SOUTH AMERICA. 107 



snow-white egrets, scarlet curlews, spoonbills, and SECOND 



JOURNEY. 



flamingos. 



Cayenne is capable of being a noble and pro- colony of 



i . i . . , Cayenne. 



ductive colony. At present it is thought to be 

 the poorest on the coast of Guiana. Its estates 

 are too much separated one from the other, by 

 immense tracts of forest ; and the revolutionary 

 war, like a cold eastern wind, has chilled their 

 zeal, and blasted their best expectations. 



The clove-tree, the cinnamon, pepper and 

 nutmeg, and many other choice spices and fruits 

 of the eastern and Asiatic regions, produce abun- 

 dantly in Cayenne. 



The town itself is prettily laid out, and was The town, 

 once well fortified. They tell you it might easily 

 have been defended against the invading force of 

 the two united nations ; but Victor Hugues, its 

 governor, ordered the tri-coloured flag to be 

 struck ; and ever since that day, the standard of 

 Braganza has waved on the ramparts of Cayenne. 



He who has received humiliations from thecovemorof 

 hand of this haughty, iron-hearted governor, may 

 see him now in Cayenne, stripped of all his 

 revolutionary honours, broken down and ruined, 

 and under arrest in his own house. He has 

 four accomplished daughters, respected by the 

 whole town. Towards the close of day, when the 

 sun's rays are no longer oppressive, these much- 

 pitied ladies are seen walking up and down the 

 balcony with their aged parent, trying, by their 



