INTRODUCTION. 19 



them as evils. At the same time we cannot 

 ignore them, self-defence is also a part of the 

 system. What then can we do ? In the 

 first place find out the best manner of fight- 

 ing them. No doubt we shall ultimately 

 succeed to some considerable extent, for 

 we have already obtained a measure of 

 success. 



The reader will ask what has all this to do 

 with "In the Guiana Forest"? I answer, 

 everything. Here we have an epitome of 

 the grand fight which goes on and has gone 

 on for ages. Species are developing in the 

 great struggle, but they do not gain the 

 mastery. No plant or animal appears to be 

 entirely driven out. We do not see a forest 

 of one or half a dozen species of trees, but of 

 hundreds. Two of a kind hardly ever grow 

 together. The Indian huntsman is as much 

 bound by the forest law as any of the other 

 carnivora. He goes on for ages without 

 sensibly increasing in numbers. He domi- 



