R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 27 



This river runs in a direction north and south to 

 a distance of about thirty-five miles, forming its 

 first or sea reach with an average breadth of eight 

 miles. Indeed, its appearance here is rather that of 

 a lake than of a river, being studded with islands 

 and bounded on either bank by a dense and appa- 

 rently impenetrable forest, rich in the exuberant 

 verdure and wildness of a virgin soil and tropical 

 sun ; while the blue mountains, far in the distant 

 south, are occasionally seen peeping out of the 

 horizon. 



Amongst others may be noticed Hog Island and 

 Fort Island. The latter is the more remarkable, as 

 having been once the seat of government and the 

 centre of all the trade of the colony under the 

 Dutch. It is now still, lifeless and deserted ; the 

 only inhabitants to be met with are a few coloured 

 people, who have built their mud hovels upon the 

 ruins of the former capital of Guiana. 



Further up, at twenty-five miles from the sea, 

 the traveller will arrive at Itaka, where the granitic 

 chain commences : the rocks here are probably 

 gneiss, and project some distance into the river, 

 forming a dangerous ledge, which is covered at 

 high tide. Off Ampa, a small settlement about 

 six miles further, are two curious sets of rocks, 

 called the " Three Brothers " and " Three Sisters," 

 ene of which, with a little imagination, resembles a 

 gigantic head, — a frightful source of superstition 

 alike to the uneducated colonist and the ignorant 

 Indian. Four miles hence,* the united streams of 



