606 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
man, whose acquaintance with the Bush Negroes was likely 
to prove useful, and whom I had managed to inspire with 
some taste for natural history; besides which, I took with 
me an assistant, and a few trusty black-servants, all initiated 
in collecting and preserving specimens of natural history pro- 
ductions. Having dispatched the greater part of our baggage 
by sea, on board a schooner, to the mouth of the Marowina, 
I embarked in a canoe, forty feet long, by six feet broad, co- 
vered with a moveable tent, made of oiled canvas. To form 
any idea of the different articles which I was compelled to 
carry with me into the Bush, it must be recollected that it 
takes two months to go from Paramaribo to Anka, the place 
of residence, and that I had completely determined to settle 
there, pursuing my excursions from thence as far into the in- 
terior, (including French Guiana), as might be found practi- 
cable, and being guided on these occasions by Bush Negroes 
and Indians; the former to transport the collected objects, 
while from the latter I expected to obtain many interesting 
particulars respecting the properties of vegetables. Six ne- 
groes manned our canoe. Under torrents of incessant rain, 
we passed into the river Commowina, and soon found that 
our tent was far from waterproof. Following the course of 
this river in a south-easterly direction, we entered the river 
Cottica, and on the 23rd of March, reached the last inhabited 
place, a military post, named Semiribo, where we exchanged 
our negroes for the Bush Negroes who were awaiting us 
there to continue our voyage. The 25th saw us on our way 
again, accompanied by six canoes, each manned with three 
Bush Negroes, serving as transports. We ascended the 
numberless windings of this stream, and arrived on the 28th, 
at a place where it exchanges its name for that of Coromo- 
tiba; we got here in de afternoon, and had to enter the 
Gees which flows in a more easterly direction towards 
the Marowina; but ere we could proceed, our negroes insisted 
on paying their respects to a Fetish, supposed to reside in 
this spot. The day being thus nearly spent, we entered 
this swollen rivulet under illomened auspices. Bats and 
