104 BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 
time, acquire a knowledge of all its vegetable productions? 
As for me, I have made up my mind to spend the rest of my 
days in Guiana, and devote them to the collecting of its 
plants. Thus I am no raveller in the sense of the word 
above meant, And as I cannot discern between the rare and 
common, every vegetable interests me alike. Not even the 
charms of a Victoria regalis could so engross my attention 
as to make me overlook the humblest of her Criptogamic 
brethren ! 
Besides, I am in a manner, pledged to succeed or to sacri- 
fice myself in the attempt. I have given up the occupation 
by which I made my livelihood, and exposed myself to the 
ridicule of the whole colony. I am willing to run every risk 
and to face much hardship and danger, and should my life be 
lost in the ardent pursuits of science, may I not shelter my 
reputation behind the well known quotation — 
“ In magnis voluisse sat est ?” 
Here I might add a list of the plants I have to send you, 
and close this, 1 fear too long letter; but since you have ex- 
pressed an interest in me, I deem it right to communicate 
every step I have taken towards pursuing my enterprize, 
and therefore request your attention to the following lines. 
I have stated that the greatest impediments towards ex- 
ploring the most remote parts of Surinam, arise from the 
want of means of traveling and transport. The southern 
frontiers of this colony, formed by the great river Marowna, 
(whence the name Maroons), separate Surinam from Cayenne. 
The upper part of this stream is called Fapanoni, and another 
still larger river, Lava (named by the French the Alençon), 
falls into it. Near this junction, and about sixty German 
miles distant from the mouth of the Marowna, a horde of 
unfranchised negroes settled themselves about a hundred 
years ago. These Maroons or Bush Negroes have been re- 
cognized by the Dutch government, and now roam in savage 
independence on the extensive wilds, bordered by the Rio 
Negro. They are on good terms with the Indians of several 
