SOUTH AMERICA. 15 



found in the thickest recesses of the forest, dis- FIR8T 



JOURNEY. 



tinctly articulates, " houtou, houtou," in a low 



and plaintive tone, an hour before sunrise ; the 

 maam whistles about the same hour ; the hanna- 

 quoi, pataca, and maroudi announce his near ap- 

 proach to the eastern horizon, and the parrots and 

 paroquets confirm his arrival there. 



The crickets chirp from sunset to sunrise, and 

 often during the day, when the weather is cloudy. 

 The beterouge is exceedingly numerous in these 

 extensive wilds, and not only man, but beasts 

 and birds, are tormented by it. Mosquitos are 

 very rare after you pass the third island in the 

 Demerara, and sand-flies but seldom appear. 



Courteous reader, here thou hast the outlines 

 of an amazing landscape given thee ; thou wilt 

 see that the principal parts of it are but faintly 

 traced, some of them scarcely visible at all, and 

 that the shades are wholly wanting. If thy soul 

 partakes of the ardent flame which the persevering 

 Mungo Park's did, these outlines will be enough 

 for thee; they will give thee some idea of what 

 a noble country this is ; and if thou hast but 

 courage to set about giving the world a 

 finished picture of it, neither materials to work 

 on, nor colours to paint it in its true shades, will 

 be wanting to thee. It may appear a difficult 

 task at a distance ; but look close at it, and it is 

 nothing at all ; provided thou hast but a quiet 

 mind, little more is necessary, and the genius 



