WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 129 



in, I left Cayenne in an American ship for Para- 

 maribo, went through the interior to the Coryntin, 

 stopped a few days in New Amsterdam, and pro- 

 ceeded to Demerara. If, gentle reader, thy pa- 

 tience be not already worn out, and thy eyes half 

 closed in slumber, by perusing the dull adventures 

 of this second sally, perhaps thou wilt pardon a 

 line or two on Demerara ; and then we will retire 

 to its forests, to collect and examine the economy 

 of its most rare and beautiful birds, and give the 

 world a new mode of preserving them. 



Stabroek, the capital of Demerara, has been 

 rapidly increasing for some years back; and if 

 prosperity go hand in hand with the present en- 

 terprising spirit, Stabroek, ere long, will be of 

 the first colonial consideration. It stands on the 

 eastern bank at the mouth of the Demerara, and 

 enjoys all the advantages of the refreshing sea- 

 breeze ; the streets are spacious, well bricked and 

 elevated, the trenches clean, the bridges excellent, 

 and the houses handsome. Almost every com- 

 modity and luxury of London may be bought in 

 the shops at Stabroek: its market wants better 

 regulations. The hotels are commodious, clean, 

 and well attended. Demerara boasts as fine and 

 well-disciplined militia as any colony in the west- 

 ern world. 



The court of justice, where, in times of old, the 

 bandage was easily removed from the eyes of the 

 goddess, and her scales thrown out of equilibrium, 

 now rises in dignity under the firmness, talents, 

 and urbanity of Mr. President Rough. 



The plantations have an appearance of high 

 cultivation; a tolerable idea may be formed of 



9 



