XV. 

 MAWS FOOTPRINTS. 



PERHAPS the most striking peculiarity of the 

 Guiana forest is its almost entire freedom from 

 man's handiwork. Nevertheless, his footprints 

 are visible everywhere, only requiring careful 

 observation to enable us to recognise them and 

 their significance. When South America was 

 discovered the coast was inhabited by Indian 

 tribes that are now either extinct or have gone 

 away to the interior, but here and there the signs 

 of their former presence are still visible. On the 

 sand-reefs when once a clearing is made, years 

 and even centuries may elapse before it is again 

 incorporated with the jungle. Again, there are 

 always a few plants which follow the steps of 

 the red man and remain behind long after he 

 has departed. The most common of these is 

 the pine- apple, which grows in great clumps on 



the sand, and from its aggressive nature prevents 



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