )

try. I am informed, it grows to a con-
fiderable height and fize, but as I have
never feen it, can give no particular de-
fcription thereof. The fruit, when
brought to us by the diftant Natives, is
divided into four quarters, and ftrung on
ftrings, for the conveniency of drying :
by the fize of thefe quarters, I conjedture
the fruit to be in bignefs equal to an or-
dinary apple. The texture of its fub-
ftance is fimilar to that of the Oriental
Nutmeg ; but it is of a darker brown
colour. Its tafte is warm and fpicy,
and it is univerfally ufed by the Indians
as a remedy for diarrhceas, being mo-
derately ailringent. Its efficacy, in this
diforder, to which the Indians^ fiom
the nature of their food, are particularly
expofed, has encouraged many of the
Dutch inhabitants to imitate i\\\s Indian
pradice.

The

( 87 )

The American Gum Anime, is the
produdl of a tree, in height about forty
feet, having but few branches, and thofe
near the top. The leaves are fmall, of
a deep green colour, and an oval form.
The external cuticle of the bark is of a
dark brown, and its Internal fubftance
of a reddifh brown colour. From in-
cifions made in this bark, the Anime
exudes, which is a vellowifh white re-
linous gum, having a fweet grateful
fmell, fomewhat refembling that of fto-
rax, and a v/arm pleafant tafte. The
Indians chew it for pains in the fto^
mach, and flatulencies, and often ufe it
by way of fuffumigation, for rheums,
head-achs, &c.

The Balfam, called by the Indians
Arrecocerra, is the product of a tree
growing about thirty feet in height ;
but which I have never feen, as it is
found only in the inland country. ^ It is

G 4 brought

( 88 )

brought to us by the Indians, in cala-
baflies, containing about twelve ounces
each. It is of a beautiful yellow colour,
of a very tenacious texture, and in con-
liftence fomewhat fofter than Balfam
Toluy but like that growing harder by
age. It affords a moft fragrant fmell,
nearly refembling that of Balm oi Gileady
and when held in the mouth, imparts
a pleafant bitterifli tafte. It is liquifi-
able by heat, but is indilToluble, except
a very fmall portion, either by alcohol
or water, neither of thefe being dif-
coloured by it, though after long di-
geflion they acquire a bitter tafte.
This is the grand Indian vulnerary, for
wounds, &c. which it fpeedily digeils
incarns, &c.

The Balfam Capivi, or Capoiba Tree,
likewife grows in great plenty in the in-
terior parts of Guiana, from whence
the Balfam is brought by the far inland

Natives,

( 89 )

Natives, in large gourds, containing fe-
veral pounds ; but this is too well
known to need a defcription.

I might now proceed to enumerate an
almoft infinite number of Ballams, Gums,
andRefins, which exude from inciiions in
almoft every tree, and fl:irub : but as the
properties of thefe exotic produdlions
are hitherto unknown, I fhall leave
them in. obfcurity, until chance, or fu-
ture induftry, fhall have difcovered in
them qualities which may intitle them
to a more particular attention. I can-
not, however, omit the Camphor Tree,
among the productions oiGuiaita, w^hich
Mr. Sanders^ an ingenious Surgeon in
this Colony, of whofe veracity I have no
doubt, has jufl informed me, of his
having lately difcovered, by accident, on
the Friendjlnp Phintaiion, where he
obferved a tree of the laurel fpecies,
from v/hofe bark (which had been pre-

vioufly

( 90 )

vioufly wounded by accident) had ex-
uded a fmall quantity of real gum Cam-
phor, adhering to the wounded part,
and which is doubtlefs the fame with
that produced in the Ifland of Borneo.
It is by fuch unexpected incidents, that
all our American difcoveries have ob-
truded themfelves upon our indolent
obfervers; yet, the many very effica-
cious medicines which chance, rather
than fagacity, has thus difcovered in the
wilds of America, and which probably
make but an inconfiderable part of thofe
which ftill continue unknown, ought to
incite mankind to more minute and ex-
teniive enquiries in thefe unexplored
forefts, which, by their immenfity and
fertility, promife an ample field for fuc-
cefsful employment, to all who have for-
titude and benevolence fufficientto pro-
fecute an attempt for alleviating the
common miferies of our fpecies ; an at-
tempt, which having for its obje(51: the

health

( 91 )

health and happinefs of mankind, would
abundantly merit publick patronage and
encouragement, which will ever be ne-
ceiTary for the due execution of thefe
defigns, while the human fpecies are
adtuated by thofe paffions and princi-
ples, which in every age, and in every
clime, have been found the infeparablc
attendants on humanity.

The Canella Alba, or Winter^s Bark,
as it is improperly called, is the pro-
dud of a tree growing plentifully in the
interior parts of this country. It is
brought and fold to the white inhabi-
tants, by the Indians refiding far up the
rivers of Effequebo and Dcmerary. It Is
a white bark, thicker than cinnamon,
and rolled in oblong tubes. It has an
acrid, pungent, aromatic tafte; but its
medicinal qualities are already fjfficient-
ly known.

Bourra-

( 92 )

Bourracourra, as it is called by the
Indians, by the French, Bois du Leltre,
and by the Dutch, Letter Hout, is the
heart of a tree growing about thirty
feet in height, and confiding of many
branches : it is covered with a reddifh
brown bark. The trunk is of different
lizes, but feldom exceeds lixteen or eigh-
teen inches in diameter. Its leaves,
which are of a middle fize, are narrow
and pointed. The flowers are pentape-
talous, and of a purple colour : to thefc
fuccecd fmall red berries. After hew-
ing off the white fap, which is very
thick, the heart of the tree is difcover-
cd, which is very fmall, feldom exceed-
ing twelve inches in circumference, in
a tree whofe diameter is fixteen inches.
Hence, great labour is required to ob-
tain a very fmall piece of this wood,
which, with its unequalled beauty, and
the fcarcity of the trees, has rendered it
of great value even in this country, where

timber

(93)

timber is generally of little confideration.
This wood is of great weight, hardnefs,
and folidity, having a fine even grain, of
a beautiful deep reddifli colour, variega-
ted, in every part of its whole fubftance,
with black fpots and figures, which have
been tortured into a fancied refemblance
of letters, from whence the European
nations have diftinguifhed it by the
name of Letter Wood. It is fufceptible
of a mofl elegant polifh, which refledls
a luftre almofl: equal to a mirror, or
at leaft fuperior to any other ligneous
fubftance hitherto difcovered \ but the
fmallnefs of its fize feldom admits of
its being ufed, except for walking-
fticks, and fome very fmall pieces of
ftirniture. The Lidians, indeed, form
it into bows, which they keep rather
for their beauty than ufe. There is
likewife adjacent to thefe rivers, a great
plenty of ebony, fuftic, and Spanifi
cedars, together with many other fpecies

of

( 94 )

of valuable timber, diiliingulflied only
by Lidian names, as Utobolla, Cerrebo-
bolia. Copper bolia, Hatchebolla, 6cc. &c.
but a deicription of them would be te-
dious, unentertaining, and perhaps of
little ufe.

The Ducolla Apple Tree ufually grows
about thirty feet in height, and confifts
of numerous branches : It is covered
with bark of a greyifh brown colour.
Its leaves are fmall, of a long oval form,
and fomewhat refembling thofe of an
European Apple Tree. The bloffoms
are of a yellowifh white colour : To
thefe fucceed the apple, which has a
green echinated tegument, within which
is contained a foft pulp of a reddifh
brown colour, intermixed with many
very fmall feeds. This pulp has a moft
delicious tafle, fomewhat refembling
that of a marmalade of quinces. — There
are in this country a great variety of

agreeable

.- ■ (95)

agreeable and falubrlous fruits, fponta-
neoufly growing in the uncultivated
woods, and which compofe a confidera-
ble part of the food of its aboriginal
inhabitants ; but the limits I have pro-
pofed to myfelf, will not permit me to
enter into a particular defcription of
them. — From the interior parts of the
country is brought by the Indiafis 2l very
agreeable Perfume, which is contained
in the buds of a fmall tree. Thefe
buds are of a conic form, about fix lines
in length, and of a reddifh brown co-
lour, affording a very agreeable fra-
grance, and are here ufually carried in
fnuff-boxes, for the fake of perfuming
the fnuff, and are hence called, by the
white inhabitants, the Snuft Perfume.

The Samec Tree is between twenty
and thirty feet in height, cloathed in a
bark of an alh colour, wuth leaves of a
Harrow pointed form. The internal

fub-

(96 )

fubilance of the bark confifls of long,
fine, ftrong filaments, refembling thofe
of hemp, from which the Indians com-
pofe their cordage and ordinary ham-
mocks.

The Hearree Tree ufaally grov/s near
the fides of rivers, at fome diftance from
the fea, and fingly by itfelf, being here
faid to deftroy all vegetables contiguous
to it, by its poifonous qualities. It ufually
grows between tv/enty and twenty-five
feet in height. It has a grey uneven
bark, covered with a vvhitifli mofs.
The branches are but few, and arife
near the top, with rough uneven leaves,
of a dull green colour ; but I have
never {^zn it produce either bloilbm or
fruit. It is here eftecmed a moil fatal
poifon ; and the fmoke of the burning
wood, is fatal to all animals, when re-
ceived into the lungs by infpiration; for
this reafon, on feveral of the interior

planta-

{ 97 )

plantations fituated on the fides of thefe
rivers, where a few of thefe trees have
been found, they have been- left grovv^-
ing, and the foil adjacent to them has
been left uncultivated.

The Caruna, as it is termed bv the
India7is, is the poifon nut of a fmall tree,
or fhrub, covered with a thin brown
bark, and having fmall, oval, light green
leaves. From the extremities of the
branches arife feveral reddifli coloured
blofixDms, which are afterwards fucceed-
cd by the nuts. Thefe nuts, deprived
of their external hufky teguments, ap-
pear in form of the American Ana-
cardium, being about ten lines in
length, five in diameter in the mid-
dle, and four near each end, where
they bend fomewhat inwards. Each
nut has a hard brown fliell, confifiing
of four pieces, which are joined la-
terally and longitudinally, but the cir-

H cular

(98)

cular longitudinal jundture Is confider-
ably nearer to one end than the other,
and thereby affords room for a cavity
towards the end which is fartheft from
this jundture. Within this cavity is
contained a farinaceous, fomewhat oily
kernel, equal in fize to that of a hazel
nut. The fubftance of this kernel is a
flov7 but moft fatal poifon, and is faid
to be a principal ingredient in the com-
pofition of a v^hite farinaceous poifon,
in the hands of the Accawau Tribe,
which they fometimes conceal under
their nails, at their meetings, when
they intend to revenge an injury, until
an opportunity offers of putting it into
the drink of the deftined vidim of this
fecret and flow, but fatal vengeance.
The {hells of thefe nuts are feparated
from the kernel, and fcoured with
afhes, &c. to free them from any noxi-
ous quality, and are then ftrung on
firings, and faflened round the ancles

of

( 99 )

of the Indian dancers, at their feftlvals.
But the Indians are particularly careful
not to touch their food whilft they are
preparing thefe fliells, nor afterwards,
until their hands have undergone the
like procefs of purification.

Nibbees (as they are termed both by
the Indians and White Inhabitants) are a
fpecies of ligneous cordage, of great
length and of diflferent magnitude, from
half an inch diameter to eighteen inches
circumference : thefe are what the Spa--
niards call Bejucos. They are extreme-
ly numerous in the interior and more
elevated part of the country, where
they are i^zvi mounting to the tops of
the higheft trees, deftitute both of
leaves and branches, from thence de-
fcending to the earth, again taking root,
and remounting the next tree ^ thus
communicating from tree to tree to a
great diftance, in oblique, horizontal,

H 2 and

( 1^0 )

and perpendicular diredions, like the
rigging of a ihip, and ibmetimes en-
twining thcmfelves with each other,
and then furrounding the trunks of the
contiguous trees, in fpiral afcending
circles, and killing them by mere com-
prcflion; whilft fome infert their ten-
drils into the bark of other trees, and
deftroy them, by robbing them of their
nourifhment. The larger kind of thefe
Nibbees are frequently ufed for mooring
veffels of burthen to the fhore ; whilft
the finaller are fplit into fmall liga-
ments, by the Indians, and applied to
many ufeful purpofes, particularly that
of tying the thatch of houfes. Thefe
Nibbees are, however, of various kinds
and properties : Thofe which are round
are generally harmlefs , but thofe which
are either flat, angular, or chanelled
into longitudinal grooves, are ufually
poifons of the moft deleterious kind.
To this rule, however, there are fome

excep-

( ,01 )

exceptions. The Woorara, which is
the principal ingredient in the compo-
fition of the fatal Indian arrow poifoii
of that name, is of the flat fpecies.
Of this poifon I fliall be more particular
hereafter. The poifon of feveral of
thefe Nibbees is fo active and fatal,
that many of the Indla72s are afraid
even to cut them.

Vanilla, or Vanells, are the fruit of a
ligneous filiquofe vine, bearing large an-
gular leaves, and an anomalous flower,
confifting of fix petals, five of which
are difpofed in circular order, and form
an impalement round the fixth, which is
placed in the centre, and is concave.
To thefe fucceed the pods, which, when
ripe, are almofl round, narrow, about
fix inches in length, and near one in
circumference, being fomewhat wrink-
led, foft, oily, and of a reddifti colour.
Within the external tegument is con-

H 3 tained

( 102 )

tained a reddilTi pulp, intermixed with
numerous fmall black feeds, of an aro-
matic tafte, and fragrant fmell, fome-
what refembling that of Balfam Peru.
Their ufe in chocolate is already fuffi-
ciently known.

Batts-Bane is the fruit of a woody vine,
growing by the edges of water, and fup-
porting itfelf by the neighbouring trees.
It bears a large triangular leaf, and near
its top arife feveral long foot-ftalks, fup*
porting clufters of blueifh white pentape-
talous flowers, which are fucceeded by
cluflers of globular fomewhat angled
fruit, inclofed in a fmooth green hufky
tegument. They are about nine lines
in diameter, and are ufed by the /;/-
dians only to poifon Batts, (which are
here very troublefome,) for which pur-
pofe they are very effedual.

Troolies

( 103 )

Trooli5s are, perhaps, the largeft
leaves that have been hitherto difcovered
in any part of the world. Each leaf
is fupported by a fingle ftem, which
arifes immediately from the root, and
becomes the middle rib to the leaf, run-
ning through its whole length. Thefe
ftems are hard and ftrong, being near
the root about three inches in circum-
ference, and gradually tapering from
thence to the end. Each leaf is from
twenty to thirty feet in length, and
from two to three feet in breadth.
The fibres are ftrong, and clofely con-
nected from one end to the other, with-
out any fe6lions or divifions. Ten or a
dozen of thefe leaves ufually grow in a
clufter, from a clufter of fmall fibrous
roots ; from the centre of the leaves
arifes a fliort ftem, fupporting a clufter
of yeliowifti white flowers, from which
are produced a great number of large
globular nuts, which confift of a rough
V H 4 brown

( >°4 )

brown external tegument, and a thick,
hard, black ilicll, containing a hard ker-
nel in its cavity, to which there is a
DaiTage by a fmall circular hole; when
the kernel is extracted, without break-
in 2" the flielL it relernbles a fmall hand
grenade, for which it might be a tole-
rable fuccedaneum, on account of the
v/eight, thicknefs, and hardnefs of the
fliell. The Trcolies grow here in great
plenty, and are a very valuable produc-
tion, ferving, with little trouble, to
cover the roofs of houfes in a very ad-
vantageous manner, as they will ef-
fedually exclude the moft violent rains,
and laft for many years.

The Muccomucco always grows in
v/ater, at the edges of rivers. It is
ufualiy at the bottom eighteen or twenty
inches in circumference, tapering to its
heio^ht, where it does not exceed ten
lines in diam.eter. It ufualiy grows

eight

( '05 )

eight or ten feet in height, and is jointed
every few inches. It is covered with a
fmooth bark, of a light brown colour,
but its internal fubftance is a foft fpongy
pith. At the very top it divides into
two or three green foot-ftalks, which
fupport each a large oval leaf. Thefe
leaves poflefs a violent attrahent, or
drawing quahty ; and the Slaves, v/ho
frequently feign indifpofition to efcape a
day's labour, often bind them on their
feet at night, which the next day are
found fwelled to an enormous fize.
The hidians, when their eyes are in-
flam.ed, often tie them over the eye-
lids, and a plentiful fecretion from the
lachrymal glands ufually enfues, which
generally refolves the inflammation ; and
the white inhabitants frequently imitate
their example with fuccefs. Thefe
leaves are alfo applied to veiications, to
promote a copious difcharge.

The

( io6 )

The Roots of Hiarree * are either
produced fpontaneoufly, or cultivated
by the Indians. The latter, however,
are much the beft, and make a con-
fiderable part of the traffic of the Acca^
^'^z^ Tribe, who barter it with the White
Inhabitants, as well as the Indians fitu-
ated near the fea-coaft, for fuch com-
modities as they want, as it grows only
in the interior parts of the country, in a
dry elevated foil. It is the root of a
ligneous ihrubby plant, growing about
fix feet in height, with large finuated
leaves, which are narrow at both extre-
mities. The roots grow to eight or ten
feet in length, continuing of almoft
equal magnitude until near the extre-
mities, when they diverge into feveral

* This name is diftinguifhed from that of a
polfon tree before defcribed, only by an / in-
iftead of an e. And many other of the Indian
words have fo near an affinity in found, that their
diflimilarity is imperceptible, without great atten-
tion.

branches.

( 107 )

branches. They are round, about three
inches in circumference, and of a tough
fibrous texture, refembHng that of the
frefli dug roots of Hquorice, but are co-
vered with a yellowifh brown cuticle,
or ikin, Hke that of a parfnip. When
brought for fale by the Accawausy they
are ufually cut into pieces, about two
feet m length, and tied up in fmall bun-
dles. One of thefe pieces bruifed, and
thrown into a creek or river, either at
the point of high or low water, when
the water ftagnates, is fufficient to in-
ebriate all the fifh within a coniiderable
diilance, fo that, in a few minutes, they
float motionlefs on the furface of the
water, and are then taken with eafe;
but if they are negleded, they foon re-
cover, unlefs the water has been im-
pregnated with a very great quantity df
the inebriating particles of the Hiarree.
Almoft all the fifli eaten in this country
are thus taken, nor has it ever been

found

( io8 )

found that they were rendered imwhole-
fome by the Hiarree, whofe noxious
particles, like thofe of the Caffava, are
probably correded by a culinary fire.
Don Antonio Ulloa * mentions a fpecies
of herbs ufed by the Indians on the
river Guyaqinly in South America , for
fifhing, v/hich he fays the Indians chew,
and throw into water. Should the In-
dians of Guiana chew the Hiarree, they
would expedt to become as motionlefs
as the fifli which are taken with it;
nor am I able to conceive how it can be
other wife with thofe of Guyaquil, fmce
humanity has never yet been found a
fecarity againil: the noxious effects of
either natural or artificial productions ;
nor are there any animals of equal mag^r
nitude, fo eafily affedied, either by medi-
cines or poilons, as thofe of the human
fpecies. I will not, however, deny the

* Relaclon Hiftorica del Viage al America Me-
ridional, i\c,

credi-

( I^ )

credibility of the fa6l, on the ftrength
of its improbability ; though I conjec-
ture, from feveral circumftances in the
manner in which it is mentioned by
Vlloay that he has related it rather
from information, than his own obfer-
vation.

Currawattie, as it is termed by the
Indians^ is the fruit of a large plant
found ufually in valleys, at the bottom
of the fandy hills in the interior part of
the country. This plant confifts of a
clufter of reddifii herbaceous ftalks,
growing four or five feet in length, and
fupporting large, fmooth, thick leaves,
of a long oval form, being near eight
inches in length. In the center of
thefe leaves is found an eredl, tough,
fibrous ftem, about two feet in height,
arifing immediately from the root: round
this ftem appear a clufter of large fiefli-
coloured tetrapetalous flowers, conne-fc-

ed

(no)

ed to It by fhort reddifh pedicles. Each
flower is fucceeded by a quadrangular
fomewhat oval fruit, in fize a little larger
than a walnut. This fruit is compofed
of a compadl angular clufter of fmall
aromatic feeds, nearly refembling, both
in fmell and tafte, the Grains of Para*
dife. Thefe are contained in a tegu-
ment compofed from four united parts.
This tegument is about two hues in
thicknefs, and replete with a bright
reddifli purple juice, which is fome-
what aftringent, and is ufed by the /;/-
dia?is for ophthalmies ; and when ufed as
ink, it changes, by the air, to a beautiful
blackifli blue colour, which remains un-
changeable. It alfo communicates a fi-
milar dye to linen, cotton, &c. but
ferments foon after its expreffion, (un-
lefs it is ufed,) and then changes to a
dull green colour. There is likewife a
fmaller fpecies, always found contiguous
to the Jarger. The fruit adheres to a

long

( I" )

long fmall ftalk, diverging Into a great
number of branches, which are found
incumbent upon the furface of the earth*
The feeds of this fruit are not diftin-
guilhable from the former, but the te-
gument is thin, bulky, and deftitute of
that juice with which the other is re-
plete.

The White Ipecacuanha is the root
of a plant bearing a ftalk about three
feet in height, with large, fmooth point-
ed leaves, and yellow blofibms, which
are fucceeded by round long-pointed
pods, about two inches and a half in
length, having a fmooth green tegu-
ment, inclofing an affemblage of white,
foft, fhining, filky filaments, connected
at one end to a great number of fmall,
thin, and flat feeds, of a dark brown
colour. The roots are flender, woody,
fmooth, and emetic ; but they are never

ufed

uied by the Indiansy who recur only to
the bark of the Wallabba tree for that
purpofe.

Here are likewife a great multitude
of White Rattans, refembhng thofe
brought from the Eajl-Indiesy together
with Bamboos, growing in clufters on
the banks of the rivers, or in a low,
fwampy foil, guarded with long prickles,
which render them impenetrable. Pen*
guins are likewife fpontaneoufly produced
in abundance on the hills, together with
a great plenty of fmall Ananas, or Pine-
Apples, which are very fweet and agree-
able, together with a variety of other
tropical fruits, which it would be tedi*
ous to enumerate.

The order, to w^hich I have hitherto
adhered, would now lead me to confider
the multitude and immenfe variety of

herbs

( >«3 )

herbs which every where cover the fur-
face of the earth, and which probably .
pofTels many valuable properties, which,
however, are at prefent unknown ; an4
as a defcription of thefe exotic produc-
tions, wdthout the knowledge of their
qualities, would contribute but little
either to utility or entertainment, I
fliall leave them in obfcurity, and fi-
nifh my Etfay on the Vegetable Syftem
of this country, with an obfervation
from Plhiy, which is very applicable to
the Natural Hirtory of Guiana :

** Multum adhuc reftat operis, mul-
** tumque reftabit, nee ulli nato poft
** mille faecula prscluditur occafio aii-
** quid adjiciendi."

' The great length to which this Let-
ter has already extended, obliges me
to defer the fubje(fl of my private con-
cerns to a future occafion. Happily,

I indeed,

( "4 )

indeed, they have fufFered but Httl^
alteration fince I had laft the pleafure
to aflure you of the afFeftion and de-
votion with v^hich I fhall ever conti-
nue.

Dear Brother,

Your^ &a

I "

LET-

( I'J)

LETTER II.

R^a Demeraryy jiug, 15, 1766^

X>^i2r Brother,

THE diiagreeable circumftances
which lately occurred in my
private fituation, and of which
I a few days lioce wrote you an ac-
count,^ being now happily removed, I
am permitted to r^kiniQ the fubjeft of
Natural Hiftory, than which, perhaps,
there is no fludy capable of affording
more rational pleafure to a cultivated
mind. - Moft other fciences. terminate
in doubt and uncertainty, and after ages
Ipent in laborious refearches, we have
often the mortification to find, that we

\ z have

(.116 )

have either purfued a phantom, or an
objedl which Nature has inveloped with
a veil impenetrable to human fagacity.
The hiflory of adions and events is in-
deed unconneded with thefe difagree-
able attendants, but is ever united with
a feries of melancholy accidents, and
unamiable truths, which fugged a chain
of painful and often humiliating reflec-
tions, abundantly fufBcient to allay the
fatisfadlion which the mind derives from
contemplating the variety and mutabi-
lity of fublunary events. But the ftudy
of Natural Hiftory, which ever termi-
nates in certainty, is unaccompanied
with thefe unpleafing attendants, and
the mind is left to the full enjoyment of
that pleafure, which it ever muft re-
ceive in comparing the limplicity, va-
riety, and beauty of Nature, in her or-
dinary operations, with thofe wanton
produdions in which Hie eludes the

compi«ehenfion of finite reafon ; and

while

( i'7)

while it teaches us the ufes and proper-
ties of farrounding and diftant objeds,
and their apphcation to the neceflities
and conveniencies of humanity, natu-
rally tends to infpire the mind with
fentiments of gratitude to their bene-
ficent Creator.

In the following Letter I propofe to
give you a defcription of the Animals
inhabiting the country of Guiana^ and
jointly fharing, with the Human Spe-
cies, the enjoyment of its common blef-
iings. Thefe may be commodioufly di-
vided into Terrene, Marine, or Aque-
ous and Amphibious; but the latter
fpecies, to avoid unnecefTary divifions, I
{hall defcribe among the clafs of Land
Animals : Thefe, purfuant to the ex-
ample of Mr. Kay, I fhall range by
their moft obvious qualities, referving
thofe of the Human Species, with their
Religion, Manners, and Cuftoms, for

I 3 the

( ii8 )

the fubjeQ: of a future Letter, mflead
of clafling them, according to LinncBus^
with Monkeys.

Among the difierent ipecies of Land
Animals, Qoadrupedes feem to demand
a primary coniideratioo, as being to
mankind the moil icterefling of the
animal creation, ofi account either of
their reciprocal fervices, or mutual en-
mity. Thefe are either Savage or Do-
oieftic ; tho* the number of domeftic
animals mail naturally be few in Gui-
afia, where the perpetual abience of
winter, by rendering human providence
unnecelTary for their fuhfiftance, has en-
abled them to enjoy a life of ruftic free"
dom and independence.

In die following Letter I {hall not
defcend to an anatomical delcription of
the internal flru(5lure and mechanifm of
the Animals of this country, which

wouli

( "? )

would carry me beyond the limits I
have propofed to myfelf, and perhaps
afford but little entertainment. Here
it might not be amifs to repeat, what I
before promifed, relative to the ftyle
of this Eflay : Natural Hiftory, like all
other Sciences, has its peculiar laa-
^uage ; and the criterion of this lan-
guage, like that of Nature's operations,
is fimplicity ; which is more particu-
larly neceflary in the defcription of A-
nimals than of Vegetables ; and to dif-
guife this fimplicity by foreign embel-
Jifhments, would be as unnatural and
ridiculous, as to cloath an Ape in hu-
man apparel.

Of Animals v;ith an undivided hoof,
there are but three, viz. the Horfe, Afs,
and Zebra, neither of which are natu-
ral to Guiandy nor even to any part of
America : the two former have, how-
ever, been tranfplanted by the Spa-

I 4 niardsy

( 120 )

7tiurds, and other Etiropea?2s, an-d are
very numerous in the Savannahs conti-
guous to the river Oronoqiiey where they
run wild, as alfo Mules, generated by
the Afs and Mare.

Among rum.inating animals, thofe of
the Beeve kind demand the foremoft
place ; but neither the Bull nor Cow
are natural to any part of South Ame-
rica, though, like the Horfe and Afs,
they have been fuccefsfully tranfplanted
into Gutanay particularly by the Spani-
ards near the river Oronoqiiey where
they likewafe run wild, and are become
very numerous, being commonly fold
for about two dollars per head. The
policy of Spain interdicts all commerce
between her fettlements and thofe of
the other European Nations on this
coaft ; but many of their Cattle and
Mules are notwithftanding tranfported
into the Dutch Settlements on Guiana^

by

( 121 )

by traders, "who either go with a force
jfuperior to that of their Guarda-coftas,
or efcape their obfervation. It has
been faid, that all European animals
have diminiflied on being tranfplanted
to South America ; bat this is far from
being the cafe with the Beeves, who
are improved in fize, though the tafte
of their fiefli, on account of the excef-
five perfpiratlon they fuffer in this cli-
mate, is fomewhat lefs delicate.

Sheep, which are likewife unnatural
to Guiana, have been tranfplanted hi-
ther, though not Vv'ith the fame fuccefs
as the former. Here, as in other Tro-
pical Countries, their wool changes to
hair ; but Nature has fupplied this
change by the wool of the Cotton tree,
which, in warm climates, is better ad-
apted to human ufes, than that of the
(hecp.

The

( 122 )

The Goat of Guiana is in fize but
little larger than an Eurapea?i Kid ; -its
hair, however, is fimilar to that of the
Goat in Europe^ Its horns are fhort,
flender, and incurvated downwards.
They are extremely prolific, and ufually
produce three kids at a litter, and fome-
times four or five.

Of Deer, in Guiana^ there are two
kinds, one large, and the other fmalh
The former is both by the Natives and
Europeans termed Baien, and the latter
Wirrebocerra. The Baieu is a Stag,
about the fize of the European Buck,
having a large head, with fhort horns,
curvated at the extremities ; the neck
is jQiort and thick ; its ears are large
and depending -, the eyes are bright and
lively; and its tail is llioit and thick r
the body is covered with fhort hair, of
a reddidi brown colour, except on the
belly, where it is white. Their flefh,

though

{ 123 )

jhoiigli good, is inferior to the Venifon
■of Europe. They are in great plenty,
and feed cot only in the Savannahs ia
the internal part of the country, but at
■the very confines of the Plantations,
and are frequently killed by the IndwM
Hunters,

The Wirrebocerra is at lead one
third kfs than the Baieu, and entirely
deftitute of horns. Thefe feem to be
iof the fame fpecies which Fathei' Labat
•defcribes at Cayenne^. Their \vliolc
tftrudture is extremely flender and deli-
cate. Their heads are fmall, ears nar-
row and fliort, necks long and arched,
eyes lively and piercing, tails fmall and
fliqrt, feet cloven, and their legs Hea-
der and nervous, and peculiarly adapted
to that velocity of motion, by which
alone they are able to preferve them-

* Voyage da Chey, dc r^Iar^hab en-Guince &
i Cay en nee. Sec.

felvcs

( 124 )

ieives from the attacks of the Tiger,
and other voracious animals, whom the
great delicacy of their flefh has ren-
dered their enemies. They are covered
with a ihort foft hair, of a reddifli fal-
low colour. They are light, nimble,
and extremely timid, and their flefh is
the mofi: tender and delicate of all the
Deer kind. They are frequently fccn
fvvimming acrofs the rivers, when they
are eafily taken alive, as their flender
legs are but ill adapted to the purpofe
of fwimming. Labat fays they arc
hunted by Negroes ; but in this part of
Guiana hunting is never undertaken ei-
ther by Whites or Negroes, but is left
folely to the Ind'uuiSy as their native
employment, in which they excel all
others.

Befides the Hogs, which have been
tranfplanted from Europe, and which
are become wild in many places, there

are

( 125 )

are two ipecies, which are peculiar to
thofe parts oi America fituated between
the Tropics, and more efpecially abun-
dant in Guiana ; thefe are, the Picary
and Warree. The Picary is coniidera-
bly fmaller than the ordinary Eiwopean
Hogs, and his back is befet with long,
thick, ffiff, grifly bridles, near five
inches in length, and is remarkable for
a gland refembling a navel, for which
it has been generally miftaken, which
is feated on the ridge of the back, over
the hinder legs, and which fecretes a
milky liquid, emitting a mufky fmell :
But as a particular defcription of this
animal has been publilhed by Dr, Ty-
fon, by whom one of them was dif-
fe6ted, I fliall content myfelf with ob-
ferving, that they are far from being fo
terrible as has been reprefented ; for
though they uiually go in droves, to
the amount of near an hundred, the
Indians always attack them, and fcldom

fail

( ]ia6 )

fail of killtng a fccre or two before thef
efcape. The Indians are very fond of
the fle£h j but the peculiarity of the
glandulous lx)dy on its back is dilgullful
to the Whites, who feldom eat the iedi
of the Pecary. The precaution which
JFafer * fays the Indians of Darken take
So feparate this glandular body, foon af-
ter the animal is killed, is likewife ob-
ferved by the Indians of Guiana.

The Warree Hog has likewife beee
mentioned by Wafer, but by no cither
Writer of Natural Hiftory. They are
here more numerous even than the Pe-
cary, being much larger s but, like
them, running in large droves, Ii? fize
and iliape they nearly refemble the En-*
ropeaii Hogs, except that their ears are
fmaller, and they have larger tufks,
and are covered wdth long coarfe hair^

* Vide Voyage to the Iflhmus of America,

or

( 1-7 )

pr briftks, thickly fet on every part of
the body. Their fle{h is lefs oily and
more delicate than European pork, and
is much efteemed by the White Inha-
bitants in thefe colonics.

A fpecie3 of the Hippopotamus, or
Water Horfe, fimilar to thofe found on
the coaft of Africa, near the Cape of
Good Hope, I am informed have been
taken in the river Effequeboy but of a
much fmaller fize. They are an am-
phibious animal, delighting in frefh
water rivers, and feeding on the grafs
growing on their banks. Thefe ani-
.mals, in colour and ihape, refemble the
Rhinoceros, but their legs are fhorter,
and of equal fize from top to bottom.
The head refembles that of a Horfe,
with a lar^e mouth and noftrils, but
fmall eyes and ears, and his tail is fliort
and blunt, and thinly covered with fhort

hair.

( »28 )

hair. This animal is particularly dif-
tinguiflied by his tuiks, which are four
in number, rifmg out of the mouth, a
confiderable height from the lower jaw,
being in fize equal to an ox's horn, and
extremely white. The ikin Is an inch
in thicknefs, and, except on the head,
almoft impenetrable to a mufquet-ball.
Thefe animals are of great fize, fre-
quently weighing between two and three
thoufand weight, at the Cape of Good
Hope, though they do not exceed twelve
hundred at Ejfequebo, if I am rightly
informed, for I have never had an op-
portunity of feeing any one. The fleila
is greatly efteemed.

The Laubba, as it Is termed both by
the Natives and Europeans^ is an am-
phibious animal, peculiar to Guia7icii
and of which no defcription has been
ever tranfmitted to Europe. The body
of this animal is round, fhort, and thick,

ia

( '29 )

«

in fize equal to that of a pig four
months old. The neck is thick and
Ihort, and the head, in iliape, pretty
much refembles that of a Dutch Maf-
tiff's, or Pug-dog, but both its eyes
and ears are much fmaller. It has no
tail y the legs are fhort and the feet
refemble thofe of a dcg. The Laubba
is covered with fine fhort hair, of a
chefnut colour, except under the belly,
where it is white ; but this chefnut
coloured hair is diverfified with white
circular fpots,. about three inchqs in cir-
cumference. Thefe animals feed on
herbage, grains, and fruit : When pur-
faed, they ufually retire to the creeks,
and will fwim a great diilancc under
water, though they feldom dive fo far
from the furfice as to be invifible to the
Indians^ who commonly flioot them
with arrows while under water. Their
flefli is extremely delicate and tender,
and is by the Europeans preferred to all

K other

( 130 )

otHer kinds of meat, even the venifon of
the Wirrebocerra not excepted.

Animals of the Ape kind are, in this
fZTtoi America y in greater number and
variety, than in any other part of the
known world. This exteniive variety,
from the Orang-Outang to the Sacca-
winkee^ and the difficulty of procuring
them, has engaged me to abandon a de-
fign I once formed, of giving you an ac-
curate defcription of their feveral iJ3e-
cies, which, I am fully convinced, could
hardly be comprized v/ithin the com--
pafs of an ordinary odavo volume.

The Orang-Outang of Guiana is
much larger than either the African
or Oriental^ if the accounts of the na-
tives may be relied on ; for I do not find
that any of them have been feen by the
White Inhabitants on this coaft, who
r\tvtr penetrate far into the woods,

Thefe

( 13' )

Thcfe animals. In all the different lan-
guages of the natives, are called by
names fignifying a Wild Man. They
are reprefented by the Indians as being
near five feet in height, maintaining an
eredt polition, and having a human
form, thinly covered vvi.th fliort black
hair -, but I fufpedl that their height
has been augmented by the fears of the
Indians^ who greatly dread them, and
inflantly flee as foon as one is difcovered,
fo that none of them have ever been
taken alive, much lefs any attempts made
for taming them. The Indians relate
many fabulous ftories of thefe animals ^
and, like the inhabitants of Africa and
the Eajly affert, that they will attack
the males, and ravifli the females of the
human fpecies.

The Ape, here called a Quato, is
large, and covered all over with long
black hair, except the face, which is

K 2 bald,

( 132 )

bald, and wrinkled. The ears are
large, and of a human form, the eyes
deeply funk in their orbits, and the nofe
very much refembling that of a Negro,
but fmaller. The body is near two feet
in length, and round the thorax about
eighteen inches in circumference. They
have neither beard nor taiL Thefe ani-
mals are frequently tamed, and in all
their aftions demonftrate an uncommon
degree of art and dexterity, not with-
out a mixture of that mifchievous figa-
city for which they are remarkable.
When their hands or fore feet are tied
behind the back, they will walk and run
in an ereft polition for a whole day,
with the fame eafe and familiarity as
though they were in their natural po-
fture. When one of thefe animals is
beat, he immediately runs and climbs
a lemon or orange tree ; and, if he is
purfued, will pick the lemons and oran-
ges, and drop them on the head of the

pur-

( 133 )

purfuer, and even endeavour to repel
him by voiding his excrements upon
him, at the lame time making a variety
of grimaces, and affuming a thoufand
ridiculous attitudes, which afford no
fmall diverfion to the fpedlators. The
males are very lafcivious, and frequent-
ly pradice felf-pollution 3 but v/hat is
more particularly worthy of notice, is,
that the females of this tribe of animals
have their menftrua with the fame re-
gularity as thofe of the human fpecies.

The Howling Baboons,^ as they are
here called, feem to be the animals
which are here defcribed hy Marcgrave^
and which are called by the natives of
Brajil, Guereba. They are of the fize
of a fox, covered with fine fmooth hair,
of a fhining black, except on the legs,
where it is of a brownifli chefnut co-
lour. The vifage of this animal is ereft,
and pretty much refembles that of the

K 3 Quato,

C 134 )

Quato, but its ears are fmallei*, the
eyes more prominent, and the chin is
covered with along ftreight black beard.
They have a long tail, Vv^hich is almoft
naked towards the end, the hair being
probably worn off, by frequently clafp-
ing round the branches of trees, when
they remove from one to another. They
are the mofl: numerous and vociferous
of all the Monkey tribe, and frequently
allemble by hundreds, both by night
and day, and fet up an inceffant loud
and difagreeable howling, which is
heard at a great diftance, and is not a
little troublefome to the inhabitants.
Sometimes the howling is kept up only
by one for feveral minutes, until the
reft join in the chorus ; but thefe inter-
miffions are not very frequent, as they
feem to abhor taciturnity at thefe affem-
blies, and are unwilling to deny them^
felves the pleafure of contributing a

{hare to this noify entertainment. Be-»

fides

( 135 )

fides thefe, there is another Monkey,
foinewhat larger than the howling Mon-
key, which is covered with long red-
di(h hair, having large ears, a long red
beard, and a long buihy tail, Thefe
animals, if poiTible, make a more hide-
ous yell than the former; but happily
their meetings are lefs frequent.

As the Orang-Outang is the largeft,
fo the Saccawinkee is the fmalleft of
the Ape tribe in Guiana, Its name is
of Indian origin, though it has been ad-
opted by the White Inhabitants. The
body of a Saccawinkee, from the head
to the root of the tail, is about fix
inches in length : the tail is about nine
inches long, and covered with very long
black hair : the head is fmall, as are
the ears, which are almoft round ; the
nofe is flender and flat, and the eyes
fomewhat prominent, and of a fhining
black colour : the face is covered with

K 4 a fine

( 136 )

a fine white downy hair, and the body
is cloathed with long hair, of a fhining
black, except at the points, where it is
white. Thefe animals are frequently
tamed, and their tricks and geftures are
not a little diverting ; but they can ne-
ver be divelled of a mifchievous difpofi-
lion, for which they are remarkable,
and which feems conftitutional.

r ^

V

Between the Quato and Saccawinkee
there are numerous fpecies of thefe ani-
mals, of intermediate fizes, of which
it would be impoffible to convey diftind:
ideas by verbal defcriptions, were I able
to give them ; but notwithftanding I
have reiided in Guiana near three years,
I can by no means pretend to have {^^w
all the different fpecies of thefe ani-
mals, almofl every day prefenting a dif-
ferent kind to my obfervation, either in
pofTeffion of the Indiajis, or in the
woods, where they are fo numerous,

that

< ^37 )

tliat fcores are often in view at once*
Nor are thefc animals a little trouble-
ibme, -as they frequently rob the plan-
tations of fruit, maize, rice, &c. Thefe
expeditions they undertake with great
fagacity^ ever ufing the precaution to
place a centinel on a commodious high
tree, to announce the approach of an
-enemy; a duty to which, it is faid,
they fubmit alternately; and that when
they are furprized through the negli-
gence or inattention of their centinel^
ihey punifh hizn feverelj.

The Tiger af Guiana claims the pre-
cedence among animals of the Cat kind.
They are fomewhat lefs than thofe of

Africa, and of a more (lender ftructure,
though the heads, mouths, ears, feet,
toes, and claws are in every refpedl fi-
milar in the mode of conformation.
The hair on the back is of a greyifli
brown, variegated with black ftripes,

runninp"

( 138 )

fanning longitudinally from head to tail.
On the belly the hair is white, diverfi-
fied with black ftripes, (imilar to thofe
on the back. The tail is about eighteen
inches long, covered with annular ftripes
of black and brownifli grey, difpofed in
alternate order. They are a very fierce
and mifchievous animal, frequently ma-
king incurfions on the plantations, and
carrying away hogs, flicep, &c. nor are
the human fpecies fecure from their at-
tacks, efpecially at thofe feafons of the
year when they have young ; at which
time they are very daring and ravenous,
as the Indians fometimes fatally experi-
ence \ feveral inftances of their attack-
in r^ and kill in 2: the Natives, even when
armed, having happened lince my reli-
dence on this coaft ; tho' a late Writer,
in comparing the Tigers of Aniei'ica
with thofe of Africa and India, affeds
to reprefsnt them as very defpicable ani-
mals, in contradidlion to what he has

advanced

( '39 )

a-dvanced in another part of his work.
Thele, and other inaccuracies, feem
fomewhat inconfiftcnt with the preten-
iions of an Author, who boafts of hav-
ing examined on the ipot, ** whatever
*' America, or the known parts of A-
*\frica, have produced to excite curio-
*' iity." I will not deny the Author's
alTerrion on this particular, tho' I mud
declare, that I can no where difcover
the veftieia of his obfervations in Guia-

o

na, and fome other parts of A7nericii
which I have vifited, tho' the Work,
indeed, is not without merit.

The Tiger Cat of Guiana is about
one third larger than the largefr dome-
ftic Cats in Europey and its head, whif-
kers, ears, feet, toes, and claws, very
much refemble thofe of an ordinary Cat,
but are larger, and there is a great fe-
rocity in its eyes and countenance. They

are covered with a fhort, fine, foft down,

of

( 140 )

of a beautiful chefnut colour, variegated
with deep black fpots fomewhat irregu-
larly difpofed. They are a fierce, cou-
rageous animal, nor can they be ren-
dered tame by any means whatever.

The Lynx of Guiana pretty much
refembles the Tiger Cat, but is near
twice as large. Its head, ears, feet,
and toes, are fimilar to thofe of the Ti-
ger, butfmaller j its claws are long and
femilunar; and its mouth is fet with
long whifkers : the hair, in the colour
and difpofition of its ftripes, exactly re-
fembles that of the Tiger. This is a
fierce, rapacious animal; but I do not
find that it ever attacks any of the hu-
man fpecies.

The Dogs of Guiana feem to be of a
fpecies between the Hound and Land-
Spaniel : their make is flender, their
ears long and pendulous, with a blunt

nofe.

( 141 )

pofe, and large moutli : their bodies
are covered with long fliaggy hair, ge-
nerally of a fallow colour. They pur-
fue and flart the Game by the fcent.

The Badn-cr of Guiana is about eim-
teen inches in length, covered with fine
hair, of a dark chefnut colour, except on
the belly, where it is of a whitiih yel-
low; and its tail, which is about fix-
teen inches in length, is variegated with
ftripes of a fimilar colour to the hair
on the belly: its head is fomewhat
round, with a long muzzle, and large
mouth : the ears are fmall, and the
eyes black and prominent \ and his legs
are fhort and thick.

The animal called by the White In-
habitants of Guiana an Indian Coney,
and by the Natives Puccarara, feems to
be of an intermediate fpecies between
the Hare and Rabbit. In fize, the co-
lour

( 142 )

lour of their hair, and fhape, they pret-
ty much refemble the Plare ; but in the
tafte of their flefli, and in burrowing in
the earth, they refemble the Rabbit.
Their legs are about four inches in
length s their ears are fomewhat fmall,
and roundifli ; the belly is white ; and
the head pretty nearly refembles that
of a Hare : they have cloven lips^, but
no tails. They are very prolific, and
their flefh compcfes near one half of the
animal food of the Natives, as they are
the moft numerous, and eafily taken>
of any other animal, Vv-hofe flefh is
equally palatable. Thefe are proba-
bly the fame fpecies of animals defcri-
bed by Wafer on the Ifthmus of Da-
rien.

The American Porcupines are fome*
times (ten in Guiana, but are not very
frequent. Thefe animals have been al-
ready repeatedly defcribed by^ the wri-
ters

( H3 )

ters of Natural Hiftory, and therefore
I fhall refer you to their defcriptions, as
I have had no opportunity of accurately
examining them.

The Squirrel of Guiana, in fize and
figure pretty much refembles the com-
mon E?2g/[/Jj Squirrel, but has a very
long bufliy tail, v^hich it commonly
holds in an eredt pofition. The body is
covered with fmooth fine hair, white
on the breaft and belly, but in other
parts of the body of a pale yellowiili
brown colour, diverfified on each fide
by a fmall white longitudinal ftreak.
The hairs on the tail are very long, and
of the colour of thofe on the body, but
variegated with white and black co-
lours.

The Rats of Guiana are extremely

numerous, and much larger than thcfe

of England^ but otherwife, in tvtxy re-

fpect,

( H4 )

fpevfl, iiinllaF. They refide chiefly a-
mone the canes ^ and the inhabitants^^
after cutting and removing tlie canes,
fire their leaves in circles, by w^hicli
thoufands of them are burnt.

The American Hedgehog is peculiar
to Guiana^ being about eight inches in
length, and having a fhort thick head,
neck, and tail : on the head are two au-
ditory holes, but no ears. The legs are
between three and four inches in length,
and each foot is divided into five toes,
armed with long pointed bending claws.
The back and fides of the Heds-ehoir
are covered with fliort flifF prickles of
an afh colour, trndlured with a paleifli
yellov/. The forepart of the head, belly,
legs, and tail are covered with fine foft
whitifh hair ; over the eyes the hairs
are fhort, and of a chefnut colour, but
on the back part and fides of the head
they are both longer and darker.

The

( HS )

The Tattu, or Armadillo, of GuiaJia^
is the largeft'of that fpecies of animals,
beinp- near three feet in len2;th from the
fnout to the end of the tail. The head
and fnout are four inches long, and very
much refemble thofe of a Pig, as do its
ears. The body is near a foot and a half
in length, and covered v^ath a hard
fhell, confifting of two large pieces or
fhields, the one over the fhoulders, and
the other over the hips ; the interme-
diate ipace is filled by nine oblong gir-
dles, or bands, covered with triangular
fcales ; thefe are loofely connecSed by a
ftrong fibrous membrane, and fupply
the place of articulations, by v/hich the
animal is able to bend the fliell into a
circular form. The legs are fhort, thick,
and fcaly ; the fore feet have four toes,
of which the two middle ones are equal,
and the hind feet have five, of which
the middle one is longeft. The tail is
about a foot in length, being thick at

L its

( H'3 )

its root, but gradually tapering to the
end, where it terminates in a point ,
but the upper part coniifts of ieveral
rings. Thefe anunals burrow in holes
in the earth, which they are very ex-
pert at digging : thefe holes are {cen in
great numbers, on all the fandy hills
diftant from the fea. Their flefh, when
young and tender, is very delicate i but
when old, they acquire a rank mufty
talte, which renders them difagreeablc
to the Europeans y tho' even then the
Natives are fond of them. Beiides
thefe, there are a fmaller kind in Giii--
ana, which are common in Terra Fir--
ma and New Spain.

The Bats of Guiana are the fame
with thofe near the river of the Ama-
t^ons, being twice as large as thofe in
England, and having no tail. The head
and body are covered with a foft fine
downy hair, of a brown colour. They

are

( 147 )

are very expert at bleeding. Moft of the
inhabitants, whether Europeans or Na-
tives, in this country, fleep in hamn^iOcks,
as being more lecure from fnakes and
poiionous infeds than beds, and their
feet are thereby expoled to thefe animals,
who with great dexterity imperceptibly
open the veins, and fuck the blood, un-
til they are fatisfied ; and it is not un-
frequent for perfons to wake, and find
themfelves faint and wet with their own
blood. They likewife fuck the blood
of Horfes, Mules, Oxen, &c. in the
fame manner.

The Sloth is alfo common in Guiana^
being of the fize of a Fox > its fore feet
are longer than thofe behind, and each
foot has three claws. But the peculiar
charaderiftic of this animal is, his infu-
perable averfion to motion, being of all
animals the mod indolent and inaftive :
Upon level ground they are unable to

L 2 move

( h8 )

move above forty or fifty paces in a clay,
and whenever they afcend a tree, never
leave it whilfl: either fruit or leaf is re-
maining. When by beating they are
forced to move, they make the moft
melancholy pityful noife and grimaces.
But as thefe animals are common to all
parts of America between the Tropics,
and have been repeatedly defcribed, I
{hall not enter into a more particular de-
fcription of them.

There are in Guiana three ipecies of
Frogs : the firfl is of a yellow colour,
lliaded with red; the fecond is of a red-
difh afh colour, variegated with red
ftreaks ; and the third of a brown co-
lour, with white fpots.

The Pipa is a large venomous Toad
peculiar to Guiana^ and its young are
bred in the back of the male, where
the female depofits the eggs. This Toad

has

( H9 )

has been accurately defcribed by the ce-
lebrated Ruyfchy to whom I fhall refer
you for a farther account of it.

Among the clafs of Lizards, Alh'ga-
tors evidently claim the firfl: rank. They
are frequently {<,^w in Guiana in the ri-
vers, and on the fides of rivers near the
fea, in iliape pretty much like a com-
mon Lizard, but near twenty feet in
length, and of a dark brown or black
colour. The upper edge of the tail is
fliarp, hard, and indented like a faw :
over each eye is a hard fcaly protube-
rance, or knob, larger than a man's fifl.
The fkin with which they are covered,
is thick, fcaly, and impenetrable to a
mufquet ball, except at the head. They
differ but little, except in colour, or
perhaps not at all, from the Crocodile,
In the river Demerary they are fre-
quently feen, at low water, lying in the
mud, to enjoy the fun-fhine; and their

L 3 young

( '5° )

young ones, thre. or four feet in length,
are frequently killed on irioar Ly the
Negroes with hoes or bills. 1 hey are lefs
mifch- ous here than they are icported
to be icy other parts Oi America,

The Iguana of Guiana rs alio of the
Lizaru kind, a;.u . aoout three feet in
kn2:ih» iio.n the head to the end of the
taiL The ildn is covered with fmall
thin fcales, and is of a dull brown co-
lour, variegated on the back and fides
with biuiih ftreaks, and on the neck
with black fpots. The legs and feet are
of a dull blue colour, and the toes are
armed U^ith crooked claws. The back
and tail are formed into a fliarp edge,
which is indented. The Hiin under the
throat hangs' loofe hke a bag, and its
jaws are fet with Iharp teeth hke thofe
of a fickle. They run with great fwift-
nefs, and are ufuallv killed by the Indi-
ans with arrows, among fruit trees, a-

nana

( '5' )

nana plants, &c. The flefli Is efleemed
a great delicacy by the Indians, Ne-
n^roes, and even White Inhabitants who
have long refided in the country. They
bite very deep, but their bite is not ve-
nomous.

Here is like wife the Mexican Canie-
leon, remarkable for the change and
beauty of its colours -, and a great mul-
titude and variety of beautiful Lizards,
of different kinds, frequenting the
houfes and gardens. Thefe are perfectly
innocent and harmlefs -, but the greater
part of them are likevvife found either
in Brafily Terra Firina, IS'ew Spain,
or the Carihee Illands, and have been
already defcribed by Linnccus, in his
Syjlema Natiirce, to which I iliall refer
you for a particular account of them.

L 4 HAVIx^G

( 152 )

I

HAVING given you an account
of the moil curious Animals in this clafs
of Quadrupedes, I fhall next proceed to
the Defcription of Birds inhabiting

the aerial regions of Guiana y which, for
the variety, vivacity, and luflre of co-
lours that adorn their plumage, are no
where excelled. Thefe I ihall range in
the order which Llnnceus has obferved,
in the tenth edition of his Syjiema Na^
turce.

The Vultur is by Linna:us defined, a
bird with a flreight beak, and crooked
point ; a head without feathers, naked
before, and a cloven tongue. The only
Vultur I have ever feen in Gtiiana is the
duity grey Vultur with black wings,
and a white beak. It has been defcri-
bed by Shane and Ray, and is common
to Brajily T^erra Firma, &c.

The

( '53 )

The Surinam Falcon has a crooked
beak, covered at the bafe with a wax-
like fubilance : the tongue is cloven,
and the head is thickly covered with
feathers of a whitifli brown colour, as
are thofe of the upper part of the body :
thofe of the under part, as alfo the
prime feathers of the tail, are fpotted
with vellow and bi-own, and the le2:s
are yellow. This animal has the power
of diftending his head with air almofl
to the fize of his body, which he does
when he is either angry or terrified.

The Strix, or Owl of Guiana^ is the
fame as the BrafJian called Cabiirc by
Marcgrave, being of the fize of a fmall
Thrufh, with a crooked yellow beak,
covered with briftly feathers at the bafe^
and having a large head, eyes, and ears,
with a cloven tongue ; the legs are fhort
and feathered, and the claws black. The
head, back, wings, and tail are covered

with

( 154 )

with feathers of a pale amber colour,
fhaded with white ; and thofe on the
beily and breaft are white, diveriilied
with pale amber coloured fpot^.

The Red Lamus, or Butcher Bird of
Surinam, has a llreight bill, with a tooth
on each fide near the point, a naked
nofe, and feemingly lacerated tongue.
Its body is of a bright red colour, orna-
mented with fpots like eyes on the
wings and tail, which are black at the
ends of the feathers.

The Black and White Butcher Bird
of Guiana has a tapering bill, of a duiky
brown colour, and the point of its upper
mandible bends over the lower : the fea-
thers at the bafe of the beak bend for-
ward, and partly cover the noftrils. Its
legs, feet, and claws are of a duflvy co-
lour, and the head, body, wings, and
tail are covered with feathers which are
each of them diverfified with fevernl

tranfverfc

f^

( ^55 )

m

I

tranfverfe bars or marks of black and
white coloaro.

Among Birds of the Parrot kind,
thofe called Mackavvs are the largeft.
They have all a crooked bill, which af-
lifts them in climbing, and whofe upper
mandible is moveable : their tongues
are flediy, blunt, and undivided ; and
they have two toes before, and an equal
number behind.

The Blue and Ye; low Mack aw is in
fize equal to a large capon, having a
wide black femicircular bid, three inches
in length, and black claws. The legs
are fhort, and of a dark colour. The
fliin, about the cheeks and ey^s, is di-
veriiiicd with black feathers, and thofe
on the top of the head are green ; the
n2ck, back, wings, and tail are blue;
the breaft, belly, under part of the neck,
and tail are of a reddhn vellcw ; and

the

( «56 )

the throat is furrounded by a band of a
black colour.

The Red and Blue Mackaw is of the
fize of a hen, with a long tail in form
of a wedge. Its upper mandible is
black and white ; the lower is intirely
black : the cheeks are naked, with
wrinkles ^ and the wings are blue a-
bove, but reddifh beneath : among the
covert feathers are feveral of a yellow
colour : the prime middle feathers on
the tail are red, and thofe on the fides
are blue.

The Red and Yellow Mackaw is
fornewhat lefs than the former, and
fomewhat rare even in Guia?tai to which
it is peculiar* Both mandibles of its
beak are black : the feathers on the
back and upper part of the wings are
yellow y thofe on the top of the head

and on the breaft are red , and the long

feathers

( ^S7 )

feathers of the wings and tail are blue
and red.

Parrots, properly fo called, are very
numerous, and of different fpecies, in
Guianay but none of them are deftitute
of green feathers, like the a£h-coloured
bluifh Parrot of Guinea^ the White-
crefted Parrot, and fome others. They
fly in large flocks, confifi:ing of many
hundreds, and many of them are killed
by the Indians ^ who are fond of their
fleih. Their natural language is a hoarfe
difagreeable fhrieking noife ; and in this
country it is almofl impofiible to teach
a Parrot to imitate the language of the .
human fpecies, or forget their own,
whilft they every day hear it from the
flocks of wild Parrots. Thefe birds are
here difl:inguiflied by the name of Par-
rots properly fo called, and thofe which
are termed Creatures : the latter refem-
ble the former in every particular, ex-
cept

( 158 )

cept that they have lefs docility, and
have a habit of nodding their heads and
fhrieking when any attempt is made to
handle them ; a cuftom of which they
can never be divefled, tho' they are often
taught to fpeak very diilindtly.

The largeft Parrot in Guia?2a is called
by the Natives Actijl:e. It is almoft as
large as a Mackaw, and its bill is long,
flender, and of a fiefli colour. The body
is covered with feathers of a beautiful
pea-green y thofe on the top of the head
are red, as are the upper edges of the
Vvings. The tail is long, and compofed
of green, red, and blueifh purple fea-
thers. Thefe are frequent in Demerary,
and often fpeak very diftindly.

The Blue-headed Creature is of the
fize of a common Green Parrot; his
head is covered v/ith blue feathers ; the
neck and body are green ; the wings

have

(«59)

have green and blue feathers ; and the
tail, which is ihort, is conipofed of red
and green feathers : its bill is fliort,
crooked, and of a dull brown or earth
colour.

The Yellow-headed Creature is like-
wife covered with green feathers, varie-
gated with yellow on the top of the
head, as are thofe of the wings. The
tail is lliort, and has both yellow, blue,
and green feathers. Its bill is like the
former, but of a flefh colour. Here is
alfo

The Green Parrot of Ray^ with a
long tail, naked cheeks, and the upper
edges of its wings reddifli. Alfo

The Great Green Parrot of Edwards,
with a fhort tail, blue forehead, and
crimfon ihoulders.

The

. ( .6o )

The Brafilian Green Parrot of Ed--
nvards, v/ith a Ihort tail, red face, and
blue temples. The green is fomewhat
obfcured by a yellowiih fhade, and is
red beneath the bending of the wings,
and on the external fides of two of the
tail feathers ; but the outer fides of the
prime feathers in the wings and tail
are blue.

The Lefier Green Parrot of Edwards^
with a fhort tail, the forehead and
wings being ornamented with a red fpot,
and the top of the head and prime fea-
thers of the wings of a blue colour.

The Cockatoo of Guiana is lefs than
a common Parrot. Its bill is fliort and
chefnut coloured, the uooer mandible
bending a good way over the point of
the lower one. The head, cheeks, and
neck are covered with long loofe fea-
thers, of a dull red colour, variegated

with

I:

( '6i )

with whitKh bars. The feathers on the
top of the head are near an inch and an
half in length, and thefe, as well as
thofeof the cheeks and neck, are erefted
at pleafure. The body and wings are
green j and the feathers of the tail,
which are fliort, are fome green, and
others of a dull red.

The Green Parroquet of Guiana is
about the fize of a fmall Thrufli. Its
bill is flender, and of a flefli colour. The
iris of the eye is outwardly reddilh, but
afh-coloured near the pupil : the eyes
are furrounded by a circle of bare flefli-
coloured fkin, about one line in width,
and the whole plumage is green, with
a variety of fliades. Thefe are the
moft numerous of all the Parroquets in
Guiana : they are alfo found in Terra
Firma, and fome of the CarnMee
Iflands.

M The

( i62 )

The Red-headed Parroquet differs
from the former only by having the fea-
thers of its head diverfified with crim-
fon fpots. Here is alfo

The Brown- throated Parroquet of
Edwards, with a Long Tail, being of a
green colour, but the top of the head,
and part of the quill feathers, are blue.

Tiis Long-tailed Green Parroquet 'of
Edwards, with a red beak and feet, the
feathers of- the tail bein^ blue at the
point.

The Lory Parroquet of Edwards,
being of a yellowifh green, with a long
tail ; the hinder part of the head and
throat being red, but the top and fides
of the head blue : And

The Short- tailed Yellowifli - green

Parroquet of Linnaeus, being of the fize

of a Sparrow, with a blue IJDOt above

and under the wings, and the prime

feathers of the wings blue.

The

( i63 )

The Toucan of Guiana has a mcn-
ftrous hollow convex red beak, abgiit
fix inches in length, and ierrated out-
wardly ; the noftrils are behind the
jaws ', the tongue is long and thin like
a feather, and its toes are difpofeJ like
thofe of a Parrot. Its fize is equal to
that of a common tame Pigeon, and its
fliape refembles that of a Jackdaw. The
head is large, and the upper mandible
of its beak, at the bafe, is yellow ; the
lower one, at its bafe, is purple -, the
fides of both mandibles are of a bright
fcarlet colour : the head is black, ex-
cept two white fpots near the upper
mandible. The feathers on every part
of the body are black, except the
throat and upper part of the breaft,
where they are white j and the fpace be-
tween the white feathers of the breafl
and the black on the belly, where the
feathers are red, forming a crefgent

pointing upwards.

M 2 Thp

( i64 )

The Picas y or Woodpecker, of GuI-
mia, has a iftreight bill ending like a
wedge, with a long round pointed tongue,
and its noftrils are covered with briftly
feathers. Its fize is fimilar to that of
Europe. It has three toes on each
foot, and its feathers are a mixture of
black and white ; but thofe on the top
of the head and under the belly are of
a bright red colour.

The Alcedo of Surinam has a trian-
gular thick freight long bill, with a
fhort flat tongue. It has two very long
feathers in the tail : the body is of a
blackidi blue colour, and the wings are
greenidi. It is the Swallow - tailed
ICings-fiflier of Edwards,

1 he Certha of Guiana has an arched,

flender, fomewhat triangular bill, with a

pointed tongue. Its colour is blue, but

the wings and tail are black, and the

tail is of an unufual length.

Hum-

( i65 )

Humming Birds in Guiana are ex-
tremely numerous, fmall, and various.
They fupport themielves in a Heady
pofition clole to the flowers, without
lighting, by the motion of their wings,
which is fo very rapid as to be almoft
invifible : in this pofition they infert
their tongues, confilting each of two
fine flefhy threads, into the cavity of a
flower, and fuck the honey : during
this time, the quick motion of their
wings makes a humming noife, like that
of a Bee. They are the moft beautiful
of the winged creation, and by much
the fmalleft of the feathered tribe, fome
of them not exceeding fifty grains in
weight. Their nefl:s are extremely fmail
and curious, and are commonly built
on the twigs of fruit trees, by the fe-
male, the male procuring the materials,
of which cotton is the principal. The
female lays two eggs at a time, which
are clear, white, ahiioft tranfparent, and

M 3 of

( i66 )

of the fize of a pea. Both male and
female alternately affift each other in
the work of incubation, which lafts the
ipace of twelve days. Their whole food
feems to confifl only of honey-dew and
the juice of flowers.

The Humming Bird is diftinguifhed
by a fabulated thread-like crooked bill,
longer than the head, the upper man-
dible being a Iheath to the 4ower, and
the tongue is like a thread, forked and
tubulous.

The Black Trochthis, or Hamming
Bird, is the fmallcil of the whole tribe,
being not bigger than tlie top of a
man's finger; and from the head to the
end of the tail not more than an inch
and an half in length. The bill is black
and ftrcight, except near its point,
where it has a fmall bend ; its length
is about fix lines, and tlie fize is equal

to

( i67 )

to that of an ordinary pin. The large
feathers on its wings and tail are of a
fine black, but thofe which cover the
reft of the body have a greenifli brown
colour, with a red Ihining inimitable
glofs. The head is crefted on the top
with a fmall tuft, green at the bottom,
but of a fparkling gold colour on the
top. The velocity of thefe birds in fly-
ing is fo great, that the eye can fcarce
keep pace with their motion. The
whole body and feathers of thefe Birds
frequently weigh lefs than fifty grains.

The Black and Blue Humming Bird
is near twice as large as the former.
The large feathers on the wings and tail
are of a {hining beautiful black ; thofe
on the back are of a lively blue ; and
thofe which cover the throat and breaft
are of a changeable crim.fon, reflefting
a variety of beautiful (hades, in different

lights.

M 4 The

( i68 )

The Small Green and Crimfon Tro-
chillis is the moft frequent of all the
Humming Birds in Guiana^ and feems
peculiar to it i whereas the two former
are common to many places in Terra
Firmuy and the Carribbee Iflands. The
fize of this bird is about one third larger
than the fmalleft of the two former.
Its bill is black, long, and flender y the
feathers on the neck, back, and upper
edges of the wings have a beautiful pea*
green colour : the top of the head is
crefted with a fmall tuft, of a variable
crimfon colour : the feathers on the
breaft are likewife crimfon^ and the
Jong feathers on the wings and tail are
green, crimfon, and dark purple. The
head is fmall, w^ith little round black
fhining eyes.

The Little Brown Humming Bird of
Giiicma is equal in fize to the former.

The fide feathers of its tail are of a

violet

( i69 )

Violet colour ; and thofe which cover
the body are of a brick coloured brown,
and fpotted. Befides thefe, there are
in Guianay

The Long-tailed Black-capped Hum-
ming Bird of Edwards, having long la-
teral feathers on the tail, of a brown
colour, a greenifli body, and black cap.

The Black-bellied American Hum-
ming Bird, having the tail feathers of
equal length, and black on the upper
fide ; the upper part of the body being
green, the breaft blue, and the body
black.

The Trocbilus of Linnausy with a
ferruginous tail, black wings, and a
golden coloured body, whitiih under-
neath : And,

The Green Streio;ht-bii]ed Humminp^

Bird, with brown wings, an afli-colou-

red belly, and blue crefl.

Tlie

( 17° )

I

The Wild Duck of Guiana is fome-
what larger than the B^nglifh Tame
Duck, which it pretty nearly refembles
in fhape and colour, but its bill is black
and crooked at the end, and the feet
and legs are of an afli colour. They are
found in plenty, during the rainy feafons,
on the banks of rivers near the fea.

Here is likewife a fpecies of Teal,
fomewhat larger than the common Teal
of Europe. Its bill is broad and black :
The feathers on the head are of a whi-
tifh brown ; thofe of the neck, back,
and wings are of a grey brown, varie-
gated with fpots and bars of a chefnut
colour : the bread and belly are covered
with dull white coloured feathers. They
frequent the rivers like the former, and
at the fame feafons.

The Pelican, or Spoon-bill, of Guiana f
has a ftreight, fiat, wide bill, fix inches

ia

( '7' )

in length, deftitute of teeth, and crook-
ed at the point, where it becomes wider,
and circular; the upper mandible being
augmented with a nail, and forming a
cavity refembling a fpoon : this mandi-
ble is of a whitifli brown colour, tranf-
parent, and difcovers through its upper
furface the red ramifications of its blood-
vefTels : the lower mandible is of the
fame colour, but more fleiliy and lefs
tranfparent. The head is bald and whi-
ti(h, but the body is covered with red
feathers, and the toes are connected by
webs.

Here is alfo the Flatalceaoi LinnceiUy
with a flattilh bill, dilated, orbiculated,
and flat at the point. It is of the fize
of a Sparrow : the upper part of its body
is brown, but the lower is white"; and
it has four toes palmated.

The Heron of Guiana, with a long,

ftrait-pointed, comprclTed bill, with a

furrow

( ^72 )

furrow running from its bafe towards the
point, is the Ardc^a of Linnceus^ with
a fmall creft on the back of the head,
and a hoary back, the under part of the
neck being of a ferruginous colour : the
top of its head is black ; the wings are
brown, except the fecondary feathers,
which are black at the points, and it
has four toes. The fize of this Bird is
nearly equal to the Heron of Europe.

The Curlew of Guiana is the Indian,
or Red Curlew of Ray, having a long
joundiih arched bill. The body, wings,
tail, neck, head, and thighs are covered
with feathers of a beautiful bright red
colour; but the long feathers on the
wings are black at the points : the legs
are long and flender ; the feet are red,
having four toes, of which the hinder-
moft have feveral joints : the body is
fomewhat lefs thau that of the common
E72glijh Curlew, and the flelh is much

efteemed.

( 173 )

efteemed. They are very numerous at
the fides of Rivers, near the Sea.

On the Sea - coaft, and near the
mouths of Rivers in Guianay are large
flocks of Plovers, in fize and fhape an-
fwering to Edwards's deicription of the
Spotted Plover of Canada.

The Spur-v^inged Water Hen of Ed"
ivards is likewife found in Guiana,

The Peacock Pheafant of Guiana has
been hitherto unheard of in Europe. It
is found moft frequently in the Dutch
Colonies oi Berbice, EJfequebo, and De--
meraryy and in fize is but little lefs than
a common Turkey. Its bill is yellow
except near the point, where it becomes
blue, being about an inch and an half
in length, and convex ; its upper man*-
dible is fornicated, and the edge dilated
beyond the lower ; and the noftrils are

partly covered with a convex membrane,

of

( 174 )

of a yellowifh colour. The top of the
head is creiled with a tuft p/ered: fea-.
thcrs, vvhic!3,jare near an inch and an
half in length, of a ihining black colour,
fomewhat curling near the points, where
they are variegated with white marks,
or bars j but thefe marks are w^anting
in the female, whofe creft is lefs promi-
nent : all the reft of the body is covered
with feathers of a finning black, except
the belly, where the feathers are white :
the tail is long, and black : the legs and
toes differ only in fize from thofe of a
common Turkey *. Thefe Birds are

* Since thefe Sheets went to the Prefs, the Au-
thor had an opportunity of feeing one of thefe
Pheafants, at an Exhibition of Birds in Piccadilly,
The Keeper told him, it had lately arrived from
Brafily where it was called Curajfo by the Natives.
Mailers of Ships, failing to Foreign Countries,
conftantly purchafe the moft curious Birds, and
tranfport them to Europe^ by which means a con-
fiderable number of the Birds of Guiana have been
already defcribed by Naturaiifts, who never vifited
that Country.

called

( ^75 )

called Powef: by the Natives, from their
cry, which is fimilar to that name; this
being a circumftance which the Indians
feem to have always regarded in the
naming of animals. They are eafily
tamed, being unable to fly any confide-
rable diftance. They are pretty nume-
rous in the woods, and make no fmall
part of the food of thofe Planters who
are fupplied with Indian Hunters. The
flefli is very much efteemed, and when
dreffed, they fo nearly refemble Tur-
keys, as to be often miftaken for them
by ftrangers.

There is a fpecies of Dunghill Hens
and Cocks, differing from the common
Englijh Dunghill Fowl only in being
fomewhat fmaller, and having the fea-
thers rumpled and uneven, which are
brought from the inland parts. of Guiana,
where they are reared by the Indians,
and which are doubtlefs natural to this

part of America.

The

( 176 )

The Fowl, called by the Indians a
Marroodee, is about the fize of a common
Pullet, and in fhape but little different,
except that its legs and neck are fome*
what longer : the body iscovered all over
with feathers of a brownifli black colour:
the colour of the bill is a dark brown,
and the legs are grey. They are ex*
tremely numerous in Giiiandy and perch
on trees, making a noife fomewhat re-
fembling their Indian name : this noife
the Indians imitate fo exadtly, that the
Birds anfwer them, and are thereby dif-
covered. Their flelli is much like that
of a dunghill fowl, though perhaps
fomewhat inferior.

The Hannaquais) is a Bird of the
fame fpecies with the Marroodee, but
of a more llender fhape, and their fea-
thers are of a {hining black : they like-
wife rooft on trees, and may be heard
early in the morning, diftindly, but

hoarfely.

( ^n )

hoarfely, repeating the word Hanna-
euaiVy very loud.

The Partridge in Guia?2a is of the
fame fhape as the European, but near
twice as large. Their feathers are of a
light brown, or afli colour, variegated
with dark chefnut coloured fpcts. They
commonly run on the ground, ikulking
among the buflies like a Quail, and,
when ftarted, fly 'with a loud noife.
They are fat, round, and plump, and
their flefh is greatly admired. They are
called Mams by the Indians,

The only Dove in Guiana is the lead
Turtle of Ray, with fpotted wings, the
prime feathers of the wings and tail be-
ing of a dulky colour, the body purplifh,
and the bill and legs yellow.

The Mocking Bird of Guiana has a
conical, gibbous, flefli-coloured bill; the
noftrils are at its bafe. The fize of thefe

N Birds

( 178 )

birds IS equal to that o^znEnglijh Black-
bird. The top of its head, its breaft, and
the upper edges of its wings, are of a
bright crimfon colour; and the feathers
on the other parts of the body have a
feining black. Their nefls are built
of hay. Sec. and are cylindrical, be-
ing twelve or fifteen inches long, and
eight or nine in circumference : they are
i^^xi depending from the high branches
of the taliefl trees, and are toffed to and
fro by the wind; on which account
their great length is neceflary, that the
£ird m.ay not be thrown out by every
guft of wind, which would otherwife
happen. The notes of thefe Birds are
fweet and harmonious ; but they imitate
thofe of manv other Birds.

The Rice Bird of Guiana has a bill
like the former, and is of nearly the
fame firze. The eyes are fmall, of a
lively black, and furrounded with circles

of

' ( ^79 )

of naked white fkln : its head is fmall,
and all its feathers are as black as jet.
It frequents fields of rice, from whence
its derives its name.

Here is alfo the LelTer Black Bull-
finch of Catejbyy with a white fpot on
the flioulders, and on two of the ex-
ternal wing feathers.

Alfo the Grey Loxia of LinnceuSy
fomewhat larger than a Raven, with a
fhort, thick, bluntiih bill, the rump
and under part of the body ferruginous,
and the fourth, fifth, and fixth of the tail
feathers white at the bafe on both fides.

The Blue Finch of Giiiaiia has a co-
nical bill, the mandibles receding from
each other downwards at the bafe. The
body is covered all over with feathers of
a fky blue colour ; but the prime fea-
thers of the wings, and the tail, are
fhaded w-ith crimfon on the outer fide.

N 2 Tha

( i8o )

The Yellow Finch has a bill Uke the
former : its body is of a lively yellow ',
but the quill feathers of the wings, and
the tail feathers, are variegated with
green.

Here is likewife the Greater Bullfinch
of Edwards, whofe body is brown, di-
verfified on the bread, throat, and
flioulders vv^ith patches of a blood co-
lour.

The Bird here called a Kt/hee-ki/hee
by the Natives, exceeds all the feathered
tribe in the luftre and variety of colours
which adorn its plumage. It is fome«
what larger than a common Houfe Spar-
row, and has a conical, ilreight, iliarp
bill, of a light carnation colour. Its
feathers are a confufed aiTemblage of all
the moft lively and beautiful colours in
nature : among thefe, yellow, fcarlet,
green, and a blackifli purple, or indigo

colour.

( i8i )

colour, have the greateft fhare : befides
thefe, there are white, black, and blue.
Ail thefe colours arc mixed with fuch
beautiful diforder, that it is impofiible
to convey an idea of their difpofition.
Thefe birds are brought by the Accawau
Indians from the far inland parts of the
country ; and even here their common
price is two piftoles a pair. Many in-
effectual attempts have been made to
convey them to Holland,

The Red and Blue Brafitian Finch of
Edwards is likewife feen here. It has
a bill ILke the former, but of a bright "
red : the tail is like a wedge, and red-
difh, as well as the body -, but the tem-
ples, rump, and belly are of a violet co-
lour.

The Green Sparrow of Guiana has
the head and upper part of the body
green, the breaft and belly are yellow,^

N 3 and

( '82 )

and the prime feathers of the wings sre
white on the outer edge.

The American Sparrow of Seha, tho'
it was fent fi'om Barbadoes^ is a native
of Guiana. Its back is of a fine black
colour, the belly white, the head and
breait of a lively blue, the rump of a
deep green, and the wings and tail of a
curious black with a purple fhade.

The Red- bellied Blue Bird is a native
of Guiana, It has a fabulated ftreight
bill, with the mandibles nearly equal :
its noftrils are almoft oval, and the
tongue forked. It is of a blue colour,
except the belly and back parts, which
are reddifli.

The Green Black-cap Fly- catcher of
Edwards, with the prime feathers of its
wings black, is alfo a native of Guiana.

The Black Parus of Linnausy with a
w^hite, fmooth, even bill, and truncated

tongue.

( i83 )

tongue, terminating in briftles, is like-
wife found in Guiana, It is black, with
a yellow fpot on the wings and tail.

Thefe are the moft curious Birds in
Guiana, tho* there are a multitude of
others lefs remarkable for the beauty of
their Plumage : and indeed the number
and variety of this Clafs of Animals is
here fo great, that feveral perfons in this.
Colony advantageoufly employ them-
felves, with their ilaves and dependents,
in killing and preferving Birds for the
Cabinets of Naturalifta in different parts
of Europe. The manner of doing this is.
not unworthy of a communication, as it is
unknown in Europe. A method of pre-
ferving the Bodies of Birds from Putrefac-
tion, by filling the cavity of the thorax
and abdomen with a mixture of Salt and
Allum, after the inteftines, &c. had been
firft extraded, and alfo by making inci-
fions in different parts of its body, and

N 4 filling

. ( i84 )

filling them with the fame mixture, wa*
fome time fince publifhed in one of the
monthly Magazines ; and the author, if
I miftake not, thought it an important
difcovery, which, it feems, he obtained
in Parisy tho* not v/ithout great difR-?
culty.

The method of doing this in Guiana^,
is to put the Bird, which is to be pre-
ferved, in a proper vefTel, and cover him
with High Wines, or the firft Running
of the Diftillation of Rurn. In this
Spirit he is fuffered to remain for twen-
ty-four or forty-eight hours, or longer,
according to his fize, till it has penetra-
ted thro' every part of his body. When
this is done, the Bird is taken out, and
his feathers, which are no ways chang-
ed by this immerfion, are placed fmooth
and regular. He is then put into a
machine, made for the purpofe, among
a number of others, and its head, feets

wings.

( i85 )

Wings, tail, &c. are placed exadly a-
greeable to life. In this pofuion they
are all placed in an oven, very mode-
rately heated, where they are flowly
dried, and will ever after retain their
natural pofition, without danger of pu-
trefadlion. This method might perhaps
in England be deemed expenfive, as the
great duty on Spirits has raifed their
price to an enormous height ; but in a
country where Rum is fold for ten pence
fterling per gallon, the cafe is far dif-
ferent.

It ought to be remarked, that the
Birds in Guiana excel rather in the
Beauty of their Plumage than the Har-
mony and Svveetnefs of their Notes;
and that the Fleih of Animals, in this
and all Tropical Countries, is lefs fuc-
culent, or juicy, than in Europe, on ac-
count of their excefiive perfpiration.

- ^

T H E

^

( 186, )

T H E mechanifm of F i s h intitle^
tlieni to the next rank in order after
Birds. But there is a Marine Animal
which is found on the Coaft, or in the
Rivers of Guiana, Vv^hich cannot be
ranked v/ith the Clafs of Fiili, and
which merits a previous defcription.
This is the Manaiee, or Sea-Cow, call-
ed by the French Lament in. This ani-
mal is fixteen or eighteen feet in length,
and feveral feet in circumference, efpC"
cially at the navel, where it is largeft»
The head is like that of a Hog, but the
muzzle is fhorter ; its eyes are fmall>
and placed in the middle between the.
fnout and ears, or rather auditory-holesj,
which open and fhut : the mouth is
large, and has briftles on each fide, and
its noflrils refemble thofe of an Ox : the
gums in the fore-part of the mouth are
bard and toothlefs ; the tongue is iliort,
and almoft imperceptible, as is alfo the

neck :

( is'/ )

neck : the body is covered with a rou2:h
blackifli ll<:in, befet with a few hairs :
the back has ieveral circular wrinkles,
and there are feveral inequalities difco-
verable on each fide : on the bread: are
two flefliy paws, or fins, like wings,
about eighteen inches in length ; with
thefe the animal fupports himfelf when
feeding on the grafs on the fides of ri-
vers ; and with thefe the female holds
her young to her breads, which are like
thofe of a woman. The animal has no
fins bat the tail, which is horizontal,
like that of aWhale, They never intirely
quit the water, and delight in freih- wa-
ter rivers, tho' they have been iecn on
the fea-coaft. The flefh is commonly
fat, and pretty much rcfembles Veal.

The Salt-w^ater Fifh on the ccafl: of
Guiana are much lefs delicate than thofe
which live in freih ; this is occafioned
by the muddy water, which extends for

thirty

( i88 )

thirty or forty miles from fhore, the
whole length of this coaft ; they are
like'wife almoft all of them deflitute of
fcales. The largeft of thefe Fifh is
called LowloWy and is about fix feet
in length and near three in circumfe-
rence, covered with a blueifh lilver-co-
loured ikin : the head is long and boney,
and the mouth wide : it has a pair of
fins a little below the head, and another
on the belly ; there is alfo a fingle fin
on the back, and a large one on the end
of the tail. This is a falt-water Fiih.

The Fifh called, by the Indians, Bar-.
roketa, is the largeft of the frefli-water
kind, being about three feet in length,
and two ia circumference, and almoft
round. Its fliape is pretty much like
that of a Salmon, but its fcales arc
larger, and its body thicker in propor-
tion. Its flefli is white, and very fat

and delicate. They are found chiefly in

the

( ih )

the upper parts of the rivers, where
they are very plenty.

The Fifti called a Peri by the Indians
and White Inhabitants, is about eigh-
teen inches in length, and three in
breadth, being flattilh, and covered with
thin fhining fcales. It has a fin on each
fide of the belly, a little below the
head, and a fingle fin on its back, and
another at the end of its tail. The head
is broad, and the mouth large, and fet
with long fharp teeth. This is likewife
a frefh- water fifli, and frequents the
fmall creeks and Ihores in queft of food.
It is extremely voracious, and bites e-
very thing which hangs in the water.
The feet of ducks fwimming in the
creeks are frequently amputated; as
have been the breafts of women, and
the privities of men fwimming in the
rivers : for this reafon, the White In-
habitants never bathe themfelves in the

upper

( 190 )

upper parts of thefe rivers, where the
waters are frefe, without tying a nap-
kin or handkerchief about the waifl :
this precaution, however, is not made
ufe of by the Indians in fwimming ; but
they take care to continue in motion
whih^ they are in the water -, by which
means the lifli are frighted, and kept at
a diftance.

There are Hkewife nelr the coaft,
and in the rivers of Guiana, Saw-fiili,
Flounders, Brafilian Soles, Surinam
Mackarel, Drummers, Old-wifes, Mul-
lets, a ipecies of Anchovies, Shrimps,
and variety of ether Frefh and Salt-wa-
ter Fiih, which I have not obferved
with fufficient accuracy to defcribe mi-
nutely. There is one, however, of the
Eel tribe, which deferves particular at-
tention, and which I fliall beg leave to
call the Torporific Eel, till it is diftin-
guifhed by a more proper name.

This

( 191 )

This Fifli is a native of freih v/ater,
and is moil commonly found in the Ri-
ver Effequebo, being uiiially about three
feet in length, and twelve inches in cir-
cumference near the middle. It is co-
vered with a fmooth £kin, of a blueifh
lead colour, very much like that of
ilieet-lead which has been long expofed
to the weather, being entirely deftitute
of fcalcs. The head is equal in fize to
the largeft part of his body, but fome-
what flat on the upper and lower fides,
and its upper furface is perforated with
feveral holes, like thofe of a Lamprey
Eel. The upper and lower jaws extend
an equal difcance, terminating in a fe-
micircular fliape, and forming a wide
mouth, without teeth. On the back
part of the head are two fmall fins, one
on each fide, w^nich, like the ears of an
horfe, are either elevated or deprefifed,
as the Fifli is pleafed or difpleafed.
From about eight inches below the head

the

( 192 )

tiie body gradually dlminiflieS in fize to
the tail, which ends in a point, v/ith-
out a fin. Under the belly is a flefliy
fin, about half an inch in thicknefs, and
near three inches wide, extending from
the head to the point of the tail, but
diminilliing in width, as the body di-
minifhes in fize : this, with the two
fins on the head, are all that are found
oh the body of this Eel, which would
be nearly round if deprived of the belly-
fin. This Fijfh frequently refpires, and
elevates his head above the furface of
the water every four or five minutes for
that pui'pofe. But the rrioft curious pro-
perty of the Torporific Eel is, that when
it is touched either by the naked hand,
or by a rod of iron, gold, filver, copper,
&c. held in the hand, or by a flick of
fome particular kinds of heavy American
wood, it communicates a fhock per-
fedly refembling that of Elecflricity^
which is commonly fo violent, that but
few are willing to fuffer it a fecond time-

This

( 193 )

This is probably of the fame fpecies
with the Fifli which Monf. de la Con."
damine curforily mentions in his Kela--
tion abregee dun Voyage fait dans Vhite^
rieiir de l Amerique, &c. and which he
calls " une efpece de Lamproie," found
in the environs of the city oi Para, on
the fouthern (hore of the River of the
Amazcnsy *' dont le corps comme celui
" de Lamproie ordinaire eft perce d'un
" grand nombre d'ouvertures ; mais qui
** a de plus la meme propriete que la
" Torpille. Celui qui la touche avec la
** main, ou meme avec un baton, reffent
" un engourdiffement douloureux dans
" le bras, & quelquefois en eft, dit on,
" renverfe. " This is all which that
Gentleman fays concerning this Filh;
which pretty well agrees with feveral
particulars obferved in the Torporific
Eel. But if the fhock is conveyed by
a ftafF, as he mentions, it muft be of a

few particular kinds of wood, as I could

O never

( 19^)

never difcover any fenfation from touch-
ing him with oak, afh, or indeed any
kinds of wood fwimming in water,
which I have tried. What affinity there
may be between the fhock of the Tor-
porific Eel, and that of the Torpedo, I
am unable to determine v/ith certainty,
having never felt the latter; but from
all the particulars which I have been
able to colledt relative thereto, I think
it is pretty evident, that both are com-
municated in the fame manner, and by
the fame inftruments.

Some years fince the celebrated Monf.
de Reaiimu?^ * communicated to the
Royal Academy of Sciences at Parisy a
Paper, in which he undertook to de-
monftrate, that the (hock of the Tor-
pedo was the effect of a ftroke given with
great quicknefs to the limb that touched

* Memoires dc rAcademie Royalc des Sci-
ences, &c. 1714.

it.

( 195 )

it, by mufcles of a peculiar flrudure.
To this hypothefis all Europe have yiel-
ded an implicit affent, and M. de Reaii^
miir has hitherto enjoyed the honour of
having develooed the latent caufe of this
myfterious effecft. But if we may be
allowed to fuppofe, what is undoubtedly
true, that the fliock of the Torpedo,
and that of the Torporific Eel, are both
communicated in a fimilar manner, and
by fimilar means, it will be no ways
difficult to demonflrate, that the whole
of M. de Reaumur s pretended difcovery
is a perfedl non-entity. You may, per-
haps, think it an ad: of prefumption in
me, to difpute the authority of a man,
whofe literary merit is fo univerfally ac-
knowledged j but I am convinced, that
an implicit faith, in whatever is honou-
red with the fandion of a great namiC,
has proved a fruitful fource of error in
philofophical refcarches; and whilfl: I
have fenfs and faculties of my own,

O 2 am

(^96)

am reiblved to ufe them with that free-
dom for which they were given. Hu-
manity is ever expofed to deception,
and the charms of novelty may perhaps
have precipitated M. de Reaumur into
an error. But to demonftrate, beyond
the poffibility of miilake, that the
Ihock of the Torporific Eel is not the
immediate effed: of miifcular 7?2otio7ii I
need only defire you to confider the fol-
lowing particulars, viz.

1. The Torporillc Eel, caught by a
hook, violently ll^iocks the perfon hold-
ing the line,

2. The feme Eel, touched with an
iron rod, held in the hand of a perfon,
^vhofe other hand is joined to that of
another, &c. coaimunic^tes a violent
fnock to i(tn or a dozen perfons thus
joining hands, in a manner exadily fimi-
lar to that of an eledric machine.

^ A

( ^97 )

3- A perfon holding his finger In the
water, at the di fiance of eight or ten
feet from the fi(h, receives a violent
Unlock, at the mftant the fidi is touched
by another perfon.

4. This Eel, when enraged, upon
elevating its head jaft above the furface
of the water, if the hand of a perfon is
within five or fix inches therefrom, fre-
quently communicates an unexpeded
Ihock, without being touched.

5. No fliock is perceived by holding
the hand in the water, near the filh,
when it is neither difpkafed nor touch-
ed.

6. This Eel is eat by the LiJia/is
when dead ; and,

7. The (hock Is more violent when
the fiili is highly enraged.

O 7 From

( 198 )

From thefe particulars it is apparent,
that the fliock is produced by an emif-
miffion of torporiiic, or electric parti*
cles.

That their erniiTion is voluntary, de-
pending on the will of the animal, who
emits them for his defence, either when
touched or enraged.

That the exiftence of thefe particles
depends on that of the Eel, and termi-
nates with its life. And

That they are equally emitted from
every part of the body.

From whence it is felf-evident, that
either the mechanifm and properties of
the Torpedo and thofe of the Torporific
Eel are widely different, or that Monf.
de Reaumur has amufed the world with
an imaginary by pothefis : and, from my

own

( ^99 )

own obfervations, as well as the infor-
mation which I have been able to ob-
tain on this fubjed:, I am difpofed to
embrace the latter inference.

A very fallacious account of the medi-
cal effedls of this Eel was lately commu-
nicated by one Vander Lott, a Surgeon,
then in Ejfeqiieboy but now in Deme^
rary, and publifhed in Holland, in 'which
the writer endows it with many medical
properties, which no other perfon was
ever able to difcover, particularly for cu-
ring nervous fevers, head-achs, &c. but
in this account the marvellous is (o ab-
undant, that the Writer, whom I have
the honour of knowing, acquired no
increafe of reputation therefrom in this
Colony. Mr. Vander Lott calls this
fifh a Conger Eel, though it has lefs
affinity to that than any other fpecies
of Eels. The particles of the Torpo-

O 4 rific

( 200 )

riiic Eel probably produce fimilar tf-
lefts to thofe of Eledricity, to which
they have a near affinity, not only in
the fenfations which they communicate,
but in the medium through which they
are conveyed ; for which reafon I have
known the Eel frequently touched by
paralytic patients, though I cannot fay
v/ith much apparent advantage.

Thefe Fifli are caught when young,
and preferved in large troughs, made
for that purpofe, and filled with water.
Their ufuai food is fmall filh ; and
when thefe cannot be had, they are fed
on earth-worms. But the B/atta, or
Cockroach, is the moil: agreeable of all
food to the fifh : when one of thefe is
thrown into the trough, the fifli opens
its mouth, and fucks it in with great
avidity and apparent pleafure, fucking
being the ufual method by which it

takes

( 201 )

takes Its food. From its fkin is ex-
creted a flimey fubftance, which ren-
ders it neceffary to change the water
daily, or at leaft every other day : for
this purpofe a cock is placed in the bot-
tom of the trough, whence the water is
drawn off, and the trough fcowered.
On thefe occafions the fifh is frequently
fuffered to He motionlefs, \vithout wa-
ter, for feveral hours; but if he is
touched in this condition, the iliock
communicated is not lefs violent than
ufuaL The manner of their generation
is uncertain. Several attempts have
been made to convey thefe Fifli to Eti^
rope ', but the quantity of frelh water
requifite to fl:iift them as often as is
neceffary, together with the bruifcs
wjiich they muft inevitably fuftain from
the motion of the Ihip, have hitherto
rendered them unfuccefsful.

Ecfides

( 202 )

Befides the Sea Crabs on the Coaft
of Guiana^ there is a fpecies of large
Land Crabs living in the mud, in which
their holes are made, and which cover
all the fhores of the fea, and rivers near
the fea, at low water, when they ap-
pear in the greateft numbers. The
body is quadrangular, each angle being
two inches and an half long. It is fup-
ported by a great number of legs, and
has two large claws, in (hape and fize
nearly refembling thofe of a Lobfter.
Their {hells, in different places, are ei-
ther of a dull white, or a blueifli colour.
They have an agreeable, though fome-
what earthy tafle, and are much eaten
by all the inhabitants, whether Whites,
Indianh or Negroes*

NEXT

( 203 )

NEXT in order S n a k e s fall un-
der our confideraticn. Unhappily their
immenfe number and variety conftitute
one of the principal inconveniencies of
this country, and really endanger the
fafety of its inhabitants ; and ought to
humble the pride and arrogance of man,
by convincing him, that all things are not
made obedient to his v/i!l, nor created
for his ufe.

One of the largefl of this Clafs of
Animals ever feen in America^ was lately
killed on the Plantation Amjlerdam, m
this Colony, belonging to MeiT" the
Heirs of Peter A/uyatt, Efq; in Am^
jlerdam. It meafured thirty three feet
feme inches , and in the largefl place,
near the middle, was three feet in cir-
cumference. It had a broad head, very
wide mouth, and large prominent eyes :
From the middle it gradually tapered

tp

( 204 )

to the tall, which was fmall, and armed
with two claws, like thofe of a Dung-
hill Cock, and in the mouth was a dou-
ble row of teeth. On the middle of the
back was a chain of fmall black fpots,
running from end to end ; and on each
fide, near the belly, another row of
fpots, fimilar and parallel to thofe on
the back ; and below thefe feveral large
black fpots centred with white j the
reil of the body was brown. In its
belly was found a fmall Wirrebocerra,
or Deer, fo far diffolved by the digeftive
liquor of the ftomach, that no part of
it would hang together. The vifcera
were covered with a great quantity of
fat, of which a confiderable part was
tried and preferved for external appli-
cation, for pains, bruifes, &c. part of
which was difpenfed almofl over the
whole Colony. A fmaller one was foon
after killed on the Plantation Da/gin,

lying on the oppofite fide of the river.

Their

( 205 )

Their bite is not venomous. When
their ftomachs are full, they lye ftill till
their food is digefted : it was in that
ftate that both of thefe were fhot in the
head. They are faid to have the power
of fafcinating, or attrafting animals
within their reach.

The Commode e is an amphibious
Snake, about fifteen feet in length, and
eighteen inches in circumference. The
head is broad and flattifh ; and the tail
is long, flender, and pointed. Their
colour is brown, variegated on the back
and fides with chefnut coloured fpots.
Their bite is not venomous \ but they
are extremely troublefome, frequenting
the creeks and ponds, and defl:roying
Ducks, Geefe, &c. When they en-
counter larger prey, the Indians fay they
kill it by inferting their pointed tails into
the redium ; hence the White Inhabi-
tants call it the Sodomite Snake.

The

( 2o6 )

The Scarlet Snake is about five feet
in length, and as large as a man's thumbs
being all over of a lively fcarlet colour,
except the belly, where it is of a dull
red. The head is flat and wide, and the
tail flender. It is an amphibious Snake^
and is frequently feen coiled upon the
branches of trees at the fides of rivers*
I was lately in a boat with a Gentleman
who fhot one of them in that pofi:ure
through the middle, and it immediately
fell into the river; but though one half
of its body hung to the other only by a
piece of ikin, it had neverthelefs the
audacity to endeavour to enter the boat
to revenge the injury, but was prevent
ted by the oars, as one half of its body
was become ufelefs. The bite of thefe
Snakes is efl;eemed fatal.

The Fire Snake, as it is called, from

the fignification of its Indian name, is

near four feet in length, and about the

■ fize

( 207 )

fize of a man's finger. It has a flat head,
and a large mouth, with a fingle row
of fmall teeth in each jaw, befides two
poifonous f^ngs, and its tail is flender
and pointed : the belly is of a dirty yel-
low, and the reft of the body of a
bright orange colour ; and the back is
ornamented with a row of black and
white fpots, difpofed in pairs from head
to tail. This Snake is of all others the
moft dangerous to the Indiansy both be-
caufe its bite is fatal, and becaufe it
frequents places in which there are fires,
from whence it has derived its name.
The Indians, who commonly fleep with-
out covering, in hammocks wrought like
a net, find it necefiTary to make fires
near them during the night; and as
thefe fires feldom fail to draw the Fire
Snakes, if any are near, they are often
expofed, in getting up at night, to the
danger of being bitten by them. But
experience has taught them to examine

carefully

( 208 )

carefully before they ftep upon the
ground, and if any of thefe Snakes are
feen, they either put out the fire with
water, if they have any within reach, as
is ufual, or elfe throw fome of the lars:-
eft brands at a diftance, which the Snake
never fails to follow, either from the love
of heat, or fome innate propenfity.

The Woods Mafter, as the Indian
name implies, is a fliort thick Snake,
about three feet in length, and five
inches in circumference. The tail, if it
may be fo called, is but little lefs than
the body, and ends bluntly. The colour
of the belly is of a dull yellowifh brown,
and that of the back is a dark brown,
chequered with black fpots. The head
and neck are wide and flat, with long
loofe fcales, which are eredled at plea-
fure, and make a frightful appearance.
This Snake never flees from an enemy,
and its bite is univerfilly deemed fatal.

MaccoU'

( 209 )

Maccoiirracoiirray as it is called by
the hidians, is a very beautiful, but fa-
tal Snake to thofe it bites. It is about
three feet long, and fomewhat fmaller
than a man's finger. The head is long
and llender, and the upper jaw is armed
with two long fharp fangs. The colour
of the head is fcarlet, and the body is
decorated with annular bands, or cir-
cles, of fcarlet, purple, and milk white
colours, difpofed alternately, from the
head to the end of the tail.

The Whip Snake is about fix feet long,
and but little larger than the flem of a
tobacco-pipe. Its belly is v/hite, and its
back is a light dull blue. Its body is
tough and fibrous, like the lafh of a
whip, but its bite is faid to be harmlefs.

The Caru7ia is a flender Snake, about
two feet and an half long. It is largefi:
near the middle, and the neck is very

P fmall I

( 2IO )

imall ; but the head is wide and flaO
ending in an acute angle. The belly is
whitifh, the fides are of a dark brown
colour, and the back is covered by a
a chain of large circular black fpots,
extending from end to end, and dimi-
nifliing in fize from the middle, in pro-
portion with the body. Thefe Snakes
frequent the houfes of the inhabitants
during the rainy feafon, and their bite
is, by the India?iSy faid to be fatal.
Whether this be true, I am now uncer-
tain ; tho' I had once like to have ex-
perienced its effeds ; when fitting in a
chair one evening, and putting my hand
behind me, I perceived fomething un-
ufiially cold, which I took to be the
back of the chair, but foon after felt it
move ; when fl:arting up, I perceived I
had laid my hand on one of thefe
Snakes, who was coiled in a heap, with
the head uppermofi: ; and as the pref-
fure of my hand had been light, and the

warmth

( 211 )

warmth agreeable, he probably intended
no injury ; had it been othervvife, the
confequence might have been fatal,
I, however, did not exercife the fame
good nature towards him, but imme-
diately killed him, before he quitted
the chair. — Accidents of this kind are
very frequent in this country, as the
houfes are more open than thofe of Eu-
ropCi and the rains frequently drive the
Snakes to take ihelter in them, where
they are often found under the tables
and chairs, and even beds.

The Ihonuna, as it is called by the
Indians^ feems to be the Cobra de Coral
of Brajil. It is between two and three
feet in length, and about two inches in
circumference, with a pointed tail, and
white belly. The head is covered with
white cubical fcales, edged with black,
and the back is adorned with red, black,
and white ipots, in alternate order. The

P z edges

( 21^ )

edges of the fcales, which compofe the
red fpots, are black, as are thofe which
compofe the white* Its bite is deemed
fatal, but its motion is flow. It is the
common opinion here, that the more
lively and various the colours of Snakes
are, the more fatal is their poifon ; and
there are fome fa£ls which countenance
this opinion; though there are others
which contradidt it. This I take to be
the Snake which Condamine calls Z^ Cou-'
leuvre Coral, rernarquable par la varieti
& vlvadte defes couleurs. Though none
but the moft loofe and imperfedl Ideas
can be derived from the curfory manner
in which he mentions almofl every par-
ticular, and which appears to me very
inconfiftent with that curiofity, which
could engage a man to feparate himfelf
from his companions, in a foreign coun-
try, and traverfe the extent of a wide
Continent, in quefl of natural know-
• ledge.

It

( 2T3 )

It IS fald that there are three kinds
AmphiJlcencCy or Double-headed Snakes,
in Guianuy though I have never had
an opportunity of feeing but one kind,
which is the fmalleft of the three. The
form of this Snake is exactly cylindrical
from end to end. It is about twelve
inches in length, and about as large as
the ftem of a common tobacco-pipe, be-
ing of a dull blue colour. Its fcales are fo
thin and fmall, that a fuperficial obferver
would think it covered only' with Ikin,
Its eyes are fo fmall, that they are not
readily difcovered, and the Snake is com^
monly reputed blind. Both ends of the
Snake have the fame external appear-
ance, from whence it has been thought
to have two heads, tho* only one mouth
is difcoverable, which is fmall, and
^rmed with very fine fharp teeth, almoft
obfcured by the gums, and which are
eafier felt with a probe, or piece of
woodj, than feen. The bite of this

P 3 Snak^

( 214 )

Snake is commonly thought fatal, with
how much juftice I cannot determine.
They are frequently feen in the grafs,
but their motion is very torpid, 'and they
never move at the approach of any per-
fon. Whether Naturalifts have been
deceived concerning the other kinds of
AmphifbcencBy in different parts of the
world, from the appearance of their
tails, I am uncertain ^ the fmallnefs of
this Snake renders the deception eafy;
but in thofe kinds which are larger, it
feems almofl: impoflible that every body
Ihould miftake a tail for a head ; and
yet, except thefe, there is no animal in
nature, that is thought to have two
heads *.

* Since thefe Sheets were fent to the Prefs, I
have received a particular Defcription of a mon-
flrous Amphijbana^ found near Lake Champlain., in
North A77ierua^ by an Officer in the American fer-
yice, w^ho, with one of his Majefly's Draughtf-
men, was, during the late War, fent to make a
Survey of that Lake, They were previouily in-
formed

( 215 )

There are two kinds of Snakes in
Guiana, called, by the Indians , Labarra^
whofe poifon is, of all others, the moft
fatal : the one is large, and the other
fmall;

formed by the Lidians of the exiftence of thefe
Serpents, one of which they killed near a Bay in
Lake Champlaln^ which in the Maps of that Coun-
try has been fince called Double-headed Snake Bay,
This Serpent was a fmall one of the kind, it be-
ing about fifteen inches in length, and largefl
near the middle, terminating in a {lender tail.
The body, at the other end, divided into two
necks of equal fize, to each of which v/as joined
a perfe6l head, with two eyes, a large mouth and
throat, a forked tongue, with teeth of the fame
fpecies with thofe of the Rattle-Snake. The co-
lour of the heads was a dark brown, and the
fcales on the back and fides v/ere variegated with
alternate fpots of dark and reddifli brown colours,
in magnitude and difpofition refembling thofe of
the Rattle-Snake. This Serpent was a perfect
monfter, of whofe exiftence I fhould ftrongly
doubt, did I not think the veracity of the Gen-
tleman, from whom I have this information, and
by whom it was a6lually killed, unqueftionable.

P 4 The

(2l6)

The Large haharra is about three

feet and an half long, and near four

inches In circumference at the middle,

where it is largeft, having a flender neck

and tail, with a broad flat head, and a

wide mouth, armed with two fharp

flender fangs, placed in the upper jaw.

The colours of its fcales nearly refemble

thofe of a Rattle-fnake, being of a light

brown, variegated with lines of a dark

brown, or chefnut colour. This Snake

is frequently feen coiled up under boards^

fences, &c. nor will it attempt to ef-

cape when difcovered, or even when

attacked; and I have often {z^vi them,

when almofl: dead with bruifes, biting-

the earth with excefs of rap^e.

o

The Small Labarra is about fourteen
inches long, and in fize equal to the
barrel of an ordinary fwan's quill. \%
is covered with fmall fluining fcales, of

a dark

( 217 )

a dark brown colour, dlverfified with
white fpots : the tail is fmall and point-
ed, and the head is fomewhat flat, and
larger than the reft of the body. An
unhappy inftance of the fatality of the
poifon of this Snake, lately happened on
the Plantation Coficeptmiy in Demerary^
now belonging to the Chevalier Cornette
de Venancourti an Officer of eminence
in the fervice of Franccy at the furren-
der of Giiardalupe, The peribn who
experienced the unhappy effects of this
poifon was a Negro Slave, a carpenter
by trade, who, in endeavouring to turn
a piece of timber, on which he was at
work, was bit in the fore- finger of the
right hand, by a Snake of this kind,
concealed under the timber. The ef-
fects of the poifon were inftantaneous ;
the Negro had but juft time to kill the
Snake, when his iimbs were unable to
fupport him, and he fell to the ground

^nd expired in lefs than five minutes

from

( 2l8 )

from receiving the wound. The blood>
which had fuffered a fatal diffolution by
the poifon, exuding from the ends of the
capillary fanguine arteries, cccafioned
the appearance of purple fpots on every
part of the external furface of the body,
and hemorrhages enfued from the nofe,
eyes, ears, lungs, &c. I was not a wit*
nefs to this accident, but have related
it on the teftimony of feveral perfons of
undoubted veracity, who were prefent
at the time it happened.

But a particular defcription of all the
Snakes in Guiana would fill a volume^
and perhaps convey but confufed inade-
quate ideas of the objefts themfelves.
I mull: defire you, therefore, to fufpend
your curiofity, on this fubjed, till I
have the pleafure of returning to Etng"
land, when I lliall prefent you with a
collection of Snakes, which I am now
making. The method which I ufe, in

pre^

( 219 )

prefcrving thefe Animals, may perhaps
not be unworthy of a communication.

When the Snake is killed, it mud firft
be waflied clean, and freed from all filth
and naftiaefs ; then it is to be pul into
a glafs of a proper fize, the tail firft, and
afterwards the reft of the body, wind-
ing it in fpiral afcending circles, and dif-
pofing the back, Vv^hich is always the
moft beautiful, outwardly. A thread,
connected to a fmall glafs bead, is, by the
help of a needle, to be palTed thro* the
upper jaw from within outwardly, and
then thro' the cork of the bottle, where
it muft be faftened : by this means the
head will be drawn into a natural pof-
ture, and the mouth kept open by the
bead, whereby the teeth, &C. will be
difcovered : the glafs is then to be filled
with rum, and the cork fealed down,
to prevent its exhalation. A label, con-
taining the name and properties of the

Snake,

( 220 )

Snake, is then to be affixed to the wax
over the cork ; and in this manner the
Snake will make a beautiful appearance^
and may be thus preferved a great num*
ber of years ; nor will the fpirits impair
or change the luftre of its colours.

To procure a fufficient number of
thefe objeds, I give the Negroes, of all
the neighbouring Plantations, a glafs
of rum for each Snake which they acci-
dentally kill, and bring to me, whether
it be fit for my purpofe, or not, of
which they are not able to judge. By
this means, within thefe three months,
which is the time that I have been em-
ployed in this undertaking, I have re-?
ceived near three hundred Snakes, a-
inong which were between fifty and
fixty different kinds ; by which you will
be able to form an idea of the number
and variety of thefe anirnals in Guiana i
many of which are extremely beau-

tifuU

( 22i )

tiful, being ornamented with the mod
elegant figures, dehneated by the Pen-
cil of Nature, and the mofl: lively co-
lours, difpofed in all the various pofitions
which the mofl pregnant fancy could
imagine.

To difcover the names and properties
of thefe Snakes, I have recurred to the
afliflance of the Indians ; tho' not with
all the advantage which I expeded.
Many of the Snakes are wholly inno-
minal, and their efFedls are very inac-
curately known. Shew an Indian a
Snake, and afk him the confequence of
its bite, and if he is wholly ignorant of
the matter, he will neverthelefs anfwer,
Abwauga, which fignifies, that it is bad,
or dangerous ; if the word Manfaga is
joined thereto, which puts it in the fu-
perlative degree, I then judge he has
fome knowledge of it, and that it is re-
puted fatal. I am often, on thefe oc-

cafions.

( 222 )

cafions, entertained by thefe people with
many fables, which are fo abfurd, that
I am in no danger of being deceived by
them. But the vulgar, in all nations,
are expofed to errors, and the Indians
are all vulgar.

Among the Snakes which I have slI--
ready colledled, are feveral which have
been already defcribed by the Writers
of the Natural Hiftory of different
parts of America ; fuch as, the AhcB-
tulla of Surinam ; the Afmnodites of
Brajih, the Hunting Serpent, or Ja--
caacanga, of the Brajilians ; the Suri-^
namkfyy the Afpic Cobra of Brajil y
the Gril of Surinam ; the Mfculapian
Serpent of Brajily the Rattle Snake ;
the Spotted Orange-coloured Dip/as of
Surinam ; the Dip/as of Berh'ce, of a
Pale-red colour, with Brown Spots;
and the Blue Dip/as*

I AM

( 223 )

I AM now come to the confideration
of Insects, the loweft, leafl: orga-
nized, but mofi: numerous Clafs of A-
nimals ; different in appearance, and
many of them varying the mode of their
tranfitory exigence, either creeping or
walking on earth, fwimming in the
watery element, or flying in the liquid
regions of air, and occupying every
chafm in the Scale of Beings. Many of
them, by their minutenefs, are imper-
ceptibte to our organs of vifion ; but
more of them ufelefs to the purpofes of
humanity^ whilft the greater number
are noxious to man, and confequently
not created for his ufe.

Vv^hoever will impartially furvey the
various Orders of created Beings, and,
uninfluenced by the Precepts of Edu-
cation, or the Arrogance of Humanity,

will confider the principles by which

they

( 224 )

they are aduated, and the properties
with which they are endowed, will find
abundant caufe to beheve, that every
part of animated nature was created for
its own happinefs only, and each al-
lowed to appropriate to itfelf fuch a
portion of our common bleflings, as is
adequate to its power of acquifitlon, or
enjoyment, and confequently, that man^
who exults in the flattering idea of uni-
verfal dominion, and vainly imagines
that all Terreftrial Beings are created for
his ufe, like the Tiger, derives fuperio-
rity only from his fuperior power and
fagacity.

Has God, thou fool, wcrk'd folely for thy good^
Thy joy, thy paftime, thy attire, thy food ?
Who for thy table feeds the wanton fawn.
For him as kindly fpread the flow'ry lawn.
Is it for thee the lark afctnds and fings ?
Joy tunes his voice, joy elevates his wings.
Is it for thee, &c. Pope.

Among

( 225 )

Among the Clafs of Infecfls, many
Animals are found, which, by their pau-
city of organs, and fimphcity of ftruc-
ture, approach fo nearly to Vegetables,
that it is difficult to determine where
the Animal ends or Vegetable begins :
And this imperceptible gradation is ob-
ferved through all the Productions of
Nature, from reafoning Man, to the
fcarce animal Polypus ; and from the
Senfible Plant to the fcarce vegetable
Mofs, all are exquifitely adapted to ef-
fedl the divine Purpofe which influenced
their creation.

As the mechanifm of Infedls is lefs
complex, fo their adtions are thought
lefs fagacious than thofe of Quadru-
pedes; yet even this inferior Clafs of
Beings affords examples of fagacity wor--
thy of human imitation. The Hoftile
Artifice of the Spider, the Provident
Induftry of the Ant, and the Order and

Q^ Oeco-

( 226 )

Oecotiomy of a Republic of Bees, have
long been objeds of admiration : and
that principle which regulates the Ac-
tions of Brutes, and which is diftin-
guifhed by the fcarce intelligible name
of Inftindt, is more vigorous, of readier
ufe, and lefs fallible, than the boafted
Reafon of Man, which often betrays
the Human Species to Errors, greater
than were ever obferved among the
Brute Creation.

The multitude and variety of Infeds
is incredible in Guiana, where the
warmth and humidity of climate facili-
tate their produftion, and where their
longevity is unimpaired by winter, or
their adivity chilled into a torpid le-
thargy for one half of the year. Here
a Swa?nmerdafn or Reaiunur might find
ample employment, for an age of indu-
flry, in defcribing the various Species of
this Clafs of Animals. For me, I am

re all V

{ 227 )

really difcouraged from undertaking fo
extenfive a talk; for the due execution
of which I have neither the requifite
patience, leifure, or inclination. To
defcribe the Probofcis, Antenns, or Pin-
nae of a Flea ; to delineate the Colours
of a Butterfly, or the Mechanifm of a
Caterpillar, would to me be tedious.
That *' Natura nunquam magis quam
" in minimis tota eft," as P/my fays,
may be, in fome meafure, true ; but I
have not yet ftudied myfelf into a habit
of inveftigating the minutiae of Nature,
and ihall therefore only take a curfory
review of the Infedls of this Country,
and with all poflible brevity defcribe a
few of thofe which are moft worthy of
attention.

Animals of the Beetle Tribe in
GuJa?ia are extremely numerous, and fo
difi'erent and uncommon in their forma-
tion, that it feems as if Nature fported

Q 2 in

( 228 )

in variety. But as thefe have nothing
but the oddity of their mechanifm which
can recommend them to notice, being
neither noxious nor ufeful to man, I
fhall leave them in obfcurity.

The Blattay or Cockroach, is a
Species of Fly, about an inch in length,
having a reddifh brown colour, two long
feelers, fix legs, with forked claws, and
two tender foft wings. They are a very
troublefome and deflruftive infed:, de-
vouring not only victuals, but cloaths,
books, &c. nor is it poflible to prevent
their getting, v/hen young, into trunks,
chefts, &c.

Butterflies arc here extreme-
ly numerous and various, and their
wings are elegantly variegated with the
moft lively and beautiful colours. I
have feen not lefs than fifty difi^erent
kinds of Diurnal Butterflies in this coun-

( 229 )

try, and the Nodturnal are flill more
numerous. But as thefe infe(5ts have
nothing remarkable but the variety of
their colours, and as verbal defcnptions
can convey but very loofe and inade-
quate ideas of thefe particulars, I fhall
not defcend to a minute account of
them. — There are many perfoas ad-
vantageoufly employed in this Colony,
in catching and preferving thefe infedls
for fale in Europe. To preferve the But-
terfly, when caught, its body is lightly
touched with a hair pencil, dipped in
fpirit of turpentine, and it is then fixed
by two or three pins, ftuck through its
body, to a box, among a variety of o-
thers, of different kinds, difpofed ac-
cording to their colours, in elegant or-
der. The fpirit of turpentine is necef-
fary, not only to preferve the body from
putrefaction, but to prevent its being
devoured by the Ants, which in this
country would otherwife happen,

CU The

( 230 )

The Bees of Guiana are but little
larger than the common Houfe-fly in
England. Their colour is black, and
they are armed with flings, which they
fometimes exercife upon the Negroes,
who, in revenge, eat as many as they
can catch. They depofit their Honey
in the cavities of hollow trees, in the
woods. This Honey has a dark brown
colour ; a fweet, but lefs agreeable tafte,
than the European, and leaves a fmall
bitter behind. It is found in large
quantities, and is almoft as fluid as olive
oil. The colour of the wax is a dirty
brownifli black, and its fubftance fome-
what fofter than the yellow wax of Eu"
ropey having a fweet fragrant fmell.

In looking over Lloyd's Evening Pojly
from the 3d to the jth of OBober, lyGi^,
I obferved an article, intimating that the
Society of Arts, &c. had received fome
of this Wax from Surinam, and that

many

( 231 )

many of its Members thought it a fac-
titious produdlion, intended, by fome
Surmam wag, to impofe on the Society ;
tho' it has been fomewhat imperfedtly
defcribed, many years fince, by Pere
Labaty in his Voyages, &c. en Gumee
& a CayeJine ; who, if I miftake not,
recommends it for an ingredient in plai-
fters, and other dreflings ; and for this
purpofe I have fometimes known it ufed
by the Surgeons in this Colony, as a fuc-
cedaneum to the yellow wax, but only
when that could not be procured, as
has fometimes happened.

This wax is ufually formed by the In-
dians into round balls, weighing about
two pounds each ; and a ball of this
wax is often bought from the Indians^
near the fea, where it is in the greateft
plenty, for a fifli-hook. The Indians
have a method of purifying the wax,

and rendering it of a lighter colour, by

0^4 melt-

( 232 )

melting, ftraining, and boiling It In wa-
ter and wood-afhes. From this wax
they make all their candles, by dipping
long wicks of cotton Into It, and then
rolling them Into balls, tho' the light
they give Is not fo clear as the tallow
or wax candles of Europe,

Ants In Guiana are very nume-
rous, various, and troublefome. They
form themfelves Into a kind of republic,
governed by laws, like thofe of Europe :
but that provident induflry with which
the latter provide for their fujftenance
during winter, is unneceflary for the
Ants of Guiana^ who confequently lead
a life of more eafe and luxury. The
largeft fpecies of Ants in this country
are black, and about an inch In length.
They build their nefts very high and
capacious ; but in good weather, in the
day time, they almofl cover the trunks

and

( 233 )

and branches of fruit trees, and their
bite is extremely painful.

The Flying Ants of Guiana are In
fize almoft equal to the former. The
head is triangular, with two antennas,
or feelers. The body confifts of two
parts, connedled by a fmall firing : from
the forepart, or thorax, arife the legs,
which are iix in number, and each has
three joints. Each Ant has four thin
tranfparent wings, of a reddiih brown
colour. Their habitations are fubterra-
neous, like thofe of moles ; but in the
wet feafons, wdien the rains have pene-
trated far in the earth, they are forced
to quit their cells, which are drowned
in water, and efcapc by their wings.
At thefe feafons they are often ken in
flocks, which obfcure the air, and ren-
der it difficult to breathe where they
come, which is always towards the
houfes, for fhelter.

Wood-

( 234 )

Wood- Ants, or Wood-lice, as they
are called by the Englijh, and Foux de
Bois by the Frenchy are a fmall Ant,
about two lines in length, and of a whi-
tifh brown colour, and a very deftruc-
tive infeft, eating holes in wood, de-
ftroying the pofts of houfes, devouring
cloaths, books, &c. They are eaten,
with great avidity, by domeftic fowls,
birds, and lizards, tho' when bruifed
they afford a very ftrong, volatile, dif-
agreeable fmell. They form a kind of
arched roads, about half an inch wide,
concave, and fomewhat flattiih; thefe
are often built on the floors and cielings
of houfes, extending many hundred feet
in length, with a variety of ferpentine
windings. The convex walls of this
extenlive habitation are compofed of a
whitiih brown incruftated fubftance,
which is eafily deftroyed. Within its
cavity the Ants live, in a regular, well-
ordered fociety ; and when any breach

is

( 235 )

is made in this wall, every inhabitant
joins in the common labour of repairing
the breach, which is efFedied with fjr-
prizing rapidity. As foon as one of
thefe habitations is difcovered, a hole is
immediately made in its walls, and the
cavity filled v/ith arfenic, which deftroys
the Ants, and thereby prevents the miA
chief which would otherwife enfue. In
the woods, however, they frequently
inhabit large round nefts, divided into
a variety of cells, by thin incruflated
fhell-like partitions. Thefe nefls are
many feet in circumference, and each
contains millions of thefe infers. They
are brought from the woods, and broke
among the poultry, who devour the
Ants with great avidity.

Among the Flies o^Guiana^ there
are two fpecies of Fire Flies. The
largeft is more than an inch in length,
having a very large head, connected

with

( 236 )

with the body by a joint of a particular
ftrufture, with which, at fome times,
it makes a loud knock, particularly
when laid on its back. The Fly has
two feelers, or horns, two Vvings, and
fix legs. Under its belly is a circular
patch, which, in the dark, fhines like
a candle ; and on each fide of the head,
near the eyes, is a prominent, globular,
luminous body, in fize about one third
larger than a muftard-feed. Each of
thefe bodies is like a living fi:ar, emit-
ting a bright, and not fmall light, fince
two or three of thefe animals, put into
a glafs veiTel, afford light fufficient to
read, without difficulty, if placed clofe
to the book. When the Fly is dead,
thefe bodies fl:ill afford confiderable
light, tho' it is lefs vivid than before;
and if bruifed, and rubbed over the
hands or face, they become luminous
in the dark, like a board fmeared with
Englifo P/jQjphorus. They have a red-

diai

( 237 )

difli brown, or chefnut colour, and live
in rotten trees in the day, but are al-
ways abroad in the nights

The other kind are not more than
half as large as the former, and their
light proceeds from under their wings,
and is {ccn only when they arc elevated,
like fparks of fire, appearing and difap-
pearing at every fecond. Of thefe the
air is full in the night, tho' they are
never ieen in the day. They are com-
mon not only in the fouthern but
northern parts of America, during the
fummer.

Infedls of the Gnat Tribe are
extremely numerous and troublefome in
Guiana, They are called Mujkitoesy
and are of two or three kinds, differing
only in degrees of magnitude. They
are found chiefly in the marfhy low
lands near the fea, in the woods, which

are

( 238 )

are rendered uninhabitable by the mul-
titude of thefe infects, until the trees
are cut down, and the wind has free
accefs ; upon which they retire farther
to the woods. In thefe places they ap-
pear like clouds, filling the air with a
buzzing noife, and their bite is ex-
tremely painful. When the Indians or
White Inhabitants are obliged to fleep
in thefe places, which fometimes hap-
pens in travelling, or fifhing on the fea-
fliore, they make a great fmoak under
their hammocks, in which they wrap
themfelves all over, and think them-
felves happy In enduring the trouble of
being almoft fufFocated, to avoid being
devoured by thefe infedls.

Caterpillars are here ex-
tremely numerous and various ; but I
fhall not enter into a particular defcrip-
tion of them.

Th

e

( 239 )

The Palm Tree Worm is common
not only in Guiana y but the Car rib bee
Iflands. It is bred in the heart of the
Cabbage - tree after it is cut down.
They are near as thick as a man's fin-
ger, and two or three inches in length.
The head is black, and the body ap-
pears like a piece of yellowifh fat, con-
tained in a fine tranfparent fkin. They
are efteemed a delicate morfel, not only
by the aboriginal Natives, but by many
of the White Inhabitants, particularly
the French, who roaft them before the
iire, and mix them with crumbs of
bread, fait, and pepper.

Spiders are very numerous in
Guiana, and of feveral fpecies. The lar-
geft, and only one Vv^hich I (hall defcribe,
is here by moft people miftaken for
the Tarantula, a nadve of that part of
Italy called Apiiglia, and of which there
is a very minute defcription in the Me-
moirs

( 240 )

molrs of the R.oyal Academy of Sciences
at Parts, The Spider of Guiana is di-
vided into two parts ; the lower, or
belly part, is of an oval form, more
than an inch in length, and in circum-
ference equal to a man's thumb, being
of a dufky colour, and covered with ei-^
tber grey or brown hairs. It is con-
nected at one end to the upper part,
which is flat, and almoft fquare, being
about five lines in width, and of a
black colour, and hairy. In the centre
is a fmall cavity, at which feveral lines,
running from the corners of each angle
on the furface, meet. To this part arc
connected five pair of legs, about two
inches long, each having four joints,
and being armed at the end with a pair
of red nippers. The eyes are fmall,
black, and iliining. From the upper
jaw proceed two chefnut coloured femi-
lunar fliarp teeth, about half an inch in
length, and concave, until within half

a line

i 241 )

a line of the point of the tooth, where
the concavity ends, as the extreme mi-
nutenefs of its point requires foHdity.
Near the point is a fmall external late-
ral hole, communicating with the in-
ternal cavity of the tooth. Through this
hole, on prefling the tooth, the poifon
exudes, which is a fine white tranfpa-
rent liquid, appearing like a very fmall
drop of alcohol, and adhering to the
orifice of the lateral hole. The bite of
this Spider is deemed fatal -, but I never
knew of ^ny animal who experienced
its effefts. They form flrong thick
webs, not much larger than themfelves,
commonly between the branches of a
Coco-nut or Plantin tree. Their eggs
are depofited in a white cloth-like bag,
which is placed under the Spider's bel-
ly, who, at certain feafons of the year,
carries it conftantly about until the
brood is hatched.

R The

( 242 )

The Surinam Scorpion is of a
ruflet colour, interfperfed with a variety
of black fpots, and is near fix inches in
length. From the neck proceed two
claws, about an inch in length, each
having three articulations, and being
armed at the extremity with a pair of
flender forceps. Befides the claws, it
has four pair of legs, the longeft of
which are near the tail. The tail has
fix joints, and is forked at the extre-
mity, and anned with two fmall, crook-
ed, horny, and pointed filings, the up-
permofl: of which is double the length
of the other. When the Scorpion runs,
its tail is ufually coiled up. He ufually
holds by his claws while he ftings with
the tail. The wound is venomous, and
extremly painful, tho' not fatal, as I
once obferved in a Negro wench, who
was Hung by one of thefe animals in
the right fide, a little below the ihort
ribs. The wound was almofi: imper-

ceptible>

( ^43 )

ceptlble, and without any apparent tu-
metadion ; but the wench, whom I
faw within a few minutes after the ac-
cident happened, which was in Novem^
ber 1763, complained of being exccffive
cold, uio' the weather was s^x^ hot,
and had a violent fliivering like the par-
oxyfm of an ague, with a quick, weak,
tremulous, and fometimes intermitting
pulfe, fometimes yawning and firetch-
ing, and frequently gafping for breath.
I was wholly unacquainted with the na-
ture of the poifon, or its antidotes, hav-
ing been but a few months in this part
of America, Warm cardiacs, however,
feemed to be indicated by the fymptoms
which externally appeared, by w^hich
alone my conjedlures were governed, as
flie had lately been purchafed from a
flave fhip, and was unable to commu-
nicate her complaints in any language
intelligible to an European, I therefore
directed the fide, which was confider-

R 2 ably

( 244 )

Cibly tumified, to be embrocated with
warm olive oil, and gave her internally,
every hour, a bolus ex Theriacd Androm.
cum Camph, with frequent draughts of
a decodtion from Virginia Snake-root,
Seneca^ and ns^ild Valerian* This was
about noon, and the feverish heat foon
became confiderably augmented ; but in
the evening all the fymptoms were fub-
lided, and the next morning fhe return-
ed to her labour. Whether this treat-
ment was of any fervice I am unable to
determine, having never had an oppor-
tunity of feeing, or even hearing, of a
fubfequent cafe of this kind.

The ScoLOPENDRA, Centipee, or
Centipedes, tho' its name implies an
animal with an hundred legs, has yet
only forty ; that is twenty on each fide,
difpofed in pairs. Its body is about fix
inches in length, and five lines in
breadth, flattifh, of a brown copperifh

colour.

( 245 )

colour, confiding of twenty articuk-
tions, correfponding with each pair of
its legs. It moves with equal velocity
either backward or forward, and feems
to have an head at each end, with a pair
of forked hairy feelers ; but the head,
properly fo called, is guarded by a pair
of ftrong fharp forceps. Its bite is ve-
nomous, and extremely painful, but not
fatal. Thefe, as well as the Scorpions,
are found not only in the fields, but in
the thatch of houfes, among books,
boxes, and furniture,

• The Chigger, or Chic^ue, as it
is termed by the French^ is a fmall
dufky infedt refembling a Flea, but
fomewhat fmaller, and happily it is in-
capable of leaping* or the Torrid Zone
would be uninhabitable. This animal
gently infinuates itfelf into the fkin of
the toes and feet, exciting a moderate
itching and rednefs : this, to a perfon

R 3 fami-

( 246 )

familiarized with the country, is fuffi-
cient for their difcovery and confequent
extraction ; but v/hcn this does not hap-
pen, and the infed is iuft:red to conti-
nue under the fivin, it foon fabricates
a thin, membranous, capfula, or bag, in
which it inclofes itfelf, leaving only a
fmall opening for its head. In this bag
it depofits its eggs, which are numerous,
and refem.ble nitts ; thefe daily increafe
in number and magnitude, and in a few
days the bag is diftended to the fize of a
large pea, by which time the nitts be-
gin to hatch, and if not extracted they
form other bags, and at length produce
malignant ulcers, &c. But in Whites
"they are feldom fuffered to arife to this
maturity. After the beg is formed, it
ought to be extrafted without breaking,
otherwife fome of the nitts will be left
in the wound, and become Chiggers.
When the bag, by any accident, hap-
pens to breaks it ie ufual to fill the

v^o'jnd

( 247 )

wound with aflies of tobacco, tho' that
of wood is equally eftedual in deflroy-
ing the ova of thefe infeds. They
chiefly aflFea: the flaves, who go bare-
foot, and whofe feet fuffer fuch terrible
ravages, that they are often lamed by
them. In thefe cafes, a cataplafm of
Caftile-foap and train-oil is the moft ef-
fedlual application for their deftrudlion.
There is a fpecies of thefe animals that
are venomous, and create fwellings and
inflammations ; happily, however, they
are uncommon.

Shells, which make a confider-
able part of the Natural Hiftory of fome
Countries, will have little fhare in that
of GuianCy where the coafl: is low, and
the flicres muddy> the whole of their
extent 5 fo that whatever fliells are
thrown on fliore are buried in the earth.
Sometimes, indeed, a fmall patch of
fand is found on the fliore, with Shells,

R 4 but

( 24S )

but thefe are not fo confiderable for their
beauty, number, or variety, as to de-
ferve a particular defcription.

Thus, my dear Brother, I have brief-
ly defcribed the moft curious Animals
in the different Ckffes of Quadrupedes,
Birds, Fiih, Reptiles, and Infers ; and
in my next (hail endeavour to gratify
vour curiofity relative to thofe of the
Human Species 5 and affure yourfelf,
that I fhall improve every future occa-
fion of teflifying the ardent affedtion
with which I have the happinefs to be.

Dear Brother,

Your, &c.

L ]^ T-

( 249 )

LETTER III.

Rio Demerary^ 05t, 25, 1766*

Dear Brother,

AFTER an unavoidable inter-
ruption of feveral weeks, I am
again at leifure to refume the
continuation of my Effay on the Natu-
ral Hiflory of this Country, and am
happy in finding by yours of the 5th
of September^ which I had yefterday,
the pleafure of learning that my former
Letter has contributed to your enter-
tainment. Natural Hiflory, to uncul-
tivated minds, has fewer charms than
the Hiflory of Human Affairs, which is
conneded wi^Ji a furprizing diverfity of

inci-'

(250)

incidents, that to the greatefl part of
mankind proves more agreeable, tho*^
lefs ufeful. , -

Purfuant to the order which I have
prefcribed to myfelf, I am now, after
having defcribed the feveral kinds of in-
ferior Animals, to give you an account
of thofe of the Human Species, evi-
dently the firft Order of fublunary
Beings. In this I am fenfible that I
have inverted the order ufually followed
by Naturalifts 3 but have fubftituted one.
more natural, and expofed to fewer in-t
conveniencies.

To defcribe Man, who depends on
almoft every other animal and vegetable
produdtion for his fubiiftence, and whofe
wants are more numerous than thofe of
any other terreftrial being, without pre-
mifing the means which his Creator has
provided for fupplying thefe wants, ap-
pears

( 25' )

pears to me unnatural : But in the pre-
fent difpofition of things, after having
previoufly conlidered the feveral clafles
of inferior produdions, their appHcation
to the wants of humanity, and the fer-
vices which the Human Species derive
from them, will naturally appear in the
Hiftory of Mankind.

The Inhabitants of Guiana (I mean
thofe of the Human Species) are either
Whites, Blacks, or the Reddiih-brown
aboriginal Natives of America. The

o

promifcuous intercourfe of thefe differ-
ent people, has likewife generated fe-
veral intermediate cafts, whofe colours
immutably depend on their degree of
confinguinity to either Whites, Indians^
or Negroes. Thefe are divided into
Middttoesy TCercerones, ^larterones, and
^'mteronesy with feveral intermediate
fubdivifions, proceeding from their retro-
grade intercourfe : all which fufficiently

demon-

( 252 )

demonftrate, that neither promifcuou's
generation, nor change of climate^ can
annihilate the natural charadteriftic di-
ftindlions of thefe different people.
Blacks and Whites, however, are not
properly natives of this, or any other
part of America^ having been tranf-
planted hither, the former from Europe^.
and the latter from Africa. I fhall,
however, in a fubfequent Letter, fub-
join an account of them ; but in this
fhall confine myfelf to the Aborigines of
Guianay who, as well as all the Natives
of Americdy are commonly, tho' im^
properly, called Indians.

The Indians of Guiana are divided
into feveral tribes, differing in the de-
grees of their progreffive advancement
from the ignorance and ferocity of a
ftate of nature, from which they are
but little removed. Thofe who inhabit
the far interior parts of the country are

buti

( 253 )

but little if at all known ; and indeecl
there are only four Nations within the
confines of Dutch Giiianay with whom
the Fjuropeans have any intercourfe ;
thefe are the Carribbees, the Accawaus^
the JVorrows, and the Arrow auks. The
latter are a friendly, hofpitable people,
and from the vicinity of their refi-
dence, and conftant intercourfe with the
Whites, their manners are better known
than thofe of any other tribe ; and as
they all agree in many particulars, in
defcribing the three former nations, I
{hall only mention their chara6teriftic
diftindlions and peculiarities, confound-
ing the lefs Angular particulars, in their
Religion, Manners, and Cuftoms, with
thofe of the Arrow auks ^ for the fake .
of brevity.

The Carribbees are the mofl nume^
lous, brave, warlike, and induflrious of
all the known tribes inhabiting Guiana.

They-

( 254 )

They refide chiefly on the fea-coaft bc«
tween EJJequebo and the Great River
Oronoque. They are of a middle fta-
tiire, well made, with regular and a-
greeable features. They have a fpright-*
ly vivid countenance, and their com-
plexion is the whitell of all the four
tribes, the Arrowauks excepted. Their
language is manly, and very articulate,
but is pronounced with a degree of
fharpnefs and vivacity correfponding to
their natural diipofition. They praclife
polygamy, and have War-captains, tho*
no Sovereigns, or Magiftrates. There
is no divifion of land among them, eve-
ry one cultivating in proportion to his
wants and induftry ; and as they are
lefs indolent than the other tribes, they
till much more ground than any of
them, tho* a fmall portion fuffices even
for them, as they cultivate very little
except Flantins and Caffava or Manioc ;

from thefe they make bread ; and from

thefe.

( ^55 )

thefe, by fermentation, they make a li-
quor fomewhat like ale, of which more
hereafter. They live contiguous to each
other, and by blowing a fhell, a thou-
fand of them may be colledted in half
an hour. They paint irn moderately,
chiefly with Aniotta, or Roucou,

Wars, hunting, and fifhing are the
chief employments of the men ; agri-
culture and domeftic concerns are aban-
doned to the women and children, who
likewife fpin cotton by the hand, but
flowly, for want of a proper machine ;
from this they weave hammocks, but
in a very flow and tedious manner, for
want of inft:ru(3:ion to employ their la-
bour to advantage. Their manner of
weaving is by winding the cotton, v/hen
Ipun, round two fmall wooden fl:icks
of fufficient length, placed at about fe-
ven feet difl:ance from each other, dif-

pofing the threads fingly, parallel and

coxiti-

.( 256 )

tontiguous to each other, till they ex-
tend a fufRcient width, which is ufually
fix or {even feet : the threads thus dif-
pofed ferve for the warp : they then
wind a quantity of cotton on a fmall
pointed piece of wood, and begin their
weaving at one end, by lifting up every
other thread of the warp, and paffing
the pointed flick with the woof under
it : this they do until they have gone
through the whole width of the warp,
and then return in the fame manner,
taking up thofe threads which they
miffed before, and preffing the threads
clofe together. When the weaving is
compleated, the hammock is flained
with juice of the bark of trees, difpofed
fo as to form various figures, which are
red, and ever after indelible. The trees
which yield this juice, I am informed,
are the Wallaba and Red Mangrove.
To weave a hammock in this manner
requires the labour of feveral months,

and

( ^S7 )

a

nd therefore all the other tribes, who
have lefs induftry, content themfelves
with hammocks made either from cot-
ton yarn, or the twiftcd bark of the
Samee tree, ccnneded by net - work.
They Hkev/ife form the teeth of fitli
into fmall cylinders, which they perfo-
rate with a fmall hole from end to end,
and then cut the cylinder into many
fmall piece-, which compofe fo many
white, fmooth, fliining beads, v/hich are
ftrung, and worn for ornament.

Their arms are either bows and ar-
rows, poifon arrows, which are blown
thro* a hollow reed, or ]ar2:e heavy clubs,
made of iron- wood, &c. which are
Jarge at one end, vvith iharp edges, with
which they divide the fkuU of an ene-
my at a fingle blov7. They have, hov/-
ever, ufually lived in harmony with the
neighbouring tribes, until of late they
have been corrupted by the Dutch y and

S excited

( 258 )

excited to make incurfions on the inte-
rior Indians, for the fake of making pri-
foners, who are afterwards fold to the
inhabitants of the Dutch Colonies.
Upon thefe occafions they furround the
fcattered houfes of thefe Indians , in the
night, while they are fleeping without
apprehenfion of danger, and make them
all prifoners : the men, however, who
would be apt to efcape after they were
fold to flavery, are ufually put to death,
while the women, and children of both
fexes, are referved for fale.

The Carribbee Indians are at perpe-
tual variance with the Spaniards, and
frequently commit hoftilities on their
fettlements at the River Oroncque, They
retain a tradition of an Englijh Chief,
who many years fince landed amongft
them, and encouraged them to perfe-
vere in enmity to the Spaniards, pro-
mifing to return and fettle amongft

them.

( ^59 )

tliem, and afford them afiiflance ; and
it is l:ild that they flill preferve an E?2g-
lijJd Jack, which he left them, that they

mi2:ht diffin^uifli his countrymen. Tnis
v/as undoubtedly Sir Walter Raleigh^
who, in the year 1595, made a defcent
on the Coaft of Guiana^ in fearch of the
fabulous Golden City of Mama del Do-
rado, and conquered Fort Jofeph, on
the River Oronoque,

At the late iniurredion of the Slaves
in the Colony of Berbice, thefe Indians
were engaged, by the Governor of Ejfe^
'quebo, to fight againft the Rebel Ne-
groes, many of whom they killed, as
appeared by the number of hands which
they brought away, and for which they
received a confiderable reward. But an
adherence to truth obliges me to inform
you of a circumftance relative to this
expedition, which I am perfuaded you
will read with difguft -, this is, that

S 2 they

( 26o )

they ate the bodies of thofe Neo^roes
whom they killed on this occafion : an
adion, v/hich is confidered by European
nations as fo horrid and unnatural, that
the very exigence of Cannibals has
been lately denied by feveral modern
Compilers of Hiftory, notwithftanding
the repeated attellations of Travellers
to the contrary. For perfons, however,
who have never quitted their native
country, to determine concerning the
manners of diftant unknown nations,
and, on the ftrength of plaufible ap-
pearances, to impeach the veracity of
Travellers, and pofitrvely deny thofe
things which, at moil, they are but
permitted to doubt, is a culpable teme-
rity, which well deferves reprehenfion.
I muft, however, do thefe Indiajis the
juftice to declare, that they never eat
any of the human fpecies, except their
enemies killed in battle, to which they
think they have as good a right as thofe

animals

( 26i )

animals by whom they would otherwile
be eaten. But you will doubtlels think
it unnatural for any animal to devour
thofe of its fpecies, even when neceffa-
rily killed in felf-defence ; and in this I
am of your opinion; tho' I am fenfible
that we have been educated in a flate
of civilization, fo different from that of
Nature, that we are but ill able to de-
termine what is, or what is not natural.
It is certainly more unnatural to kill
each other by unneceffary v/ars, than
to eat the bodies of thofe we have kill-
ed : the crime confifls in killing, not
in eating, as the worm and vultur tef-
tify, that human flefh is by no means
facred. But tho' civilized nations abhor
eating, they are familiarized to the cuf-
tom of killing each other, which they
practife with lefs remorfe than the Sa-
vages. But cuftom is able to reconcile
the mind to the moll unnatural objeds.
What but habitude and cuflom could

S 3 enable

( 262 )

enable, DS to farvey, without an invo-
luntary horror, the mangled carcafes of
inofFenfive animals, expofed in a London
market, who have been killed to gra-
tify our appetites, and v/hofe care and
follicitude for the prefervation of life,
demonflrates that they enjoyed a degree
of happinefs therein, of which at lead
it is cruelty to deprive them. Man's
right over the lives of fubordinate ani-
mals I will not difpute; the apparent
difference in the mechanifm of the maf-
tjcatory and digeflive organs of carnivo-
rous and granivorous animals, evidently
demonftrates, that Nature defigned fome
for the prey of others : But mankind
have a natural capacity for fubfifting in-
difcriminately, either on animal or ve-
getable food ; and numerous infcances
teftify, that the latter is moft conducive
to health and longevity ; and therefore
not only humanity, but fclf-intereft, con-
fpire to engage us at leaft to abridge the

quantity

( 263 )

quantity of animal food, which at pre-
fent we devour with fo much avidity.

Monf. de la Co?idamine, I think, can-
not allude to the Carribbee Indians^
when he mentions a nation of Canni-
bals * North of the River of the Ama-
zons ', and yet I have never heard of
any other tribe of Indians in Guiana^
who eat human flefh.

The Dutch maintain a traffic with
the Carjibbee Indians for canoes of dif-
ferent magnitudes, from feventy to
ten feet in length, which are form.ed
out of fingle trees, rendered hollow by
fire y for cotton hammocks, fpun and

* Car quoiqu'il n'y ait pas aujourd'hui d'An-
thropophages le long des bords du Maranon, il
y a encore dans les terres, particulierement du
cote du Nord, & en remontant I'Yupara, des In-
diens qui mangent leurs prifonniers. — Vide Re-
lat'irm abregee d'lm Voyage fait dans I'Interieur de
rAmerique^ ^c,

S 4 woven

( 264 )

J

woven in the manner I have already
related 3 for wax, manufadtured by the
black bees, before defcribed y for Bal-
faai Capoiba, or Capiviy which they
bring in large gourds ; and for feveral
kinds of curious woods ; but chiefly for
flaves, which they are encouraged to
make, as I have juft related. In return
for thefe, the Dutch give them fire-
arms, pieces of India SakmporeSy with
which they cover their nudities, hat-
chets, knives, fiih-hooks, combs, and
fniall looking - glaffes, together with
beads of red coral, on which they put
an immoderate value; and glafs-beads
of different colours, which are worn,
in different forms, by the females, who
are become fomewhat luxurious.

The JVorrows are a nation of Indians
inhabiting only the Sea-coaft, chiefly
between Demerary and Surinam, tho'
fome of them are found on both fides

of

( 265 )

of the River Oronoque. Their ftature
and fize exceeds that of the Carribbees ;
the colour of their fkin is much darker,
and their features are more irregular
and difproportionate ^ the females being
peculiarly difagreeable. They inhabit
only the low, wet, marfhy places, ad-
jacent to the fea, and live chiefly on
crabs and fifh. They are a flovenly, ti-
mid, indolent people ; but withal pa-
tient, contented, and happy. Many of
them have not fufficient induflry to pro-
cure the means of purchafing cloth to
cover their nakednefs, contenting them-
felves either with the bark of trees, or
the reticular covering of a coco-nut or
cabbage-tree for that purpofe ; yet they
are often i^^n with thin oval plates
of filver hanging from their nofes, to
which they are conneded by two horns,
that embrace the cartilaginous divifion
of the noftrils. Their language is dif-
fonant, and the articulations very indi-

fiinft.

( 266 )

ftindl, being pronounced with a flow,
difagreeable tone. Their Phyiicians, or
rather Prieils, are believed to have a
particular influence with Evil Spirits,
above thofe of any other tribe.

The Ac caw aw Indians are the moft
interior tribe that have any communi-
cation v/ith the Europea?2Sy living near
the fource of the Rivers of Rffeqiiebo^
Demerary^ and Berbice, Their lize and
ftatare pretty much refembles that of
the WofTOWs, but their complexion is
lighter, and their features are lefs dif-
agreeable, and they are all diftinguifhed
by a circular hole, about half an inch
diameter, made in the lower part of the
under lip, in which is inferted a piece
of wood, of equal fize w^ith the hole,
which is cut off externally almoft even
with the circumjacent fkin -, while the
inner end preffes againft the roots of the
fore teeth. The air and behaviour of

thefe

( 267 )

thefe people Is grave and referved, and

they have an unufaal degree of art and

cunning. Their language is folemn,

and its articulations dlftindl, but harfli.

They are not numerous^, but are greatly

feared by their neighbours, on account

of their art in the pi-eparation of Poi-

fons of the moft deleterious kind. The

Arrow-poifon, which they compound,

is particularly fatal; and befides that,

they have feveral other kinds of Poifon,

which, given in the fmalleft quantities,

produces a very flow, but inevitable

death, particularly a compolitlon which

refembles wheat-flour, which theyfome-

times ufe to revenge paft Injuries, that

have been long negledled, and are

thought forgotten. On thefe occafions

they always feign an Infenfibility of the

injury which they intend to revenge,

and even repay it with fervlces and adls

of friendfliip, until they have deftroyed

all difl:ruft and apprehenfion of danger

in

( 268 )

in the defiined vidim of their venge-*
ance. When this is effected, they meet
him at fome feflival, and engage him
to drink with them, drinking firft them-
felves to obviate fufpicion, and after-
wards fecretly dropping the poifon, rea-
dy concealed under their nails, which
■are ufually long, into the drink. Thefe
accidents, however, are not frequent;
and that they iliould fometimes happen
is not fo furprizing, as that they do not
oftener intervene in a flate in which
there is no judicial punifliment for
crimes, nor any other fatisfadion for
injuries, but what is procured by vio-
lence. To violate the chaftity of a wife,
is almoft the only injury that draws
down this fatal vengeance. They fre-
quently make incurfions on their inte-
rior neighbours, like the Carribbees,
for flaves ; and the vicinity of their re-
fidence pardcularly expofes them to re-

prifals from thofe injured tribes. To

prevent

( 269 )

prevent this, all the avenues to therr
houfes are guarded by fliarp pieces of
hard w^ood, planted in the earth, and
poifoned, except only one obfcure wind-
ing path, which they ufe themfelves,
and make known to their countrymen
by private marks. With the Dutch they
barter flaves, Balfam Capivi, a Balfam
called A?'rec6cerra, already defcribed,
the roots of Hiarra^ for fi filing, oil of
Caraba, which is co]ied:ed in large
gourds, and pretty much refembles, in
colour and coniiftence, the Palm-oil of
Guinea, but has a difagreeable fmell ;
different kinds of curious woods, as Let-
ter-wood, Ducolla- bolla, ebony, &c.
likewife Vanells, Amotta, Cqfjiafjiula''
ris. Cane Ha alba, wild Nutmeg, wild
Cinnamon, Monkies, Parrots, Parro-
quets, &c. of all w^hich an account has
already been given. In return for thefe
they receive the fame things which are
furnifhed to the Carribbees,

Beyond

C 270 )

Beyond thefe Indians are feveral tribei
who appear entirely naked, not cover-
ing even thofe nudities, which Nature
feems to have taught the inhabitants of
other countries to conceal; but thefe
Indians are never k^n. by the £2/-
ropeansy except fuch only as are fold to
flavery.

The laft of the four tribes of Indians^
of which I propofe giving you an ac^
count, is the Arrowauksy who are, in
every refpeft, worthy of a more parti-
cular defcription than either of the pre^
ceding. They live on the back of the
JVorrows, about twenty or thirty leagues
from the Sea, where the land is ele-
vated, and lefs expofed to inundations
than the Sea-coaft, and are the natural
proprietors of the greateft part of the
land on which the Dutch Plantations>
in thefe Colonies, have been, till lately,
fituated ; and in many rclpedts are of no

fmall

( 271 )

Imall fervice to the White Inhabitants,
who, for thefe reafons, have by law
exempted them from that ilavery, to
which all the other tribes are expofed,
on being fold by each other.

They are of a middle ftature and fize,
ftrait, and well-proportioned, and the
colour of their fldn is whiter than that
of either of the four other tribes. Their
features are very regular and agreeable ;
their teeth are extremely white and e-
ven ; their lips thin, eyes black and
fparkling, and, like all the aboriginal
Americans, they have long, ftrait, black
hair, which they often greafe with oil
oi Car aba : their chins, and other parts
of the body on which hair ufually grows
among the Europeans, are but thinly
covered with a foft downy hair, which
both males and females themfelves ex-
trad:, as much as pofiible, from every
part of the body, none excepted ; this

will,

( 2/2 )

Will, indeed, again grow; but as often
as this happens, it is again extracted.
The features of the women are delicate,
and their limbs llender, but well-pro-
portioned ; nor is a brown fkin any ways
incompatible with the mofl perfect
beauty : but their rude uncultivated
minds incapacitate them from combi-
ning mental with perfonal charms, and
to an Eiiropea?t they can communicate
none but fenfual pleafure. Divefted of
all artificial diiguifes, thofe who are un-
married, appear, in their natural dilpo-
litions, wanton and amorous. Their
women, however, when old, become
very difagreeable : by early cohabitation,
child-bearing, and v/ant of cloaths to
preferve their fliapes, when advanced in
years their bellies become large and
wrinkled, and their breafts long and de-
pending. They wear no cloaths for the
fake of warmth, which, in this climate,

are wnnecefiary : modefty, however, has

taught

( 273 )

taught them to cover thole nudities
which Europeans are moil: fludious to
conceal. This the men do by a' flrip
of hnen or cotton cloth, cither blue or
white, parted between their thighs, and
faftened, before and behind, to a ftring,
which goes round the waift. This is
called a lap, and is the ordinary cover-
ing of the Negroes alfo. 7 he women
weave a covering from fmall glafs bead?,
of different colours, (Irung on threads
of cotton, and fo difpofed, that, v/hcn
woven, they form different figures by
their different colours. This coverinp*
is as large as the two palms of a man's
hands, and almoft fquare, except that
the upper angle is narrower than the
lower. This is faftened before by firings
of beads tied round the waift, and hanos

o

before thofe parts which it is intended
to conceal. Before the Europea?is vi-
fited thefe countries, the bark of trees,

• T or

( ^74 )

or the web-like covering of a coco-nut
or palm-tree, diipofed after the manner
in which the Indians place their laps,
were the only coverings worn, either by
males or females.

Juft above each ankle is a cottoa
garter knit round the leg, on which it
is worn; and on feilivals, and other
merry occafions, they wear caps of fea-
thers, which confift of a circular band,
about two inches wide, woven from
the fine thread-like fplints of fmall Nib-
bees, of a fize adapted to the head on
which it is worn. In the upper edge
of this is fixed a great number of long
feathers, of different, but gay colours,
which ftand ereft round the whole cir-
cumference of the head. They like-
wife flick a great number of fmall fine
feathers, of different colours, on differ-
ent parts of the body, by the help of

the

I ^7S )

the balfam called Arrecocerra, On thefe
occafions likewife they are painted in
the face, and on the arms, bread, &:c.
either with Launa, or Arnotta, The
women are ufually the painters, and de-
lineate various fissures, according: to
their different fancies. The women like-*
wife wear long firings of fmall beads, of
different colours, clofely wound round
their wrifls, arms, ankles, and above
the calves of their legs.

In temper and difpofition they are
cheerful, humane, and friendly, but
fomewhat timid, or cowardly, except
-when drunk, which is not unfrequent,
as all the AbGrigines of America feem to
have a natural propenfity to intemper-
ance i nor can the women be excepted,
tho' no vice, not even immodefty itfelf,
is more incompatible with the foftnefs
and delicacy of female charms. But

T 2 their

( 276 )

their happinefs would be too perfe6V,
unalloyed by this vice, which is the
fource of all their quarrels, and of all
their crimes. Their language is diftind:
and harmonious, and but little diffimi-
lar from the Italian in foftnefs and mul-
tiplicity of vovv^els ; it is, however, nar-
row and confined, like their ideas.

They live in a family fociety, Mat-
tered in different parts of the country ;
but their habitations are ufually conti-
guous either to the fides of rivers, or
of creeks communicating with rivers.
Their houfes are made by cutting four
forked fticks, of different lengths, which
they place in the earth in four angles,
the two longefl in front ; within the
forks of thefe flicks are laid four poles,
which are afterv/ards covered with fe-
veral others, laid in a lateral direffion ;
over thefe are placed the leaves of

Troolies,

( ^n )

Troolies, before delcribed, which are
tied to the poles by fpht Nibbees. A
houfe thus built is the work of a few
hours only, and when fini(hed affords a
fhelter fufficient to defend its inhabit-
ants from rain and dew, the only pur-
pofe for which a houfe in this climate
is ufeful ; and as their life is ambula-
tory, and they are unattached to any
particular fpot of earth, it would be a
profufion of unnecellary toil to erecl
a more capacious or durable manfion.
Under this fhelter may be {^'^vi all their
domeflic furniture, their pcrfonal orna-
ments, and their arms. But how fmall
the inventory of thefe particulars ! hap-
pily they are not encumbered with un-
neceffary conveniencies -, and whenever
they travel, which is ufually by Waa-
ler, in fmall canoes, they tranfport,
without difficultv, all their terreilrial
pofTeffions.

i 3 Ineu*

( 278 )

Their ufaal ornaments and domeftic
utenfils arc two or three fmall pots,
which the mother of each family ufa-
ally makes from clay, which are after-
wards baked over the fire, and then
ftained with the juice of fome particu-
lar herbs, which render them black.
They have commonly a neck towards
the top, for the convenience of hold-
ing them. They will lafl a confidera-
ble time, with proper care, and are
often ufed by the Whites as well as /;z-
dtans, Alfo a large jar, for making a
drink called Piworree, The jar is made
from the fame materials as the pots.
The Piworree is made from the bread
of Cajjava, or ManioCy fermented with
water. To promote the fermentation,
the females ufually chew a part of the
bread, and mix it with water, and when
it begins to ferment they add the re-
mainder. When the fermentation is

com-

( 279 )

completed, the liquor is decanted from
the fubfiding bread, and drank. It is
inebriating, and has fomewhat the tafte
of ale, tho' lefs agreeable. I have often
yielded to their importunity, and drank
it at their houfes, to avoid giving of-
fence, tho' I would willingly have dif-
penfed with their hofpitahty in this par-
ticular.— A flat ftone, on which they
bake their bread ; and a rough cragged
ftone, on which they grate the roots
of Caffava for bread : Several ihells of
gourds and calabaflies, of different fizes;
fome are fmall, and ferve the purpofe
offpoons; others are large, and fupply
the place of bowls and difhcs : A ham-
mock for each perfon, either woven or
knit, after the manner of net- work,
from the threads of cotton, or the
firings twifted from the bark of the
Samee tree : A hatchet, and two or
three knives. But before the Europeans

T 4 vifited

( 28o )

vifited thefe countries, fire fupplied the
place of the former ; and inftead of
the latter they ufed lliarp ftones : A
fmall locking-glafs, framed in paper,
and a comb ; but both thefe have been
added to the number of their domeftic
utenfils fince their intercourfe with the
Europeans: To thefe may be added
paint, either from the A-niotta^ or
Laundy and a gourd, with oil of Ca^
rabay with which they daily fmear their
fivinsj a practice which is attended
with feveral advantages 3 as the oil, by
its great bitternefs, defends them from
the bites of Mufquitoes, foftens and
lubricates the fliin, which by being
conftantly cxpofed to the fun, would be
othervvife dry and llifF, and alfo pre-
vents exceiiive perfpiration.

The celebrated de Rcaiumir has fome
years fince demonftrated, that profufe

perlpi-

( 28i )

perfpiration impairs the longevity of all
animals, by difcharging not only the
ufelefs, but nutritious parts of the ani-
mal fluids ; and an excefs of perfpiration
feems to be the true reafon why the in-
habitants of Hot Climates live a fliorter
term than thofe who inhabit the Tem-
perate Zones : And we find, that the

native inhabitants of almoft all trooical

i.

countries have conftantiy ufed means to
reprefs this profufe tranfpiration. The
Hottentot ufes greafe and foot ; the /;/-
dian ufes oil ; but both for the fame
purpofe.

Their arms, belides mufquets, of
which thev have but a few, are ei-
ther large, heavy, iharp clubs, fuch as
are ufed by the Carribbeesy or arrows,
poifoned or unpoifoned. The former
are blown through hollow reeds by the
force of the lungs, and the latter are
fhot by bows. Their bows are about

five

( 282 )

live feet in length, made from Wafceba,
or feme other heavy and elaftic wood >
and the firings are twifted from filk-
grafs. The arrows are about four feet in
length, made from a ftraight unjointed
cane about three feet long, into one end
of which is inferted a piece of heavy
wood, a foot in length, and fomewhat
fmaller than the cane. This is done
for the fake of giving the arrow due
weight. This piece of wood at the end
ibmetimes has a large globular head ;
but if the arrow is intended to kill, the
wood is either formed into a fharp
point, bearded with notches, or is arm-
ed with a fteel point, according to the
animal for which it is intended. The
arrows ufed for fhooting fiili have three
forked points of fteel bearded, but the
middle point is two inches longer than
the other two. Before the Europeans
vifited thefe countries, the Indians ufed

fharp.

( 283 )

fliarp, tapering, rugged ftones, to fupply
the place of fteel points. At the other
end of the arrow, clofe to the notch for
the firing, are placed, on oppofite fides,
two feathers, about fix inches Ion?,
which ferve to dired: the flight of the
arrow with greater certainty.

The Poifon Arrows are made from
iplinters of the hard, folid, outer fub-
ftance of the Cokarito tree, and are ufu-
ally about twelve inches in length, and
are fomewhat larger than a coarfe knit-
ting needle. One end of the arrow is
formed into a fharp point, and in-
venomed in the poifon of Woorara;
round the other end is wound a roll of
cotton, adapted to the cavity of the reed
through which the arrow is to be
blown. The arrow, thus decked and
armed for deflrucflion, is inferted into a
hollow flraight reed, feveral feet in
length, which being directed towards

the

( 2S4 )

the objecfl, the arrow is, by a fingle
blaft of air from the lungs, protruded
through the cavity of the reed, and flies,
with great fwiftnefs and unerring cer-
tainty, the diftance of thirty or forty
yards, conveying fpeedy and inevitable
death to the animal from which it
draws blood. Blowing thefe arrows is
the principal exercife of the Indians
from their childhood ; and by long ufe
and habitude they acquire a degree of
dexterity and exa6lnefs at this exercife,
which is inimitable by an European^ and
almoil: incredible.

Monfieur de la Condamine mentions a
ipecies of poifoned arrows ufed by the
Indians inhabiting the ihores of the
River of Amazons *, which are fimilar

* Lcs Yamcos font fort admits a faire de longs
Sarbacanes, qui font I'arme de chafTe la plus ordi-
naire des Indians. lis y adjuftent ^t^ petites fleches

des

( 285 )

to thofe ufed by the Indians on the coaft
of Guiana ; and the poiibn with which
they arc invenomed probably agrees in
its principal ingredients with thofe
which enter the compofition of the poi-
fon of Woorara, which is fo called from

des bois du palmier, qu'ils garniflent, au lieu d#
plume, d*un petit bourlet de coton, qui remplit ex-
aftement le vuide de tuvau. lis le lancent, avec le
fouffle a 30 & 40 pas, & ne manquent prefque ja-
mais leur coup. Un inftrument fi fimple fupplee;
avantageufement, chez toutes ces nations, au de-
faut des armes a feu. lis trempent la pointe de ces
petites fleches, ainfi que celles de leurs arcs, dans
un poifon fi adtif, que quand 11 eft recent, il tue en
molns d'un minute Tanimal a qui la fleche a tire du
fang. Quoique nous euflions des fufils, nous n'a-
vons guere mange fur la Riviere de gibier tue autre-
nient, & fouvent nous avons rencontre la pointe du
trait fous la dent ; il n*y a a cela aucun danger ; ce
venin n'agit que quand il eft mele avec le fang.
Alors il n'eft pas moins mortel a I'homme, qu'aux
autres animaux. Le contrepoifon eft le fel, & plus
furement le fucre. — And in another place ^ Ce poifon
eft un extrait, fait par le moyen de feu, des fucs de
diverfes plantes, & paruculicrement de certains Li-

anes.

( 286 )

a Nibbee of that name, which is its
principal ingredient. Mr. de la Conda*
mine was, indeed, informed, that the poi-
fon of the Vicunas tribe, which was the
moft efteemed among the different na-
tions oi Indians near the River Maranon^
was compounded from more than thirty
different kinds of roots and herbs ;
whereas that of the Accawau Indians^
who are here confeffedly the moft fkil-
ful in thefe lethiferous preparations,
contains only five ingredients; though
the other nations, particularly the Arro^
wauksy make feveral whimfical additions,
among which are the teeth and livers
of venomous fnakes, and red pepper,

anes. On aflure qu'il entre plus de trente fortes
d'herbes ou de racines dans le venin fait chez les
Ticunas, qui eft celui dont j'ai fait I'epreuve, & qui
eft le plus eftime entre les diverfes efpeces connues
le long de la Riviere des Amazons.

Vide Relation ahregee cCun Voyage fait dam Vinteri^
fur de rJmenqus Meridional, ifc*

which

( =87 )

which laft may perhaps ferve to aug-
ment its aftivity. The Worrows like-
wife add feveral frivolous articles, pro-
bably in obedience to the inflruftions
of their anceftors, to which they fuper-
flitiouily adhere. But the ignorant are
ever fond of amaffing a farrago of in-
gredients in compofition, abfurdly ex-
pedling thereby to obtain the end de-
fired with more certainty ; and the fu-
perfluous articles, added by the Arro-
wauks to the InAian poiibn, are not
moi'e whimfical than many ingredients
which once entered the hotch-potch
officinal compoiitions of pharmacy.

The following is the recipe by which
the Accawau Arrow Poiibn is ufually
prepared, and which I have procured
from feveral of their Peii*s, or phylicians,
at different times, who all exaftly a-
greed in the number and identity of the
ifigredients, But with fome variation in

their

( 288 )

their quantities, which, indeed, they
have no method of either expreffing or
afcertaining with exadtnefs.

Take of the Bark of the Root of
Woorara, fix parts ;
Of the Bark of Warracobba coura,
two parts ;

Of the Bark of the Roots of Coura-
napi, Baketi, and Hatchybaly,
of each one part :

All thefe are to be finely fcraped, and
put into an Indian pot, and covered
with water. The pot is then to be
placed over a flow fire, that the water
may fimmer for a quarter of an hour ;
after which the juice is to be expreflcd
from the Bark by the hands, taking care
that the fkin is unbroken : this being
done, the Bark is to be thrown away,
and the juice evaporated over a mode-
rate fire to the confiftence of tar, when

it is to be removed, and flat pieces of

the

( 289 )

the wood of Cokarito are dipped there-
in, to which the poifon, when cold, ad-
heres, appearing hke a gum of a brown
reddifn colour. The pieces of wood
are then put into large hollow canes,
clofed at the ends with fkins, and in
this manner the poifon is preferved until
it is wanted to invenom the point of an
arrow, at which time it is either dif-
folved in water, and the points of ar-
rows dipped in the folution ; or the
wood to which it adheres is held over
the fire until it melts, and the points of
arrows are then fmeared with it. The
fmalleft quantity of this poifon, con-
veyed by a wound into the red blood-
veiTels of an animal, caufes it to expire
in lefs than a minute, without much ap-
parent pain or uneafinefs ; though flight
convulfions are fometimes feen near the
inflant of expiration.

U Mr,

( 290 )

Mr. Herijjant declares ^", that he wa^
told by Mr. de la Coiidaminey that the
Indians committed the care of boiling
the Arrow-poifon to a criminal woman^
and that the^ time of her death was an
indication of its being fufficiently boiled^
But in this particular Mr. de la Conda-
mine was, doubtlefs, impofed upon, as
it has all the air of a fable, and as the
Indians here evaporate it in open air,
without the leaft danger, till it acquires
a due coniiftence, which is all that is
propofed, and is eafily difcovered, with-
out the death of an old woman. The
fymptoms which Mr. Herijjant per-*
ceived, might indeed happen by hard
boiling, which the Indians avoid, and
in a fmall clofet, where the fteam, raifed
by an unnecefTary degree of heat, was
confined, and received into the lungs.

* Vide PhUofjphical Trmfa^ions^ vol. xWih
pag. 75.

The

( 291 )

The Poifon, when thus infpiffated,
is liquifiable by heat, and diffoluble in
water, in alcohol, in fpirit of fea-falt,
and in a volatile alkaline fpirit, as alio
in blood, faliva, &c. except only a very
fmall part, which fubfides both in a fpi-
rituous and aqueous menftruum, and
probably confifts of earthy particles fo-
reign to the compoiition. It unites
with acids without emotion, or change
of colour. On mixing it with alkalies
no ebullition is perceptible, but the co-
lour changes from a reddifh brown to
a yellowifh brown. A few grains, mixed
with as many ounces of human blood,
warm from the veins, intirely prevents
a feparation of ferum and craiTamen-
tum, and the w^hole mafs continues
united in a flate of fluidity, fimilar to
that in which it is drawn, until after
fome days it putrifies.

U 2 Don

( 292 )

Don Ulloa *, fpeaking of the Indian
Arrow-poifon, attributes to it a frigo-*
rific quality, and fays it kills by coagu-
lating the blood. How he came by
the knowledge of thefe particulars, I am
uncertain ; but De la Condamine no
where mentions them; nor did any figns
of coagulation ever appear in the fluids
of thofe animals which have been killed
inEurope, with the Poifon oi Lamas and
Ticimas ^, But if what Ulloa fays be
true, the Poifon of the Peruvian and
A?nazonian Indians muft be different
from that of the Indians on the Coaft of
Guianay fince the latter rather diffolves
than coagulates the blood, as I have

* Vide Relacio7i bifiorica del Viage al J??! erica
Meridional^ &i. par Don 'Jorga yuan &" Don An-
tonio Ulloa, i^c.

t See in the Phibfophical Tranfa^ions, vol. xlvif.
p. 75. Experiments made on a great number of
living animals with thefe Poifons, by Mr. Herif-
fant, M. D. and F. R. S.

difco-*

( 293 )

dilcovered by repeated experiments; and
that it is not frigorific, is evident not
only from its tafte, which is bitter,
and extremely pungent and hot, but
becaufe the Arrowauks combine it with
red pepper, which would deftroy its
effedls if they depended on a frigorific
quality : befides, it excites inflamma-
tions externally, as I once unluckily ex-
perienced, when ftirring a parcel of hu-
man blood, poifoned therewith, a drop
accidentally fell into my left eye ; and
tho* I immediately plunged my head
into the River Demeraryy by the fide
of which I was fiianding, it neverthe-
thelefs excited a painful inflammation,
which continued for feveral days. This
accident, however, I am. fenfible is not
alone conclufive ; but the particulars
before cited fufnciently prove the Poifori
of Woorara has not the qualities men-
tioned by JJlhay who probably was ac-

U 3 quainted

( 294 )

quainted only with the Poifon of La-^
inas'^y as it does not appear that he
ever vilited the River of the Amazons ;
but as neither this, nor the Amazonian
Poifon, after repeated experiments, have
betrayed thofe quahties he afcribes to
them, it appears probable, that, for
want of a more perfedl knowledge of
the adion of Poifons in general, he
might have imagined that the effedts of
the Arrow-poifon could only refult froni
refrigeration and coagulation, and there-
fore endowed them with thefe qualities,
on the ftrength of conjedurc.

I ought to have before informed you,
that the feveral ingredients mentioned
in the Recipe for compounding the Ac-

* The Poifon of Lamas takes Its name from a
tribe of Indians of that name in Peru. It is lefs.
active than that o^Ticmias-, but the moft fatal ef-
fects arc f^id to refult from a mixture of both.

cawau

( 295 )

cawau Poifon, are all Nibbees of dif-
ferent kinds ', but whether all, or in-
deed any more of them than the JVoo-
vara are neceffary, or whether the effi-
cacy of the Poifon might not be farther
improved, I am uncertain : It is, how-
ever, already too fatal to be trufted in
the hands of any people, but thofe who
are in a ftate of nature, in which cri-
minal pafiions are feeble ^nd languid.
How the instantaneous fatal efFedts of
this Poifon can refult from fo fmall a
portion as may be fuppofed to be left
by the point of an arrow immediately
extracted, is inexplicable : That it has
the power of diffolving the fluids, is
certain -, but I am far from thinking
that its fatal effefts are produced by any
fuch diffolution. The Indians conftantly
moiflen the points of their Poifon-ar-
rows, when over dry, with the juice of
lemons, which tends to produce an op-
pofite efFed:; and blood drawn from

U 4 the

( 296 )

the jugular veins and carotid arteries of
animals, at the inftant of their expiration
by the effecfts of this Poifon, affords no
uncommon appearance, and, after ftand-
ing, regularly feparates into ferum and
craflamentum, with a greater degree of
cohefion than is ufually obferved in fcor-
butic cafes; but vet the animals ex-
pired as it were by an infenfible ex-
tindlion of the vital flame. Can fuch
inflantaneous fatality refult from any
change in the texture of the fluids, in
fo fiiort a fpace ? I doubt v/hether they
are fufceptible of it : nor do I believe
that thefe fudden deleterious eifedls can
arife, except from an immediate injury
offered to the fenflble nervous fyftem,
or the fource of the vital fun61:ions.
Mr. Herijfant thinks it contrads the
veiTels *, but fays it does not ufually

* Since thefe Sheets went to the Prefs, I have

made feveral Experiments with this Poilbn on dif-

eafed and emaciated animals, havinir but a Ima/l

* portioi:^

( 297 )

9

alter the appearance of the fluids, tho'
he once or twice obferved the blood to
affume a browniih colour.

Againfl: this Poiibn there is no cer-
tain antidote difcovered ; and its efFeds
are fo fudden, that I doubt whether
any thing taken by the alimentary paf-
fage can a6l with fufficient celerity to
prefer ve life. M., de la Condamine, in-
deed, fays, that Salt ; but Sugar, more
certainly, is an antidote for the Amazo-
nian Poifon : and Sugar, or rather, the
Juice of Canes, is commonly thought,
by the White Inhabitants of this Co-
lony, to prevent the efFeds of the Ac-

portion of blood ; and have found its effects much
Kiore flow than on the more healthy and vigorous.
This fcems to countenance the opinion of Mr.
Hcrijfant^ that the fatality of this Poifon refults
from a contra6tion of the vafculiir fyffem, by
which the capacity of the vefiels is fo far dimi^
nifhed as to obftrucl the circulation of the fluids.
But nothing certain can yet be determined on this
fubjccl.

CPAVaii

■

( 298 )

cawau Poifon : But the Indians thcni^
felves do not acknowledge this quality
in the Cane ; and I have never been
able, either by my own experiments, or
enquiries, to difcover a iingle inftance
of its efficacy for that purpofe. That
Gentleman * inftances an experiment
made on a fowl, at Cayenne^ which was
wounded with one of the Poifon-arrows
in prefence of the Commandant;, &c,
and which, after being dofed with Sugar,
betrayed no figns of indifpofition : But
the Sugar had not this effed: at a fubfe-
quent experiment, made at Leyden^ in
prefence of feveral of the Medical Pro-
feflbrs in that Univerfity ; tho* the acti-
vity of the Poifon was then confefTedly
impaired by the Winter : Nor did the
Sugar prove an antidote at the experi-
ments repeated by Mr. Heriffa?ity or at
an experiment made by Dr. Brock-

* Vide Relatloti abregcc^ &c.

fWAil,'

( 299 )

kjhy^. Mr. Heriffant, however, de^
clares, that an actual cautery immedi-
ately applied to the poifoned wound,
prevents its effeds.

I have long imagined, from the dif-
tant affinity between the efFeds of this
Poifon, and thofe of fome Peflileptial
and Malignant Fevers, that an Antidote
for the former would be ufeful in the
latter, and therefore have fpent foime
time in fruitlefs endeavours for the dif-
covery of one. Acids or Alcalies, ag
fuch, do not feem either to promote or
retard its effedls ; and it is but feldom
that either Animal or Vegetable Poi-
fons derive their deleterious properties
from either of thefe principles j nor is

* See his Letter to the Prefident of the Roval
Society, concerning the Indian Poifon fent over
from Mr. de la Condamine, Member of the Roval
Academy of Sciences at Paris ; PbihfcphicalTranj"-^
aP.ions^ vol. xliv. part ii. p. 408.

the

( 3^0 )

the doftrine of Acids or Alcalies perti-
nent, except to Saline or Foflil Poi-
fons"^.

That this Poifon may duely operate;^
It is necelTary that it {hould be exter-
nally admitted into the fanguine vef-
fels -f ', becaufe when received by the
alimentary paflage it is fubdued by the
adtion of the digeflive organs, or ex-

* As the Author has brought a confiderable quan-
tity of this Poifon to England, any Gentleman,
whofe genius may incline him to profecute thefe
experiments, and whofe chara<5ler will warrant us
to confide in his hands a preparation, capable of
perpetrating the moft fecret and fatal villainy, may
be fupplied with a fufficient quantity of the Wop-
rara, by applying to Mr. Becket, in the Strand,

t That a portion of this Poifon, brought into
contadl with a ferous veffel, ihould not produce
the fame effe£!: as v/hen'immediately received into
a fanguiferous vein, can only be accounted for, by
fuppofmg that its contracting quality fo far dimi-
niihes the capacity of the veffel as to exclude its
own admillion.

eluded

s.

( 3^i )

duded from the channel of circulation
by the ladeals *. When fwallowed by
animals, in large quantities, it is ufually
ejeded by the mouth. Dr. Brockle/hy^
indeed, declares, that in giving a wa-
tery folution of the Amazonian Poifon
internally to a bird, it became con-
vulfed, and died when two drops had
fcarcely touched its tongue, tho' it had
jufl before been dofed with Sugar. This
is an experiment which contradifts

* The Author of our being, by wifely order-
ing the mechanifm of our bodies fo that nothing
can be received into the fanguiferous velTels except
through the minute pafTages and ftrainers of the
lacSteal and lymphatic veflTels, and their glands, has
happily preferved us from innumerable diforders,
to which we fhould be otherwife inceflantly ex-
pofed. Olive oil, fo harmlefs when either fwal-
Jowed, or fmeared over the body, if injected im-
mediately into the blood vefTels, produces death.
And thus the Poifon of Woorara^ taken internally,
or applied externally, is harmlefs, tho* nothing-
can be more fatal when conveyed into the veins
or arteries.

every

( 302 )

fevery other obfervation of MefT^^ de Id
Condamine and HeriJJant, as well as the
conftant pradtice of the Af72azonian In^
diansy in eating the flefh of animals kill-
ed by this Poifon ; a pradlice, in which
they are imitated by the Indians of Gui^
ana, who frequently taile the Poifon of
JVoorara, as I have myfelf feveral times
done, without detriment. But as the
veracity of Dr. Brocklejhy is unqueftion-
able, it is neceffary to fuppofe, that the
ilsLin of the bird's tongue, or mouth, was^
by fome accident, broken, which was
probably the cafe. If the cuticle is
unbroken, this Poifon, diffolved, may
be fmeared over the whole body, with-
out danger; and I have often, in ma-
king experiments, found not only my
hands, but arms, wet with a watery
folution of the JVoorara, which is fuf-
ceptible of a violent effervefcence with
the heat of the fun only, and which I
have fuffer^d to dry upon the fkin with

impu-

( 3^3 )

impunity. In this cafe life depends
upon a whole fkin.

When only a lymphatic vefTel is
wounded by one of thefe poifoned Ar-
rows, a febrile inflammation enfues :
Of this I once faw an example in an
Indiany belonging to the Plantation of
Ifaac Knoty Efq; a Member of the
Council, and Senior Captain of the
Burghers of De?neraryy with whom I
then refided, and which was the only
inftance in which I had ever an oppor-
tunity of obferving the adlion of this
Poifon on any of the Human Species*
This Indian had, by accident, flightly
pricked the fore-finger of his left-hand
with the point of a poifoned arrow, but
ias no blood enfued, he had apprehend-
ed no danger; but finding that the
wound foon after became painful, and
the hand confiderably fwelled, he came
to me for affiftance, I was at that time

wholly

( 3^4 )

wholly unacquainted with this Poifon,
and therefore called for an Indian Peii,
of the Arrowauk tribe, who was near,
and inquired, by an interpreter, if he
knew of any remedy ? He replied in
the negative ; but added, that the Indian
would not die, as no blood had appeared
from the prick, which was fcarce per-
ceptible. The effeds of the Poifon,
however, foon became more violent, and
not only the hand but whole arm was
tiimified, attended with a quick, hard,
throbbing pulfe, great febrile heat,
quick refpiration, and thiril, together
with an inflammation and tumefadion
of the lymphatic fubaxillary glands ■^".

* This is a clrcumftaiice which tends to con-
firm what the celebrated Dr. Hunter feems to have
inconteftibly demonftrated, in \i\^ Anatomical Lec-
tures^ that the lymphatic and lafteal vefTels uniting
into one common canal, called the Thoracic Du6i:,
form a dlilincl abforbing fyilem of veflels, the only
canals by which any thing can be received into
the channel of circulation, unlefs the blood-vefTeli-

fuffer

( 3^5 )

At this time he was bled, and his arrri
embrocated with olive oil and vinegar;
feveral antiphlogillic remedies were
likewife given internally, which it would

fufFcr a previous rupture, and thereby afford an
unnatural admillion into their cavities. Tha. the
lymphatics are the only natural abforbents, is,
among other ftill ftronger proofs, evident from this
obfervation, that all Poifons which apparently affe6l
the folids, ail firft folely oii the lymphatic vcilels, or
their glands ; whilft the venal duel:.-, which have
been hitherto fuppofed to abforb, remain unin-
jured. Thus the venereal poifon, when received
by coition, afFe6ls the inguinal glands, throuo-h
which the b.mphatics from the penis pafs, and
generates buboes. If it is received by the breaft,
it a(Sts on the fubaxillary glands, with which the
mammary lymphatics communicate, he. And in
the prefent inftance, we find the Poifon of U'^oo-
rara producing a tumefaction and inflammation of
the fame glands, to which it was conveyed bv the
lymphatic veiTels from the finger, and in which it
was arrefted. Thus the Poifon was refufed a paf-
lage into the fanguiferous vefTels by the lymphatic
glands, which are wifely difpofed fo as to obllrudl:
the entrance of almoft every thing detrimental tt>
health.

X be

( 3o6 )

be ufelefs to particularize, as I am un-
certain whether they were of any fer-
vice. In about twelve hours the vio-
lence of the fymptoms was apparently
decreafed, and the next morning they
almoft entirely difappeared.

Thefe arrows are ufed in hunting,
but particularly for killing monkies,
who, when wounded with unpoifoned
arrows, ufually run to the crotch of a
tree, from whence they do not fall,
even when dead ; whereas, when prick-
ed with a poifon arrow, their limbs be-
come ufelefs, and they fall to the
ground. But I do not find, that even
in their wars, which are feldom, they
ever attack any of the human fpecies
with poifoned arrows ; and yet it may
be wondered that a people, living under
no laws, actuated by no religious prin-
ciples, and unreftrained by the fear of
either prefent or future punifhments,

and

( 3^7 )

and havins; at their difpofal fo fatal a
poifon, fhbuld not foQ:ietimes exerclfe
it for the gratification of hatred, jea-
loufy, and revenge; but thefe pafllons
are languid in a ftate of nature, where,
though there are fewer reftraints, there
are alfo fewer temptations to vice ;
and the different tribes are, doubtlefs,
fenfible, that the detriment which thev
Ihould mutually fuftain, from the ufe of
poifoned arrows in their wars, would far
overbalance any advantage which could
refult therefrom. Much, however, is
to be attributed to that friendly and
hofpitable difpofition by which they are
happily diftinguiflied from the more
Northern In^Jiapis, being intirely defti-
tute of that ferocity which charaderifes
the Lilians contiguous to our Conti-
nental American Colonies, aiid which
prompts them to commit fuch horrid
ravages on their interior defencelefs in-
habitants.

X 2 The

( 3o8 )

The Religious Sentiments of all the
known tribes in Dutch Guiana are near-
ly fimilar. They all firmly believe the
exiflence of one fupreme God, the Au-
thor of all Nature. But the foundation
of this belief depends not on contem-
plating the effedls of that wifdom and
power, which has dilpofed the innume-
rable orbs of the univcrfe with fuch har-
mony, that millions of worlds revolve
round millions without impediment to
each other; nor on the order, beauty,
and regularity which is apparent in eve-
ry part of this our material fyftemi
but on the deformities and convulfions^
of Nature, which, to a plilofopher,
tend to create fcepticifm and infidelity.
The hidiaUy however, fees unquefti-
onable evidences of a Deity in earth-
quakes, prodigies, thunder-ftorms, and
tempeds.

The

( 3^9 )

The principal attribute with which
thefe tribes endow the Deity is bene-
volence; and though they impute the
good, yet they attribute none of the ills
of life to him. Good and evil they
think fo effentially dillerent, fo incom-
patible with each other, that they can
never flow from the fame fource; and
have therefore inftituted an order of fub-
ordinate malevolent beings, correfpond-
ing to our commonly received ideas of
Devils, who delight in, and are per-
mitted to inflidl, miferies on mankind.
To them are attributed all the misfor-
tunes and afflictions of life. Death, dif-
eafes, wounds, bruifes and all the un-
lucky accidents of life, are fuppcfed to
refult immediately from the malign in-
fluence of thefe beings, who are called
Towahods by the Indians, v/ho think
that they are conftantly employed in
concerting meafures for afflicting them.
To thefe Towahods, therefore, they di-

X 3 redl

( 310 )

their fapplications, and In afflidlion
ufe various endeavours to avert, or ap-
peafe, their malevolence ; while the ad-
oration of the fupreme Deity is intirely
neeledted.

In almoil: every family there is a per-
fon con fee rated to this fervice, who
unites in himfelf the facerdotal and me-
dical charaders. Thefe are called Peii's,
or Symmeties, and are believed, by
the laity, to have a particular influence
with thefe Towahoos., not only for avert-
ing their difpleafare from particular ob-
je6is, bat m drawing down their venge-
ance upon fach perfons as they pleafe:
a belief, v^^hich thefe Peii's inceffintly
cultivate, from felf-interefted principles,
which have ever been found inherent in
all orders of men, whether in a ftate of
nature or of civilization. When, there-
fore, a perfon is iick, or wounded, ap-
plication is immediately made to a Sym-

metie.

( 3" )

inetie, who at night vifits his patient,
with all the implements neceffary to ex-
ercife his feveral fundions. Of thefe
the principal one is a large calabafh,
freed from its feeds and internal fpungy
fubftance, in which there is a variety
of f nail circular, as well as of long, nar-
row holes, made in different parts of the
fhell, which is likewife painted with va-
rious colours. Within the fljCil are put
feveral fmall white flones, which are a
fpecies of agates, and on this account
are held in fuperftitious veneration by
the laity among the Indians, v/ho durft
not even touch them; to thefe are add-
ed a great number of fmall pea-like
feeds, variegated with b:ack and yellow
fpots, which, as is commonly believed
by the IndianSy will occafion the teeth
to fall out if they are chev/ed. A long
round piece of wood is then run through
the middle of the fhell, from end to
end, by means of two holes properly

X 4 made.

( 3^^ )

made, fo that each end of the ftick ex-
tends about a foot beyond the calabafli;
the iarp-eft end affords a handls, and the

o

other is ornamented with a long ftring of
beautiful feathers, of various colours,
wound on the ftick in fpiral circles.

With this magical fiell the Peii begins
his nodux-nal exorcifm, about ten o'clock
in the evening, having firft darkened
the room, and made every one quit it
except his patient; he then rattles his
fheli, by turning it flowly, in a circular
motion, at the fame time fmging a fup-
plication to th;^ Yoivahoo, w^hich, as vi^ell
as the motion of the fhell, is inceflantly
repeated until midnight, when the Peii
pretends to have an interview with the
Towahoa ; and at that time two appa-
rently diftindi voices may be always
overheard, by any perfon who has the
curiofity to liften, unlefs it happens to
rain at that time, when the Peii imme-
diately

{ V3 )

diately poftpones his incantation to the
next evening. What pafles at thefe in-
terviews is unintelHgible even to the
Indian laity themfelves; but the Peii
makes a report conformable to his con-
jecftures concerning the event of his pa-
tient's diforder ; tho' ufually in an ambi-
guous or doubtful ftile.

There are many of the White Inhabi-
tants, who have long refided in this Co-
lony, that believe the reality of thefe in-
terviews; nor will they be perfuaded
that the voice, which is attributed to
the Towahoo, and which feems to come
from the woods, can poffibly be made
by the Peii.

This ceremony has fome analogy to
the Pawwaws of the North American
Indians \ and indeed all the different
tribes on the continent pretend to an in-
tercourfe with evil fpirits ; but the Peii's

carry

( 3H )

carry their diffimulation fo far, that they
ad: the farce on themfelves when they are
difordered ^ a pradice, v/hich has not a
little contributed to overthrow all doubts
Gf the fincerity of their pretenlions.

Thefe exorcifms are ufually repeated
every night, during the increafe of the
patient's indifpofition ; but after a favour-
able change, or criiis, has happened to
the difeafe, the Peii pretends to extract
the caufe of the diforder, by fucking
the part which has been moil painful, or
moil: affeded, and then pulls out of his
mouth either fiih-bones, thorns, fnakes
teeth, or fome fuch fubflance, which he
has before concealed therein, but which
he pretends were mahcioufly conveyed
into the aifcsded part by the Towa-
hoo. The patient then imagines himfelf
cured, and the influence of imagina-
tion not a little accelerates his recovery.
During this time, however, they do

not

- ( 3'5 )

not negleft the ufe of thofe few remedies,
whofe properties have been difcovered
rather by chance than defign, and which
they have obferved to produce good ef-
feds in cafes apparently iimilar, without
knowing, or pretending to know, the
manner of their operation. And it is
from this limple origin, that the fcience
of m.edicine, divefted from its modern
improvements, derived its exiftence.
** Dihgentes homines hsc notafle, quas
*' plerumque mehus refponderent; deinde
" asgrotantibus ea priEcipere, caepifTe;
** fic medicinam ortam: fubinde alio-
" rum falute, ahorum interito, perni-
" ciofa difcernentem a falutaribus ^\ '*
But if the combined power of exorcifm
and medicine is infufiicient to preferve
life, the Peii attributes the patient's
death either to the implacable invete-
racy of the To-^ahooy or to the influence

* Ccljus^ prafat. jib. i. p. 9.

of

( 3i6 )

of fome other Peli, whom the patienE
has ' unhappily made his enemy, and
who has counteradled all his endeavours
for his recovery. After the patient's
death, the calabalh, which has been
unfuccefsfuUy ufed, is buried, and a new
one made to fupply its place.

The order of Peii's is hereditary, and
is conferred only on the eldeft fon of a
Peii, who is initiated into the myfteries
of his Peiifhip with much private, but
fuperftitious ceremony, continued for fe-
veral weeks 3 and, among other whim-
fical ceremonies pradtifed on this occa-
lion, he is dofed with the juice of To-
bacco, till it no longer operates as an
emetic: Tobacco being efteemed a fa-
cred plant among all the Aborigines of ^-

tnerica.

The day after the Indiana death, he
is buried naked, by an aflemblage of

his relations, friends, and acquaintance,

who.

(317)

who, when the ceremony is over, drown
their forrow in a drunken feaft, in which
their Piworree is freely difpenfed; this,
with another drink, which is but httle
different, and is called Beltera, being
the only fermented liquors known to
thefe Indians before the Europeans tranf-
planted themfehxs hither. Thefe occa-
lions prefent a ludicrous fpedtacle of cry-
ing, finging, riot, and drunkennefs ;
the old women are particularly noify and
petulent, and diftinguifh themielves by
tinging loud fongs in praife of the perfon
deceafedj and the whole is a confufed
fcene of mirth and forrow, ridiculoufly
combined in the fame object. After
the body has lain in the earth for feve-
ral months, and the fleih is fuppofed to
be perfectly rotten, the grave is open-
ed, and the bones taken out and diftri-
buted among the relations, on which
occafion the lame ludicrous (cqx\q of riot
and forrow is again re-afted^

Though

( 3'n

Though individuals in the different
tribes of Indians live in amity, and ex-
ercife the rules of hofpitality towards
each other, yet they have no Chief, are
neither reftrained nor prote6led by any
laws, but an injury, when offered, is
either revenged or forgiven, according
to the difpofition of the injured perfon.
But happily injuries are unfrequent, as
they ever muil be, in a ftate where
luxury and inequality are unknown j
where the inhabitants have no wants
but W'hat are eafily fupplied ; where
every bleffmg of nature is the common
undivided property of all 3 and where,
of confequence, there can be no tempt-
ations to diihonefty and injuilice. An
injury committed in fuch a ftate muft
be either the effed: of drunkennefs or
wantonnefs ; and it is univerfally ob-
ferved, that all their quarrels arife from
intemperance only.

In

( 3^9 )

In this Hate, the father reflrams his
children by parental authority, until
they arrive at an age of maturity, in
which reafon is fufficient to withftand
the feeble temptations to which they
are expofed. At this time they marry;
and though polygamy is univerfally al-
lowed, it is not often pradifed ; and an
Indian is rarely feen to be the hufband
of more than one wife, unlefs the former
is become old and difagreeable. In
this cafe the hulband takes a fecond, at
the age of i^^^^Vi or eight years, who
lives and fubferves the former in all do-
meftic employments until the term of
puberty, which, in this climate, is ufj-
ally between ten and eleven years, at
which time flie cohabits with the huf-
band. The ceremony of marriage is
nothing more than a drunken feaft.
But notwithftanding they have no reli-
gious reftraints to conjugal fidelity, yet
adultery is lef§ frequent than among ci-
vilized

C 320 )

villzed nations, where too many at the
altar, in the moil: folemn manner, impi-
oufly enter into engagements, without
intending to fulfil them ; a crime fo
common, that its frequency is abfurd-
]y urged as an excufe for its com-
miffion. But with the Indians, Na-
ture is their only law to love, and con-
ftancy is Nature's didlatc. This, how-
ever, is the cafe only with thofe who
live at a diftance from, and are uncor-
rupted by, the Europeans , thofe In-
dians, who have a nearer and more con-
ftant intercourfe with the Whites, be-
ing encouraged in their natural pro-
peniity to intemperance, that the de-
bauchery of their wives may be effecfted
with more facility. There is no injury,
however, of which the Indians are more
fenfible, or which they oftener revenge ^
but this they never attempt on the
Whites, for whom they have no fmall
veneration. But though chaftity after

marriage

( 3^0

marriage is required, it is far from being
deemed neceflary even in the females
before that ceremony ; not that the
hulband, like thofe of an Oriental na-
tion, is difpleafed at being put off with
a virgin ; but it feems a matter of perfedt
indifference.

After marriage, a houfe, with its fur-
niture, fuch as I have already defcribed>
is provided for the new married couple,
contiguous to that of the father's ; and
as the men find themfelves f!:ron2:er than
the women, they claim a fuperiority,
which, in fpite of love, they exercife
over their wives, who not only fubferve
them in all domeftic offices, but even in
agriculture, after the men have firft
cleared the ground from its trees. Here
the women plant CaiTava, Plantins, and
Yams, fufficient for making of bread
and Piworree, thefe three being almoft
the only vegetables which they ufe,

Y that

( 3- )

til at are not the fpontaneous produc-
tions of Nature ; and in this dimate,
one month's labour annually is amply
fufficient for the cultivation of thefe
produdtions.

An aopctite for animal food, and the
facility of acquiring it in this country,
has rendered the men all hunters ; and
indeed hunting is almoft their only em-
ployment. Whenever their meat is at
an end, the huiband tiikes his arrows,
.and goes in quell of game. If he is
unfuccefsful in his fearch after Deer,
Labba's, &cc, he fits down by a tree, and
imitates the cry of a Puccarara, or In-
dian Coney ; and as they are very nu-
merous, feveral of them foon appear, of
which he ilioots as many as he wants,
and returns home, where he continues
till hunger rerpinds him that his meat
is gone. If he has an appetite for fifli,
he goes to a fmall creek, emptying into

a ri-

■ ( 3^3 )

a river. Thcfe are ufually kept fcncea
at the mouth, leaving only a finill open-
ing, three or four feet in width, through
which the fifn enter with the tide of
flood in queft of food. This opening
the Indian Hops, at the point of high
water, with a fence made from flicks,
tied together fo clofe, that the fiili can-
not efcape through them. Many of
thefe creeks are empty at low water,
and the fifh are found lying on the m^ud.
When this is not the cafe, the fifh arc
intoxicated, by throwing into it a
bruifed root of Hiarra, at the point of
low water, and the nih foon float mo-
ti'onlefs on the fjrface of the water, and
are then taken.

Their ufual method of cooking all
animal food, is by boiling it either with
water, or the juice of Poifon Cafi^ava, to
which they add fach a quantity of Red
Pepper, as would inftantly excoriate the

Y 2 mouth

( 3H )

mouth of a perfon unaccuftomed to its
ufe, which is iridifpenfibly neceffary in
this dimate, to corroborate the folids,
and promote digCiLlon, which would
othervvife be imperfect; though it is a
general but miftaken opinion, that the
copious ufe of fpices is detrimental to
the inhabitants of hot climates; whereas
nothing is more produdlive of health ;
^nd we find that Nature has not only
produced them more particularly in thefe
climates, but taught the inhabitants
their ufe -, and not only the Indians of
America between the Tropics, but the
inhabitants of Africa and the Rajiy all
feafon their food with a great quantity
of Spices, particularly Pepper; a pradice
in which they are likewife imitated, in a
greater or lefs degree, by all the Europe^
ans who have reiided in thefe countries
long enough to acquire the knowledge of
its ufe. By this pradice the hidians
wholly prefcrve themfelves from thofe

Inter^

( 3^5 )

Intermitting Fevers which are endemial
to the other inhabitants oi Guiana, who
do not imitate them therein. But tho'
the Indians Hve in the exceflive ufe of
Pepper, they are never afflided with the
Gout, notwithflanding the humidity of
the air renders it particuiarly troublefome
to thofe of the White Inhabitants, who
have tranfported it from Europe, and
I think that Spices ought to be no lon-
ger enumerated among the praedifpofing
caufes of that diforder. The Indians^
however, ufe but Httle Salt with their
food, and until the Europeans vifited
them, they had* none, except what
they fometimes procured by boiling fea-
water in their fmall clay pots; but the
far inland inhabitants fcarce ever faw any
in their lives. The Indians have no fet
time of eating except at evening, when
they return from hunting; at other
times they eat whenever they are ftimu-
lated by hunger.

Y 3 I for-

( 32f> )

I foi-got to inform you, that the Peirs
religioully abllain from the flcfli of
oxen, iheep, and all other animals thaf
have been tranfpl anted from Europe y
and are unnatural to America.

The Indians drink Piworree with
their food, when they have it, but their
indolent iai providence often renders
them deftitute of it; in which cafe wa-
ter fapplies its place. In this climate,
however, and with their natural propen*
fity to intemperance, their improvidence
ijs a blefling, as they would otherwife be
intoxicated the greaieft part of their
lives. Their unconcern for futurity,
however, is by no means fingularor un-
natural, improvidence being the univer-
fal charaderiilic of all uncivilized na-
tions. To forego prefent eafe for future
advantage, to neglect an immediate for
a diftant enjoyment, can only be fug-
gefled by cultivated reafon.

As

{ 2^-7 )

As the Indians have but little, and
often no Salt, whenever they have a
greater quantity of animal food th^n i?
required for prefent ufe, they preferve it
after the manner of the Darien Indianf^
by drying and fmoaking it over a fmall
fire; and when the fucculency is, by
that means, diflipated, it may be kept
for many months without danger of pu-
trefadion.

The fimpllcity of the Jives of thefe
people, the paucity of their wants, and
the eafe with v^^hich they are fupplied,
in a country fo happily iituated, and fo
liberally endowed v/ith the necellaries
of life, leaves the greater part of their
time unoccupied with the cares of
procuring fuilenance, in which they
have ample leifure to purfue the various
modes of amufement and pleafure, which
are moft agreeable to their fimple, ruftic
inclinations^ A part of thefe idle hours

Y 4 they

( 3^8 )

they pafs in bathing and fwimming in
the rivers, which they do in compa-
nies, without diftindlion of fex, feveral
times a day ; and they are fo conftant and
expert at fwimming, that they almofl
deferve to be claffed with amphibious a-
nimals; this they find not only an agree-
able but falubrious exercife, as it tends
to reprefs exceffive perfpiration, and pre-
ferve health : At other times they vifit
each other, and are mutually entertained,
not only with the fimple occurrences of
their lives, but with a variety of fables,
which are merry, fignificant, and replete
with fuch fimple morality, as their con-
fined obfervations and uncultivated minds
have fuggefled. On thefe occafions they
often abandon thcmfelves to puerile
mirth, dancing, or immoderate laugh-
ter; but harmony and good - hun:iour
ever prevail, until they are intoxicated
by drink. But the greatefi: part of their
leifure hours are idly pafied in their

hammockso

( 329 )

hammocks, in which they not only
fleep, but eat, converfe, play, blow a
kind of rough clumiy flutes, eradicate
their beards, or view themfelves in glaf-
fes, and admire their features, for they
are not untindtured with vanity.

Their indolence feems to be conftitu-
tional, produced by the warmth and hu-
midity of the atmofphere, which conlpire
to relax and debilitate the inhabitants,
and render them lefs vigorous and a6live
than thofe of colder climates. But if
they have lefs ability or difpolition for
labour, they aUb find it lefs necelTary
than in other climates ; as the fame heat
and moiflure which thus enervates the
body, generates an exuberant fertility of
foil, a fpeedy luxuriant vegetation, and
a multiplicity of fpcntaneous animal and
vegetable produdlions; which, with the
abfence of winter, and other peculiar ad-
Vantages, amply ccmpenfate for this de-
bility.

( 33^ )

bility. It is thus that ahnoft every 111 is,
in fome degree, alleviated by an atten-
dant advantage.

Though the Indians are but little ac-
quainted with midwifery, Nature has
happily rendered it unneceiTary, as a dif-
ficult or painful birth is fcarce ever
known, nothing more being neceflary
than to receive the infant when it fpon-
taneoufly prefents itfelf, and divide the
umbilic veffels, which they do with a
brand of fire, which cauterizes their
orifices, and renders a ligature unnecef-
fary. On thefe occafions the women fuf-
fer fo little, that they feem to have
been exempted from the fentence of
bringing forth in forrow, which was pro-
flounced on Evcy and is inflicted on all
the females of civilized countries. The
mother and new born infant, when de-
livered, are carried, and plunged into
the water> and the next day the former

relumes

( 33^ )

refumes the difcharge of her domeftie
employments.

Children here are fcarce ever bora
with natural imperfedllons ; it is very
uncommon to fee an Indian either lame
or deformed. The children, inftead of
being oppreffed with excefs of care an4
indulgence, pafs a ftate of infancy with-^
put receiving much attention or aflift-p
ance from the parents, except food on-
ly : but this negled: is far from proving
detrimental, and they much fooner ac-
quire ftrength and felf- fufficiency.
" Mollis ilia educatio, quam indulgen-
" tiam vocamus, nervos omnes et men-
** tis et corporis friget *." The males,
as they grow towards manhood, attend
the father in hunting ; and by habitude
and experience acquire a degree of fa-
gacity and expertnefs at this exercife,

* ^ilntU. lib. i. cap, 3,

by

( 330

by which all the Indians are dlftinguifh-
cd. The females, at the fame time,
are devoted to the fervice and affift-
ance of the mother, in her feveral em-
ployments.

As the Indians are intirely ignorant
of Letters, they are unable to compre-
hend the manner in which they ob-
ferve the knowledge of things commu-
nicated by their afliftance ; and books
they behold v/ith fuperftitious venera-
tion, as inltruments by which the know-
ledge of pad: and future fecrets are dif^
covered. They feem to have fome no-
tion of a future ftate ; but their ideas
on this particular are fo confufed and
doubtful, that they feem rather to hope
than believe a future exiftence : but
they feem by no means follicitous to
fatisfy themlelves on this fubjedl, there
being an indolent tranquillity and inat-
tention to futurity, which predominates

not

( 333 )

not only in this, but every other parti-
cular ; and their cares, initead of ex-
tending to a ftate of future exiflence,
feldom reach beyond the prefenthour;
nor, except in the fingle article of agri-
culture, do they ever make any provi-
fion for futurity ; and though the la-
bour required for cultivating a fufficient
quantity of Caffava is fo trifling, yet
they often delay their cares on this
particular, till they are not only defti-
tute of Piworree, but even of bread,
in which cafe they contentedly recur to
the ufe of Sipera, or Green-heart-tree
Apples.

This indolent negleft and unconcern,
which, in a colder climate, would be
productive of mifery, in this occafions
only prefent inconvenience, and confti-
tutes in their difpofitions a happy tran-
quillity, which is immutable either by

want or abundance. When furrounded

with

( 334 )'

with plenty, they are voracious and
. intemperate ; when their fituation is
the reverfe, they abflemioully fuffer the
inconveniencies of want, without ap-
parent delire or anxiety. If fmnlan;
happinefs confifts in contentment, thefe
people muft neceffarily be, of all others^
the moft happy i where they have no
wants but what are eafily fupplied, ancf
where all are in a ftate of perfect equa-
lity, in which the tortures o^ difcon-
tent, envy, ambition, and avarice can-
not poffibly exift.

As the India?2s have no method of
Computing Time, for any number of
years, it is impoffible to afcertain the
length of their lives ; many of them,
however, appear cavered with wriri-
kles, and all other marks of old age,
except baldnefs and grey hairs, from
which they are all exempt, even fn the?
moft advanced age. They, however,

calculate

C 335 )

calculate the diflance of events by in<-
tervening Moons, where their number
does not exceed ten or twelve ; but af-
ter that they feldom remember their
number with anv exadnefs. Their me-
thod of Numeration is by units, tens,
and fcores, till they reach an hundred,
after which they have no exad: method
of expreffing the number of objeds,
but ufually do it, by fliewing fuch a
quantity of hairs as they think has
the neareft relation to the numbers of
which they would convey an idea.

In all their traffic, either with each
other or the Europeans y they eftimate
the value of things according to their
prefent want ; and an Indian at onc^
time (hall require an ax, in exchange
for that for which at another he will
demand only a fifh-hook, without re-
garding any difproportion between their
value.

The

( 336 )

The Arrowank Indians never tv\^^z^
in any wars with their neighbours, nor
even in the pradlice of making flaves
from among the interior inhabitants, to
which the 'Dutch have incited the Car^
ribbee and Accawaii tribes. Whether
they are fenfible, that hands were not
given them to deftroy each other ; or
whether they are influenced by pulilla-
nimity, I will not determine ; they
have, however, maintained themfelves
in a ftate of perfedt independence with-*
out wars. This is by no means diffi-
cult among uncivilized nations, if care
is only taken not to injure or provoke
them to revenge. An acquifition of
ufelefs territory, or of ufelefs flaves,
cannot pofiibly excite a people to war ;
and it would be difficult to maintain a
nation in lubjedlion, who have {o few
wants ; and to attempt it, would be a
certain trouble without any advantage.
And we find that all barbarous nations

engage

( 337 )

engage in war from a fpirit of revenge,
rather than views of intereft ; except
only where they have an opportunity
of felling thofe prifoners to others,
which to themfelves would be ufelefs.
Such an opportunity has indeed been
furnillied to the Indians of Guiana ^
fince the Dutch have made fettlements
on this Coafl: ; but they have prevented
its injuring the peaceable Arrowauks,
by exempting them from the poffibility
of becoming flaves.

I N reviewing the Manners of thefc
Indians y fom.e few particulars excepted,
I furvey an amiable pidlure of primaeval
innocence and happinefs ; which arifes
chiefly from the fewnefs of their v/ants,
and their univerfal equality. The latter
deftroys all diftinffions among them,
except thofe of age and perfonal m.erit,
and promotes the eafe, harmony, and
freedom of their mutual converfation

Z and

( 338 )

i

and intercourfe. This facilitates the
happinefs of the Indian Lover, who
finds no obftacles to the fruition of his
deiires from inequaUty in rank or for-
tune, or from the views which ambition
and intereft infpire ; and this annihilates
all envy and difcontent. But the ad-
vantages refulting from the paucity and
fimplicity of their defires, contribute to
their felicity in a more eminent degree.
Man's real wants are but few, and thofe
few not long ; though in civilized coun-
tries they have been multiplied by
luxury and refinement to an excrucia-
ting excefs.

Thofe who have been unhappily fa-
miliarized to all the various refine-
mentG of luxury and efi^eminacy which
attend the Great, and whofe deluded
imaginations eileem them eflential to
happinefs, will hardly believe that an
Indian^ without any other covering but

what

I 339 )

what ttiodefty requires, with a fhelter
which cannot deferve the name of a
houfe, and the few cuhnary and do-
meftic utenfils which I have already
enumerated, without any other terre-
ftrial polTeffions, and only the ruftic food
which is procured by hunting, drefled
without variety, art, or delicacy, could
form any pretenfions to felicity ; and yet,
if I may be allowed to judge from exter-
nal appearances, the happinefs of thcfe
people may be juftly envied even by the
wealthy of the moft refined countries ^
as their happy ignorance of thofe extra-
vagant defires and endlefs purfuitSj
which agitate the great luxurious world,
excludes every wifh beyond their pre-
fent enjoyments i

The fewriefs and fimplicity of their
wants, with the abundance of means
for their fupply, and the eafe with
which they are acquired, renders all di-

Z 2 vifion

( 34<=> )

viiion of property ufeleis. Each arnica*
biy participates the ample bleffings of
aa extenfive country, without rivalling
his neighbour, or interrupting his hap-
plnefs. This renders all government
and all laws unneceffary, as in fuch a
jftate there can be no temptations to dif-
honefly, fraud, injuflice, or violence^
nor indeed any deiires which may not
be gratified with innocence 5 and that
chimerical pronenefs to vice, which,
among civilized nations, is thought to
be a natural propenfity, has no exiftence
in a State of Nature like this, where
every one perfectly enjoys the bleffings
of his native freedom and indepen-
dency, without any reftraints or fears,
but thofe of religion, which their Peii's
have artfully created : To thefe, how-
ever, the inhabitants of all countries
are, in a greater or lefs degree, fub-
jedted.

To

( 341 )

To acquire the art of dlfpenfing with
all imaginary wants, and cont'jnting
ourfdlves with the real ccnveniencies oi
life, is the noblefl exertion of reafon,
and a niod ufeful acquifition, as it-
elevates the mind above the viciflitudes
of fortune. Socrates juftly obferves,
** That thofe who want lead approach
*^ nearefl: to the Gods, who want no-
*^ thing." The fimplicity, however,
which is [o apparent in the manners of
thefe Indians y is not the effect of a phi-
lofophical felf-denial, bat of their igno-
rance of more refined enjoyments, which,
however, produces efteds equally happy
with thofe which refjlt from the moil
auftere philofophy -, and their manners
prefent an emblem of the fabled Elyfiaa
fields, where individuals need not the af-
iiftance of each other, but yet preferve a
conflant intercourfe of love and friendihin.

O fort unati nimi limy bona fi fit a norint.

ViKG.

Z -i

( 342 )

Thefe Indians are indeed unlettered
and ignorant, as are all thofe whofe
wants are few ; the progrefs of arts and
fciences having ever kept pace with
luxury. Mankind feldom attend to ob^.
jefts, which are not connected with
either their pleafures or neceffities ; and
where curiolity is thus unexcited, reafoa
will never undergo the trouble of iave-
ftigatipg the properties and caufes of ob-
jects, which, when difcovered, could af-
ford no entertainment : Where, there^
fore, the wants and defires of mankind
are few, their enquiries, and confe-
quentiy their knowlege, will be confined.
This ignorance, however, is a vehicle of
happinefs to thefe Indians^ as it would
certainly render them miferable to be
endowed with fentiments and defires
above their capacity of enjoyment ; and
happy will it be, if they never emerge
from their prefent ftate.

Several

( 343 )

Several moderns, celebrated in the li-
terary world, from obferving the inno-
cence and happinefs which favage na-
tions enjoy, though ignorant of the
liberal arts, have from thence infer-
red, that arts and fciences were pre-
judicial to civilized fociety, and have
proceeded to charge them with all the
ill effedts refulting from luxury, which
has ever been their companion, or
rather their parent. In this, however,
they have egregioufly erred ; as thole
things which, in a State of Nature, are
ufelefs, may be highly falutary in a State
of Civilization 3 as arts and fciences
are the fureil antidote againft the evils
of luxury and refinement. The ills of
civilized fociety have their fource in the
unnatural inftitution and unequal diftri-
bution of property, which is neceffiuily
produced by the different degrees of
fagacity, induftry, and frugality i^
individuals, tranfmitted to, and aug-

Z 4 men ted

( 344 )

mented by, an accumulating poderity,
till the difproportion in the poffeffions
of different individuals becomes enor-
mous, and creates a thoufand unna-
tural diftindions among mankind, en-
abling feme to fquander the bread of
provinces in a profafion of fatiating plea-
fures; while multitudes fufl^er by want/
infuited by every fpecies of fubordinate
tyranny, and opprelTed by every law
which gives others protedion ; while ob-
jeds ftill more wretched, who are ema-
ciated with the complicated evils of hun-
ger and difeafe, uncloathed even with
rags, difclaimed by the world, and a-
bandoned to the rigours of winter, pe-
nury, and defpair, and whofe miferies
rather excite horror than compaflion,
daily (hock humanity. Thus the excef-
five difproportion of wealth renders the
poor miferable, without augmenting the
happinefs of the rich. When this dif-
parity becomes ccnfiderable, then, and

not

( 3+5 )

not till then, luxury advances witli
all its attendant pkalures and refine-
ments, which, without communicating
an increafe of happinefs to thofe who
enjoy them, tempt thofe who have
them not to endeavour to acquire them
by unjuft and violent means. Man-
kind are then taught to connedt the
idea of happinefs with thofe of drefs,
equipage, afHuence, and all the various
am.ufements which luxury has invented;
thence they become the flaves of a thou-
fand unnatural imaginary wants, which
become the fource of envy, difcontent,
fraud, injuftice, perjury, and violence,
by ftimulating inordinate appetites, and
creating unnatural temptations to vice,
too powerful for the Iway of reafon ;
and thus mankind becomes the author
of moral Evil.

We, in a flate of civilization, uni-

-verfolly complain of an inability to con-
form

( 346

form to the diftates of reafon and vir-
tue : an inability which has been un-
juftly charged to a natural propenfity to
vice, but which is the fole production
of luxury, and unknown in a ftate of
nature. Luxury, however, in genera-
ting immorality, likewife promotes the
advancement of literature, which, by
a variety of means, tends to reprefs and
difcountenance vice. A ftate in this fi*
tuation, like a body corrupted by in-
temperance, requires to be fupported
by the continuation of corrupt means $
and luxury in the rich promotes induftry
and arts, and feeds and cloaths the la-
bouring poor, who would other wife
ftarve. Thus by an unnatural perver-
fion of things, the members of a cor-
rupt ftate derive advantage not only
from the follies, but vices of each other ;
and the fabulous fpeech and confeflion
of a dying malefg^cSor prevents many
from ftarving.

But

( 347 )

But every kind of life has its peculiar
advantages as well as evils. The vices
of civilized countries, though more nu-
merous, are lefs terrible. Artificial
wants extend the circle of our pleafures ;
and even luxury, by multiplying our
defires, enlarges our capacity for happi-
nefs. Whether, therefore, we pafs life
in the ruftic fimplicity and ignorance of
Hottentot Barbarifm, or in the endlefs
pleafures of Refinement and Luxury,
we fhall all arrive to the fame end, and
perhaps with an equal portion of hap-
pinefs, as far as it depends on external
enjoyments, abflradling only the mife-
ries of real want and difeafe.

However various the conditions of
mankind may be, the diftribution of
happinefs and mifery in life, is far from
being fo unequal as is generally be-
lieved : Good and evil are indifcrimi-
nately niingled in every cup ; the Mo-
narch

34S )

narch in his purple, and the Beggar in
his rags, are expofed to their refpedlive
cares and afflidtions. Agreeable objedls,
by poireiiion and familiarity, lofe their
aptitude and capacity for pleafing ; and
in every ftate of life, hope ends in dif-
appointment, and enjoyment in fatiety.
From this conclufion jiiitice, however,
obliges me to except the happinefs I.
once derived from your endearing fo-
ciety and converfation, unallayed by
enjoyment ; and I can with truth affure
you, that neither abfence, nor diftance
of iituation, will ever impair the efleem
and devotion with which I moil affec-
tionately am.

Dear Brother,

Your, 8cc.

LET-

( 349 )

LETTER iV.

RioDemeraryy Nov. 15, 1766.

Dear Brother,

FROM my preceding Letters you
will be able to form an idea of
the flate of Guiana before the
European Nations vifited, and fettled
themfelves on this Coaft, It now re-
mains for me briefly to inform you
of the fubfequent changes which have
been induced by European Policy, In-
duftry, and Luxury. Religion I omit,
becaufe that feems to have had no in-
fluence in thele alterations. It is my
intention, however, to confine my in-
formation, relative to thefe particulars,

folelv

( 35^ )

folely to that part of Guiana^ which is
inhabited by the fubjedls of the United
Provinces ^ my knowledge of the other
'European Colonies being too imperfedl
to merit a communication.

The riioft ancient and confiderable
of all the Dutch Colonies in Guiana,
is Surinam 'y but as that River, with
its Settlements, which were made firft
by the Subjects oi England, ate already
fufficiently known in Europe, I fhall
omit a defcription of them.

Next in the order of iituation is
the Colony of Berbice, lituated on the
{hores of the River of that name, about
twenty-five leagues N. W. by W. \ N*
diftant from Surinam, running from
North to South, and difcharging itfelf
into the Atlantic Ocean. The Coaft on
each fide of the River forms a Bay at
its entrance, which is near a mile in

widthy

( 35' )

width, having a fmall Ifland in the
middle, known by the name of Crab
Ifland, Oppofite this Ifland,, on the
eaftern fhore, is a fmall Poft, with fe-
veral pieces of cannon, and fome fol-
diers; but the channel on the other
fide, which is navigable for vefTels of
any burthen, is undefended, and cover-
ed by the Ifland from the guns on the
oppofite {hore. Without the entrance
of this River is a Bar, which, at high
tide, has feldom more than fixteen feet
of water ; but within, the water is of
fufficient depth, and the river is navi-
gable, for fliips of burthen, two hun-
dred miles from its mouth.

The Plantations are fituated on each
fide of the River, and extend near
three hundred miles from its entrance.
Fort NaffaUy which is the Seat of Go-
vernment, and contiguous to which
are the Public Ofiices, Churches, and

Houfes

( 35^ )

Houfes of the Civil and Military Of-
ficers, being fituated at one hundred
miles from the mouth of the River ; the
Dutch having here, as in all their Co-
lonies, negleSed the lower and more
fertile land, near the fca-coaft, for that
which is more elevated, in the interior
part of the country. At prefent, how-
ever, they are endeavouring to repair
their error, and the Seat of Govern-
ment is foon to be removed to a point
of land on the eaftern fliore of Berbice^
about a mile from its entrance, which
is formed between Bcrbice and the Ri-
ver Conya^ whicli there difcharges itfelf
into the former.

Cony a is a narrow, but deep river,
running from fouth to north, but di-
verging fomewhat eafterly from Berbice,
There are feveral Plantations on the
fides of this river, which makes a part
of the Colony of Berbice, which is at

prefent

( 353 )

prefent under the government of his
Excellency "John Heyliger, Efquire, who
is filled Governor General.

This, like all the Dutch Colonies in
the IFe^fl Indies y is under the jurifdic-
tion of the Dutch JVeJi India Company,
and the lands are granted gratiSy by
the Governor and Court of Policy, to
petitioners, upon conditional terms of
fettlement , and if thefe are not com-
plied with, the land again reverts to
the donors, and is granted to other pe-
titioners. The inhabitants of this Co-
lony, however, as well as thofe of Su-
rinam^ are reftricfted from tranfmitting
the produce of their Plantations (which
is chiefly Sugar, Coffee, Cotton, and
Cocao,) to any Port which is not within
the Province of Holland -y as thofe of
Demerary and Efjequebo are obliged to
export theirs to the Province of Zea-
land, Thefe are commercial regula-

A a tions.

( 354 ) ■ ,

tions. which have bcea thought to be
ior the mutual intcrcit of the Company
and IjihabiiLints.

In the year 1763 an inrarre(rtion
happened among the Slaves cf this Co-
lony, who rebelled to the amount of
feveral thoufands, and mafiacred a con-
liderable number of th,e White Inhabit-
aiits, wiiiie the rell fled to Yi^nNa/Jhuy
where, fearing their communication
v/itli the fea-coaft mi'iot be obilruded,
the then Governor, by the advice of his
Council, precipitately blew up the Fort,
and retired, with the White Inhabit-
ants, on board feveral merchant fhips
in the Paver, and failed to its entrance,
there to wait for affifiance from abroad.
This retreat \Qh the Pvcbels the undif-
turbed pofl'effion of the whole Colony,
and threw the inhabitants of the neigh-
bouring Colonics, particularly of Dc-
mcrary and EJjcquebo, into the utmoll

confler-

( 355 )

confternation, as they were the moft
contiguous to Berbice, and apprehended
a vilit from the Rebels, which muft
have been attended with the nioft un-
happy confequences, as their own flaves
were at lead: five times more numerous
than the White Inhabitants, and be-
trayed fo eager a difpofition for revolt-
ing, that it was feared they would not
have patience to wait for afiiftance from
their brethren in Berbice,

In this critical fituation, however,
they experienced the advantage of their
connection with the fubjedts of Great
Britain^ as at this time a fliip of war,
belonging to Gedney Clarke, Efq; Col-
]e(flor of his Majefty's Cuftoms at Bar-*
badoesy which had been put into com-
miffion by Admiral Dou^Jau and was
commanded by a Lieutenant of the Bri-
tiflo Navy, arrived with a Company of
Marines, and another of Soldiers, raifed

A a 2 at

(356 )

at the expence of Mr. Clarke ^ who was
proprietor of feveral plantations in De-
merary, as were feveral other Gentle-
men in Barbadoes, This armament ef-
fediually fruftrated the rebellious defigns
of the Slaves in Deiiieraryy and the civil
diffentions among the Rebels of 5^r-
bice diverted them from their intended
vilit. In the interim, however, the
Governor oi Berbice received a body of
Soldiers from Surinam y and feveral arm-
ed veiTels from the Iflands of Curagoa
and St. Eujiatia^ with v/hich he failed
up the River, and took poiTeflion of the
Danger-heady a large Plantation belong-
ing to 'the TVeji India Company, where
he maintained himfelf till the arrival of
an armament from Hoila72d, when the
Rebels W'ere foon driven from the
woods^ from whence huiioer, and the
arrows of the Indians . oblig^ed them
to return, and feck an alvlum in their
former llaverv. Severa] hundred of the

chief

( 3S7 )

chief promoters of this infurreclion were
however. burnt, or broke on the wheel,
with aH the various fpecies of cruelty
for which the Dutch have been long
notorious. Before this, however, feve-
ral hundreds of the Carribbee Indians
were, by the Governor of Rffequebo and
Demerary, engaged to take up arms
againrt the Rebels, whom they not a lit-
tle harraffed, by concealing themfelves
in the woods by day, and fctting fire to
their houfes in the night, by fliooting ar-
rows fired at the point among the Troo-
lies, with which they were thatched,
and then killing the Negroes as they
fled out in confufion.

About fifteen leagues North Weft
fiom Berbice is the River De?nerary,
near three quarters of a mile in width at
its entrance, which is in 6 deg. 46 m.
North Latitude. On the eaft fide is a
fandy ihoal, extending a little diftance

A a 3 from

( 35^ )

from the fliore; to avoid this, nothing
is required but to enter the River near
its middle, w^ith its courfe in full viev^',
when the water will be found deeper,
and its entrance eafier, than that of
Berbice or Ejjeqtiebo. A little within
the mouth of the River, on the eail
ihore> is a fmall Poll, with feveral pa-
tereroes, which are very infufficient for
defending the mouth of the River a-
gainft a veffel of any force, though this
is the only fortification in this part of
the Colony. About eight leagues from
thence are three Iflands, at no great
diftance from each other. On that
which is in the middle is the refidence
of the Commandant, and there the
Courts of Judicature are held, and the
Company's Troops are ftationed. This
River is navigable for vefiels of great
burthen one hundred miles from its
mouth, and is fettled near one hundred
ipiles farther. Two hundred miles fron:|

the

( 359 )

the entrance or thU Rive?* are ievci'.il
Cataradls, froai which the warer filU
by a long, but eaiy deicenr. Some di-
(lance above thele the River divides into
two branciies, which diverge from eacl'i
other about eight points, the one ruii-
vAn^ S. W. and the other S. E. But
their fource has never been dii'covereJ
by any European,

One league Vvefi; from Dcmcrary
is the Great River Rffiqucho, which, at
its entrance, is nine miles fiom Ihore to
fhore. In its mouth arc three Iflands,
called the Lagueon Iflands, two of vvhich
extend fome diiliance w^ithoui: the m.niii
land. Within tlicfe are the Fortune.
IJJaJtdsy and within them a fuccchion or"
other Iiiand>, which is contin'jed tlio
diftance of twelve or fourteen Icainie.s
from the River s mouth, vviiicii, Oii tliC
eaftern fiiore is defended by a Poft u-
niilar to tP.at hi Doncrary^ though the

A a .j. weilera

( 360 )

weftern channel is intirely defencelefs.
Fort Zealand is fituated on an Ifland
known by the name of the Fort IJlandy
lying about ten leagues above the en-
trance of the River. This Fort mounts
about forty pieces of cannon, and on
this Ifland is the ufjal refidence of the
Governor, and other Officers of Go-
vernment, as well as of fome of the
Planters, &c. On this, and all the
other Iflands, as well as on each lide
of the River, for a great diftance, are
Plantations, producing Sugar, Coffee,
and Cotton chiefly.

The River EJfequebo receives a great
number of creeks and rivers on each
fide ; but the principal fl:ream has its
fource more than three hundred miles
from the fea-coafl, diverging wefl:erly
from Demcrary^ whofe courfe from the
entrance is nearly South to the place
where it divides into two branches. Be-

fides

( 36i )

lides thefe, there are the Rivers Po-
marooriy Ciirrantiney Merriwina, and a
great number of fmall rivers and creeks
difchargino^ themfelvcs into the North
Sea ; but as they are all unfettled, I
fhall not defcend to a defcription of
them. All thefe, as well as feveral of
thofe Rivers which are fettled, are un-
known to Englijh Geographers, and
not to be difcovered in any Charts of
that country that I have ever {qqti.

Effequebo and Demerary^ on account
of their proximity, are comprized in
one Colony, which bears the name of
both Rivers, and is under the govern-
ment of his Excellency Laurence Storm
Van Gravefande, EJfequebo is the moft
ancient, having been fettled near fixty
years -, though no great advances were
made in agriculture till lately. Deme^
rarjy which has been fettled but little
more than twenty years, at prefent pro-

mifes

( 360

miles fair to become a moll: fiourilliinp
Colony, with proper encouragement;
though the Dutch do not beftow all the
attention on thefe colonies which they
deferve, and in feme meafure negled: the
Wejl for the Eajl hidies. >

The Plantations of thefe Colonies are
fituated in fingle tiers on each fide of
the River, extending ^zm^xs. hundred and
fifty rods in depth from the River, but
are of different extent in front, accord-
ing to the productions to which they
are appropriated ; thofe for Sugar ex-
tending ufually either a thoufand or fif-
teen hundred rods in front of the Ri-
ver ; thofe for Coffee or Cotton feldoQ:^
exceed five hundred. Between each
plantation the Company has referved
twenty-four feet of ground, on which
roads are to be made, if ever a fecond
row of plantations (hould be formed
behind the firil. Sugar plantations are

deemed

( 363 )

deemed the mofl: profitable, and arc
the objects to which all afpirc. Thole,
however, whole fortunes are unequal to
£0 expenfive an undertaking, content
themfelves wdth Coffee or Cotton Plan-
tations, till they have thereby fufficiently
improved their ftock for undertaking
a greater objedt^

The Sugar-mills of thefe Colonies are
either turned by m.ules, obtained chiefly
from the Spaniards of Orono^uep by
illicit traffic, or by - wind, or w^ter.
The dwelling-houfes are ufually fur-^
rounded by piazzas, which in this cli-
mate are particularly convenient. The
plantations near the fea-coaft are at
prelent efteemed much the moft va-
luable. They indeed require to be not
only furrounded with dykes, for ex-
cluding the water v/hich overflows the
adjacent woods, and to defend them
from the inundation of the tides, which

rife

( 364 )

rife to a great height, efpecially near the
Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes ; but
alio to be inclofed and interfered by
trenches with gates emptying into the
River, which at low tide are opened
for difcharging the water which may
have fallen on the plantation by rain ;
all which requires no fmall labour :
But it is amply repaid by other attend-
ant advantages. The trenches ferve for
canals, by which the canes are, with
great facility, tranfported to the mills ;
the fertility of the foil is inexhauflible ;
and the land, being covered with but
little elfe than Troolies and Manicoles,
is much eafier cleared than in the more
elevated parts of the River, where in-
deed dykes and trenches are unne-
cefTary ; but the fertility of the foil is
much lefs durable, and the lands are
covered with large timber, which, in
hardnefs, folidity, and weight, is but

little inferior to iron: This, however,

though

- ( 365 )

though It augments the labour in clear-
ing lands, is far from being the leaft
advantageous production of this coun-
try.

Many of the largeft and mod flou-
rifhing Plantations, both in Ejfcqiiebo
and Demerary^ but eipecially in the lat-
ter, are the property oi Britifi fubjedls,
who have been induced to form fettle-
ments in this Country, by the peculiar
advantages with which it is endowed;
and though the Dutch in Surinam, and
all their other Colonies, are ignorant of
the art of converting MelafTes to Rum,
with advantage, yet in this Colony they
have been, by the E?2glijh inhabitants,
perfedly inftrudled in the arts of Diftil-
lation, and produce Rum, which is not
inferior, in any rcfoed:, even to that of
Jamaica. The V/hite Inhabitants of
this Colony are Dutch, EngliJJj, French,
Swifs, and Germans, but chiefly the

two

( 366 )

two former. Many of thefe are unfor-
tunate perfons, whom the unavoidable
accidents of life, or frowns of fortune,
have induced to feek an afylum in di-
llant countries, where their induftry is
often fo amply rewarded, that they are
enabled to return with opulence and
credit, and blefs thofe accidents which
reduced them to the neceffitv of aban-
doning their homes, and v/hich they^
once efteemed the greatefl: misfoitune.

Agriculture, and all other labour, in
thefe Colonies, is almofr wholly per-
formed by Negroes (who are fufficiently
known in 'England,) as the White In-
habitants undertake no laborious em-
ployment ; and even the mechanics do
but little more than overfee and dired:
the Slaves, which are at lead five times
more numerous than the Whites, and
are therefore kept at a fubmiffive and
humble diilance by feverity of difci-

pline.

( 36?)

pllne, which not only contributes to
the fafety of the White Inhabitants, but
even to the happinefs of the Slaves j
the impoffibility of attaining, is ever
found to deftroy the defire of enjoy-
ment ; and rigid treatment, by annihi-
lating every hope of liberty, renders
them content with the enjoyment of
flavery. The late infurredtion of the
Slaves in Berbice^ who of all others
were the moft favoured, affords a re-
cent example of the danger of too much
indulgence to Slaves, by which they
are excited to attempt the perfect reco-
very of liberty. In this ftate there is
no medium i either the minds of ilaves
muft be deprelTed by abjedl flavery, or
the lives of their mailers are in immi-
nent danger. For this reafon they
have been oppreiTed by many humilia-
ting penalties and diftindtions. Their
evidence, relative to a White Perfon,
is of no validity ; an attempt to ftrikc

a White

, ( 368 )

a White Inhabitant is punilhed with
death ; and their mailers, or overfeers,
have not only the power of inflicting
corporal punifliment, but are in fome
meafure allowed to exercife a right over
their lives, fince the putting a Negro
to death, is attended only with a pe-
cuniary punifhment. In this lituation
they are fubjeded to many complicated
Ipecies of mifery, expofed to the ty-
ranny of the imperious, and lufl of the
libidinous, and to an inceflant toil,
which will have no period but with
their lives. This treatment has the ap-
pearance of cruelty, and cannot be re-
conciled to the principles of juftice ancj
equity ; many things, however, which
are repugnant to humanity, may be ex-
cufed, on account of their neceflity, for
felf-prefervation.

The expence of maintaining the
Slaves, in this climate, is very trifling.

The

( 3^9 )

The firft year that a flave is purchafed,
l>e is fupplied with food by his mafter,
and is afligned a piece of ground,
wliich on Sundays he clears from the
Wood, and plants with yams, plantins,
edda's, caffava, ocro's, 6ic. but efpecially
the former, which produce ten thou-
fand pounds per acre. When the year
is expired he recurrs to his planting-
ground for his future proviiion, which
he is ever after to keep fupplied with
a fufficient (lock for his fuftenance, for
which he is allowed every Sunday
only 'y receivingj however, frora his
mailer a weekly allowance of dried fifh^
to the amount of a pound and an half,
which is all that his mafter contri-
butes towards his food. The females
receive the fame treatment, and the
drink of both is nothing but water ;
yet from this water, and thefe farina-
ceous and efculent vegetables, with a

morfel of dried iilh, thefe people derive

B b fuffi-

( 37^ )

fufFiclenl nutriment to fuflaln the hard-
ett labour in the moil: enervating cU-
mate..

The cloathing of the Negroes (the
houGiold flaves excepted) is fcarce fuf-
ficicnt to anfwcr the demands of mo-
defty. Several modern Compilers of
the Hiftory of our TFeft hzdia fettle-
ments have enumerated ftockings and
ihoes among the articles of cloathing
for the Negroes, though nothing could
-more certainly betray their ignorance
of this fubiedl, lince a flave in flock-
ings and ihoes, in thefe countries, would
be as uncommon a fpecftacle, as a
Negro inlirudtcd in the principles of
Chriiiianity -, and if any of them have
either ^iwX.^^ breeches, or petticoats,
they are the produce of their own pri-
vate induftry, as their maflers furnifh
only a piece of coarfe blue, or brown
linen, which is applied to the middle

in

in both fexee, and a blanket, with which
the Have covers himfelf at night, deep-
ing on boards only.

In thefe, as in all other Weji India
Colonies, the flaves diminifh in number,
unlefs recruited by fucceffive fupplies
from Africa. This decreafe has been
attributed to various caufes, but mofl
commonly to hard labour and op-
preffion, though with very little appear-
ance of rcafon, fmce they are much
more robuft, healthy, and vigorous than
their maflers. They are, indeed, Spur-
red to induftry by the whip of cor-
rection, which is ever at their heels,
and not fparingly exercifed ; but coarfe
food, with hard labour, are ever ac-
companied with the bleffings of in-
creafed health and vigour, which the
pampered effeminate fons of luxury may
juftly envy, but can never attain ; and
the true caufe of their want of increafe

B b 2 refults

( 372 )

refults from the intercourfe of the
Whites with the young wenches, who
derive no inconfiderable emolument
therefrom ; and as child-bearing would
put an end to this commerce, they
folllcitoufly ufe every precaution to a-
void conception j and if thefe prove in-
efFedual, they ever procure repeated
abortions, which incapacitate them
from child-bearing in a more advanced
age, when they are abandoned by the
Whites. For effecting this, they have
various means ; but the moll; artful
prepare themfelves by a diet on Ocro's,
by which they lubricate the uterine
paiTages, and afterwards expel their
contents ufually by the Senfitive Plant;
though in Barbadoes, a vegetable, called
by the name of Gulley-root, is com-
monly ufed for this purpofe. This un-
natural pradife is very, frequent, and of
the higheft detriment to the Planters,
whofe opulence mull otherwife be im-

menfe.

( 373 )

menfe, in a country where their flaves
are fed with Kttle or no expence to
their mafters, and where winter nei-
ther interrupts their labour, nor ren-
ders cloathing neceflary. To avoid the
difadvantages of this practice, many of
the Planters of this Colony are endea-
vouring to encourage the wenches to
child-bearing, by particular rewards and
immunities, which, in feveral in (lances,
have proved fuccefsfuL That this is the
true caufe of their decreafe, is farther
evident, from obferving the iituation
of Virginia and Maryland^ where the
Slaves increafe, w^ithout any addition by
importation, becaufe this pernicious co-
pulation is there detefted,. as infamous
and unnatural.

The Inhabitants derive no fmall af-
fiftance from the Indians, particularly
the ArrcuDaiiks, fome of whom refide
on alrnofl: every plantation, and are em-

B b 3 ployed

( 374 )

ployed in various fervices, but efpecially
in hunting and fifhing, which, being
their natural employment, they are able
t5 exercife it with uncommon art and
fuccefs, and may be hired with a few
baubles for feveral months. Thefe hi-
diansy however, are debauched by lu-
xury and intemperance, and their man-
ners but ill agree with thofe of the In^
dians who have preferved their natural
innocence and fimplicity \ and they are
encouraged in their propenfity to intem-
perance by the Whites, who freely fup-
ply them with Rum, thereby to attach
therii more firmly to their fervic^ ; a
pracflice, which confiderably impairs
their health, and diminifhes their num-
bers. EfFediS fim.ilar to thefe have hap-
pened in every part of America^ where
the Aborigines have maintained an in-
timate intercourfe with the 'Eiiropeajis^
from the unnatural union oi our vices
with the manners of the Indians \ and

it

( 375 )

r

it is a piece of refined and ufeful policy
in the yefuit Miflionaries of Paraguay,
to exclude their New Converts from all
intercourfe with Foreigners, not only
to anfwer the purpofcs of that politic
Society, but alfo to preferve them in a
happy ignorance of our vices, which '
alone could fecure them from being
corrupted by their example, ** Si velis
" vitiis exui, longe a vitiorum exemplis

" recedendum eft Nullo ad au-

*^ res noflras vox impune perferatur ■*'."
The caufe of thefe efteds is obvious ;
we contaminate them with our Vices,
but withold the Antidotes of Religion>
Morality, and Literature.

The Diitchy in thefe Colonies, en-
courage intermarriages with the India?!
women ; and feveral of the mod con-
fiderable families, in rank and fortune^
in Ejfeqiieboy derive their origin from

* Sen. EpiJ}. xxviil. h civ.

B b 4 thefe

( 376 )

thefe alliances ; by which the Dutch
have acquired an afcendancy and influ-
ence over the Indians, which is of the
utmoft ufe and importance ; and the
Governor not only relerves to himfelf
the decifion of their differences, but by
his order prohibits the feveral conti*
guous Tribes from committing hoftili-
ties en each other : And though he has
no other means for enforcing thefe or-
ders, except a few defpicable loldiers,
in the fervice of the Company, they yet
receive an humble and implicit obe-
dience.

As there are no public roads in this,
or the neighbouring Colonies, for any
confiderable diftance, the only method
of travelling is by water, in Yatches,
with convenient tents, elegantly orna-
mented, and fix, eight, or ten oars,
rowed bv Negroes, or Indians, and that
always with the current of the tide,

which

( 377 )

which ebbs and flows with irrefifliblc
rapidity, in all thefe rivers, near two
hundred miles from their entrance^ by
which you may conceive how level and
even the country muft be. When the
current of the tide turns, the traveller
Hops, not at an inn, or tavern, for none
are to be found, but at whatever plan-
tation he chufes, where, though an in-
tire ftranger, he is made welcome to
every thing it can afford ; the hofpita-
lity of this Cojony not permitting mo-
ney to be any where received for victu-
als or drink ; and a ftranger, on his
arrival here, is every where ^velcome
to board and lodging for months or
years.

The Lands of this Colony, like thofe
of Berbicey are granted gratis, upon
conditional terms of fettlement ; and the
Governor is appointed by the Company,
with the approbation of the States Ge-
neral,

(37^)

neralj who^ with his Council, which
are chofen by the Burghers, or their
fubilkutes, compofe the Legiflativc Au-
thority, and impofe fuch taxes as are
requifite for the fupport of Government.
They Ukewife form the Supreme Court
of Judicature in Criminal and Civil
Caufes, from which, in the latter. Ap-
peals are allowed to Holland for fums
exceeding twelve hundred Guilders.
This Court examines the evidences, and
from their teftimonies determines the
caufe, without hearing Counfel on either

lide. For this condudl they have feve-

•I

ral reafons. Multiplicity of law-fuits
are univerfally allowed to be particularly
detrimental to new countries. Lawyers,
they think, not only tend to promote
them, but alfo to protracfl, embarrafs,
and perplex judicial proceedings. How
far thefe conclufions are juft, I will not
determine ; Right and Wrong, Juftice
and Injuftice, are fometimes fo obfcure,

that

(379 )

that the affiftance of Council may be
ufcful ; but where the Members of a
Court of Judicature, as in the prefenl
cafe, are but little verfed in the ftudy
of Law, inftead of acquiring ufeful in-
formation, they would be in danger of
being milled by the fubtilties of plead-
ings^ and the arts of litigation. Beiides,
this would naturally enhance the ex-
pence of judicial determinations ; to
prevent which, the Governm.ent is here
particularly follicitous, to their honour
I fpeak it, as in fome coun tries the ne-
ceiTary expences in this particular have
been fo enormoufly augmented, not only
by multiplicity of fees, but by ftamps,
and other duties, on the feveral inftru-
ments required, that the means of ob-
taining a judicial deciiion are beyond
the reach, not only of the poor, but even
of people in moderate circumftances,
who, in effect, fuffer an abfolute depri-
vation of juftice ; whereas in this Co-

Icny,

( 3So )

lony, the whole expence of a Law-fuit
is but a lingle fliilling for a Summons. I
fay a Summons, becaufe the body of no
inhabitant can be arrefted except for a
criminal offence: But the inconvenien-
ces which might refult from this ufeful
regulation are prevented, by a Law,
which prohibits all inhabitants from
leaving the Colony without a pafsport,
which can only be obtained, either by
previoufly notifying the intention of de-
parture, or by providing fecurity for th^
difcharge of any remaining debts.

The Company has referved to itfelf
the right of regulating our commerce for
the mutual advantage of the Parent-?
country and Colonies ; but in exerciiing
this right they have been particularly at-
tentive to the intereft of the latter, as
they are fenfible that colonization can
only be promoted by indulgence; and
though we are obliged to tranfmit our

Sugar,

( 38i )

Sugar, CofFee, Cotton, Cocao, &c. to
the Province of Zealand, yet we have li-
berty to export Rum, MelafTes, Timber,
&c. to foreign countries, and to import
from them all commodities which we
want, without diftindtion, and uncharged
with duties.

I think I have now given you an ac-
count of the moft material particulars
relative to the State and Government
of thefe Colonies; one thing yet re-
mains to complete my undertaking,
which is an Account of the Difeafes of
Guiana. Thefe are as numerous as in
other countries, where they have been
augmented by cookery, with its fli-
mulating provocative arts, exciting in-
ordinate appetites, by multiplying the
variety of dilhes, which, blended in the
ftomach, compofe fuch an incongruous
medley, that the digeftive organs cannot
pofiibly affimilate the pernicious mafs to

whuhbme

( 382 )

wholfome chyle. Nor has intemperate
luxury been confined to this fingle inno-
vation : Water, the natural drink of
mankind, as of all other animals, is now
contaminated by the mixture of perni-
cious fpirits, which have poifoned one
of the principal bleflings of life. From
this fource are derived thofe tribes of
difeafes which opprefs humanity, and
which are fo far factitious, that they can
hardly be deemed the proper objedts of
Natural Hiftory. There are fome dif-
orders, however, which ai-e peculiar
to Tropical Countries, and which de-
pend rather on the variations of climate
than the innovations of luxury 5 but
thefe are the peculiar objects of me-
dical refearches, and therefore I fhall
not defcend to minute particulars on this
fubjedt.

Among fuperficial, or cutaneous dif-
orders^ the mod troublefome is an incu-

rable

( 383 )

rabk Lcprofyy whicli indifcrlminately
attacks all the different tribes of people
inhabiting thofe parts of America which
are fituated between the Tropics. The
diftinguiiliing chara6leri(lic appearances
of this difeafe are, a fwelling on the tips
of the ears ; an eruption of red tu-
bercles, or bumps, of different fizes,
on the face, neck, limbs, &c. which,
after fbme time, frequently afflime a
livid, or copper colour, and become
fchirrous, often ulcerating, and dif-
charging a fetid ichor : the features
of the face fwell and enlarge, the eye-
brows are inflated, and their hair, tosre-
ther with the beard, fall off*; the ala
nafi are tumJfied and fcabrous, the no-
ftrils patulous, and fbmetimes ulcerated,
as is alfo \htfeptum nafi, which is then
depreffed, together with the nofe. The
lips alfo fwell, the voice becomes hoarfe,
and the nails rugofe and fcabrous. In
procefs of time the difeafe corrodes the

fingers

( 384 )

fingers and toes with a dry, fordicl>
fcabby, and gangrenous ulcer, from
whence they putrefy, and feparate, joint
after joint. The legs are commonly
fweiled, fcaly, and indurated, and often
covered with tubercles. The fkin on
the face affumes a fiilning appearance,
and the breath becomes ofFenfive. The
difeafe attacks differently, but often
fuddsnly, efpecially when the fames
morbi, or latent feeds of the diforder,
are prematurely expelled by a crapula,
or furfeit, grofs food, or inordinate paf^
iions. it is univerfally deemed infe(5li-
ous, and Lepers are feparated from the
foclety of mankind. The liland of De^
Jjrade is appropriated for the reception
of all thofe unhappy perfons who are
attacked by this diforder in the French
Colonies in America. In this country
they nre ufually fent into the Woods,
where they build houfes and plant fields
for their own ufe, and thus wear out a

lifQ

( 3^5 )

life of folltiide. I have, however, knowa
leprous flaves, who have privately co-
habited with their former wives a Ion?
time, during the courfe of the difordcr,
without communicating the infedion.
Lepers are notorious for their falacity
and longevity. The difeafe is always
incurable.

The Yaws are fpungey, fungous, ycl-
lowifli, circular protuberances, not rifing
very high, but of different magnitudes^
ufually between one and three inches in
circumference. Thefe infefl the whole
furface of the body, and are commonly
fo contiguous, that the end of the finger
cannot be inferted between them ; and
a fmall quantity of yellowifh pus is ufu-
ally {^tn adhering to their furface, which
is commonly covered with flies, through
the indolence of the Negroes. This is
a mofh troublefome, difagreeable difor-
der, though it is feldom fatal. Almoll

C c all

( 386 )

all the Negroes, once only in their lives,
are infefled with it, and fometimes the
Whites alio, on whom its eiFeds are
much more violent. It is ufually be-
lieved that this diforder is communi-
cated by the flies, who have been feaft-
ing on a difeafed objefl:, to thofe per-
fons who have fores, or fcratches, which
are uncovered ; and from many obfer-
vations, I think this is not improbable,
as none ever receive this diforder, whofe
Huns are v/hole ; for which reafon the
Whites are rarely infedted; but the
backs of the Negroes being often raw by
v/hipping, and fuifered to remain naked,
they fcarce ever efcape it. It is ufual to
promote the eruption of the Yaws, as'
foon as they appear, by giving fulphur
internally for fome days. After feveral
weeks, when the eruption is not only
complete, but the Yaws fuppurate, they
may be cured by a falivation Vv^ith mer-
cury; but the moit ufual method is, to

com-

(387)

combine this medicine with camphor,
and give it in fmall quantities, fo as to ex-
cite no feniible evacuation, and to direcfl
its effecfls towards the external fuoerfi-
cies, by fudorifics : And perhaps there
is no good effed: which can be procured
by a falivation, which may not be more
advantageoully obtained by this me-
thod. By this treatment, the protube-
rances fubfide, and the fcales fall off,
1-eaving the fkin fmooth and even. This
effed: may indeed be obtained by mer-
cury, in any ftage of the difeafe ; but
if it is exhibited too early, the diforder
will again return in fome months. The
infectious matter, depofited on the foles
of the feet, not being difcharged, pro-
duces fubcutaneous fores, which are
called Tubboes, and are often trouble-
fome for months, and even years. Thefe
are ufually cauterized, or the fkin is
firll fcarified, and the hot juice of roafted

limes is applied.

C c 2 Guinea-

( 3SS )

Guinea- Worms are here fomctimes
extraded from the Negroes lately im-
ported from Africa^ where they are ge-
nerated in the frefli ftagnant water.
They are of a whitifli colour, feveral
feet in length, and in thicknefs equal to
the large firing of a violin. They inha-
bit the cellular membrane, and move
through its cavities over the whole fur-
face of the body. When the Worm
colledls itfelf in a particular part, a fwell-
ing arifes, which being fuppurated, the
head of the Worm appears, which is
feized, and wound round a flick, as far
as it. can be extracted without breakuig.
When this happens, by too eager en-
deavours to precipitate its extradion,
the abfcefs mufl be inftantly dilated,
nd attempts made to recover fome part

a

of the broken Worm. If this is not
done, not only the lofs of a limb, but
even of life, frequently enfues, of whicK
I have {Qtn feveral inflances-. But the

moft

( 389 )

xnoft faccefsful method is, to apply a
cataplafm of onions and bread, boiled
with milk, to the Ivvelling, and when
the Worm appears, to kciirc its head
to a piece of cotton, Vvithout attempting
its extradtion, and to give internally a
mixture from the powder of black pep-
per, bruifed garlic, and flour of fulphur,
of each an ounce, infufed in a quart of
rum, of which half a gill is to be drank
morning and evening ; by which, in a
day or two, the Worm will be found
coiled up under the poultice.

There is likewife a Worm refembling
a bean, but more llender, and pointed,
whkh is bred in the muddy ftagnant
waters in the woods, and inferts itfelf
into the flefli, chiefly about the ankles,
and when extraded leaves a finuous
callous ulcer, which is diflicultly cu-
red.

C c 3 The

( 39^ )

The Inhabitants of this, and the
neighbouring Dutch Colonies, are per-
haps of all others moft afflided with
diforders ariling from Worms in the fto-
mach and inteftines, particularly the
Slaves, with whom they abound in fuch
numbers as to an European would ap-
pear incredible. The caufe of this un-
common production is by fome attribu-
ted to verminous animalculse generated
in the furrounding waters of the low
country, which, during the dry feafon,
fcagnate, corrupt, and putrefy ; though
I think it may be more juftly affigned
to the crude indigeftible diet, with
which the Slaves are fed, which con-
fifts chiefly of Plantins and Bananoes,
but efpecially the former, which, when
ripe, are ufually eaten raw, efpecially
by the children, by whom they can be
but ill digefted. But from whatever
caufe they are produced, their number

is fo great, that the ufual remedies are

very

( 391 )

very infufficient for their deflrudion ;
for which reafon the Planters in gene-
ral have recourfe to the C!ow-itch for
that purpofe. From whence its ufe was
firft fuggefted, I am uncertain ; but its
efficacy is indifputable. The part ufed
is the fetaceous hairy fubftance growing
on the outfide of the pod, which is
fcraped off and mixed with the common
lyrup, or melaffes, to the confidence of
a thin eled:uary, of which a tea fpoon-
ful to a child of two or three years old,
and double the quantity to an adult, is
given in the morning farting, and re-
peated the two fucceeding mornings ;
after which a dofe of Rhubarb is ufu-
ally fubjoined. This is the Empirical
Pradice of the Planters, who ufually,
once in three or four months, exhibit
the Cow-itch in this manner to their
Slaves in general, but efpecially to all
the children without diftindlion ; and in

this manner I have feen it given to hun-

C c 4 drcds.

( 39^ )

dreds, from one year old upwards, witli
the moft happy fuccefs -, the patients,
after the fecond dcfe, ufuaily difcharg^
ing an incredible number of Worms,
even to the amount ofinore than twen-
ty at a tiipe, fo that the ftools confided
of little elfe than thefe animals. But
though thefe were indifputable proofs
of its efficacy, I was far from being con-
vinced of its fafety. I obferved, that
the fubftance glv^n coxififted of an af^
femblage of fpiculas, exquifitely fine,
and fo acutely pointed, that when ap-
plied to the Ikin they excited an intole-
Ytihlc itching, and even inflammation,
from whence I apprehended dangerous
confequences from their contadl with
the coats of the ftomach and inteflines.
Indeed, when mixed into an eleduary,
in the manner in which they are given,
their elafticity is fo impaired, that they
do not produce the fame fenfible irrita-
tion ; but vet I could conceive no other

quality

( 393 )

t^uality on which their efficacy depend*
ed, efpecially after I had prepared both
a tind;ure and decodion from the Cow-
itch, and given them to Worm-patients
without any fenfible advantage. Influ-
enced by thefe fuggeflions, I particu-
larly examined the ftate and condition
of all fuch patients as I knew had taken
the Cow-itch ; and yet can, with the
greatefl truth, declare, that, tho' pre-
judiced to its difadvantage, I was never
able, either by my own obfervations,
or a diligent enquiry, to difcover a fm-
gle inflance of any ill confequence re-
fulting from its ufe ; which has been fo
extenfive, that feveral thoufands mull
have taken it ; and as no ill eiFeds have
been obferved, I think not only its ef-
ficacy, but fafety, are fufficiently evin-
ced, to entitle it to general ufe ; eipe-
cially when we reflect on the uncer-
tainty, and even danger, which attends
•ther Vermifuges. It is to be obferved,

that

( 394 )

that this remedy is particularly de-
ligned againft the long round Worm;
whether it is equally deleterious to
the AfcarideSy or whether it has ever
been ufed againft them, I am uncer-
tain.

The CoUca Pi&omimy or Weji Ltdia
Dry Gripes, proceed from a painful
Ipafmodic conftridion of the inteftines,
inducing an obftinate coftivenefs, which
continues till the patient is either re-
lieved, or the difeafe tranflated on the
extremities. The caufes to which this
diforder is afcribed, are various, and un-
fatisfaftory *. Some years fince, Phy-

* The ingenious Dr.» Baker has lately pub-
Hfhed an Inquiry concerning the Caufe of the
Endemial Colic in DevonJInre ; a Difeafe which
has a particular affinity to the JVeJi India Dry
Gripes ; and the Doci:or, in that Work, renders
it more than probable, that this Difeafe derives
its origin from Salt of Lead received into the body.

This

( 395 )

ficians obferving, that when the cof-
tivenefs was overcome, the patient was
foon cured, from thence diredled all
their endeavours towards relieving this
iymptom, while the caufe of the difeafe
was wholly negledted. For this reafon,
draftic purges were inceffantly admi-
niftred ; and Anodynes, though ftrongly
indicated, were prohibited, left they
fliould impede the operation of the
Cathartics. Later Phyficians, how-
ever, being better inftrudled in the
caufe of the difeafe, copioufly, exhibit
Anodynes and Antifpafmodics, which,
with the 01, Ricini, or Caftor oil, ta-
ken by the mouth, and injected by

This is, indeed, a nervous polfon, known to pro-
duce fymptoms fimilar to thofe which charafterize
the Wejl India Dry Gripes, and which, in every
pa,rt of the IVcft Indies^ is received internally, cither
by the drinkers of Rum, or of Red Wines from
Trance,

tllC

( 396 )

the re^um.i thereby lubricating and re*
laxing the inteflines, foon efiedt ^
cure.

Intermitting Fevers are here ende-
mial, efpecially near the Sea, where the
air is extremely humid, and the par-
oxyfms terminate by profufe debilita-
ting fweats, occafioned by the exceflivc
relaxation of the folids ; and are often
attended with iymptoms indicating a
putrid difpofition of the fluids. The
efficacy of the Bark is particularly pro-
moted in thefe countries, by the addi-
tion of Aromaticfi, efpecially the Vir^
ginia Snake-root, and by the copiou?
ufe of Pepper with the food, which is
found to be the fureft prefervative a-
gainft the return of this diforder: A-
cids are likewife ufeful, and Alcalies
the reverfe; feveral PradHtioners, to
my knowledge, having, on the autho-
rity

,( 397 )

• »

lity of Boer innve^y gw^n Sal Ahjl?ith.'
with the worft effects.

The Bilious Putrid Fever of the
Weji Indies y is fometimes obferved in
thefe Colonies. It firft appears with
the ufual febrile iymptoms, but is foon
diftinguiihed by the yellow caft of the
eyes and countenance, and by bilious
vomitings, attended with great weak-
nefs and dejection. This difeafe iboa
proves fatal, unlefs the patient is time-
ly fuccoured by the Bark, Snake-root,
and Vegetable Acids, which of all
others are the moll; efficacious reme-
dies.

• The Bites of venomous Snakes are
no where more frequent, or more fatal,
than in thefe Colonies. To thefe acci-
dents the Slaves are particularly expofed,

* Vide Aphorifmi de cognofctvd, et curand. morb'n.

bv

( 398 )•

by conftantly labouring, barefooted, in
places frequented by thefe reptiles -, ma-
ny of which have happened within the
fphere of my praftice, which, in every
inftance of this kind, has hitherto been
attended with a happy fuccefs ; though
my follicitude for the prefervation of
life, and fear of trufting folely to any
fingle medicine, has led me into the ufe
of fo many remedies, that it is impoffi,r'
ble to afciibe fuccefs to any one in par^
ticular, with certainty. This is here
inevitable, on account of the great va-
riety of Snakes, and our ignorance of
the efrefts -of their poifon, which are.
extremely various. Sometimes a fatal
diffolution of the fluids enfues, but moft
frequently a painful tumefadion and in-
flammation of the wounded part, with
a fever, &c. is the confequence. Irr
£bme inftances the tumefaction fubfides,
without any apparent difchargc ; in o-
tliers it is converted into an abfceis,

which

( 399 )

which terminates in a copious flux of
ichor, or pus. A cataplafm from the
pulp of lemons, or limes, with fea fait,
applied to the wounded part, is the ge-
neral remedy for venomous Bites in thefe
Colonies ; and I have often ufed it with
fuccefs, after fcarifying the wound : At
other times I have fuccefsfuUy fubftitu-
ted a cataplafm from the Meal of the
Seeds of the Vegetable Mufk, or wild
Ocro plant, with Olive Oil; but to
thefe I have ufually adjoined oily em-
brocations of the adjacent parts, with
the internal ufe of the Treacle of An*
dromachusy Decodtions of Seneca and
Virginia Snake-root, or an Emulfion
of the Seeds of the Mulk plant. Thefe
have hitherto been fuccefsful, though
there are undoubtedly Poifons againft
which no art can avail, fuch as that of
the fmall Labarra, above defcribed.

Thefe

( 400 )

Thefe are the moft material particu-
lars which have occurred to my obfer-
vation, during my refidence in Guiana.
Happy fhall I think myfelf if they af-
ford you either inftrudlion or entertain-
ment. My Obfervations and Enquiries
might, indeed, have been much more
extenfive, had I not been influenced by
the indolent examples with which I
was every where furrounded.

In taking a retrofpedl of Animated
Nature, I cannot but admire the Wif-
dom and Goodnefs of that Povver, who
has fo exquiiitely adapted the Organs
and Difpofitions of all animal Beings to
that life in which each is capable of
enjoying the greateft portion of happl-
nefs, and who has caufed each to be
actuated with principles the leafl: ex-
pofed to infringe the Order and Har-
mony of our material Syftem. Vora-

cioui^

( 4^1 )

clous annnals, formed for a life of hof-
tile rapacity, and who fubfift by car-
nage and deftrudion, all, except Man,
from inftincft dire6l their hoftility to ob-
jeds endowed with the means of refin-
ance or efcape ; while inferior animals,
cfpecially Infe6ls, who would otherwife
become the prey of every invader, de-
rive fecurity from their minutenefs. The
Tiger wantonly deftroys the objects of
its rapacity for the fake of deftrudion ;.
but Man, tho' he indifcriminately at-
tacks both the weak and flrong, yet
kills only in proportion to his wants,
and even in deflrudlion ufes oeconomy ;
nay, in a ftate of civilization he toils
for, and feeds, the vi<ftims deftlned to
his future fuftenance.

The Hog that plows not, nor obeys the call.

Lives on the labours of the Lord of ail.

Pope.

This, however, happens only in a ftate
where cultivated reafon has infpired a

D d concern

^ N ( 402 )

concern for the wants of futurity, and
is incompatible with that improvidence
by which, uncivilized nations are pecu-
liarly characterized. — But I am de-
taining you with Refledlions, which
your own Reafon will more advantage-
oufly fuggeft, and fhall therefore con-
clude with affuring you, that I fhall
improve every occafion of teftifying the
affectionate devotion with which I have
the happinefs to be.

Dear Brother,

Your, &c.

CONTENTS.

f r .1 ^

CONTENTS.

LETTER I.

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LETTER IL

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LETTER III.

^n Account of the Religion^ Manners, Cuf-
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ting Guiana j particularly of the Car rib -

bees^

CONTENTS.

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