46 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



animal to habitually prey upon his own species 

 would be such a great drawback as to be virtually 

 impossible in any harmonious natural arrange- 

 ment, and we may therefore consider cannibalism 

 as altogether exceptional even in the country 

 which was called Cannibalor Terra by its dis- 

 coverers. 



To consider man as one of the species of living 

 things in the forest, instead of the ruler over 

 everything, may perhaps shock the sensibilities of 

 the ultra conservative. In Europe and North 

 America we see him carrying on such gigantic 

 works that he seems to be a monarch indeed, but 

 here, where nature is so much more rampant, it 

 is the tree which comes to the front everything 

 else seems subordinate. Men are few, quadrupeds 

 scarce, and it is only when we come to insects 

 and plants that we find a dense population. 

 These latter are everywhere, mutually utilising each 

 other for their own purposes, and entirely ignoring 

 the fact that there is such a personage as the 

 " Lord of Creation." If it came to a dispute as 

 to their respective powers, no doubt the forest 

 giant would have the best of it. The Indian 

 chops him down now and then, but only to make 

 room for his offspring, that rise with tenfold 

 energy. An ugly clearing has been made, which 



