WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 165 



his own home ought to be forgotten when he 

 travels over the world at large; for strangers 

 know nothing of his former merits, and it is nec- 

 essary that they should witness them before they 

 pay him the tribute which he was wont to receive 

 within his own doors. Thus, to be kind and affa- 

 ble to those we meet, to mix in their amusements, 

 to pay a compliment or two to their manners and 

 customs, to respect their elders, to give a little to 

 their distressed or needy, and to feel, as it were, 

 at home amongst them, is the sure way to enable 

 you to pass merrily on, and to find other comforts 

 as sweet and palatable as those which you were 

 accustomed to partake of amongst your friends 

 and acquaintance in your own native land. 



We will now ascend in fancy on Icarian wing, 

 and take a view of Guiana in general. See an im- 

 mense plain! betwixt two of the largest rivers 

 in the world, level as a bowling-green, save at 

 Cayenne, and covered with trees along the coast 

 quite to the Atlantic wave, except where the plan- 

 tations make a little vacancy amongst the foliage. 



Though nearly in the centre of the torrid zone, 

 the sun's rays are not so intolerable as might be 

 imagined, on account of the perpetual verdure 

 and refreshing north-east breeze. See what num- 

 bers of broad and rapid rivers intersect it in their 

 journey to the ocean, and that not a stone or a 

 pebble is to be found on their banks, or in any 

 part of the country, till your eye catches the hills 

 in the interior. How beautiful and magnificent 

 are the lakes in the heart of the forests, and how 

 charming the forests themselves, for miles after 

 miles on each side of the rivers! How extensive 



