SOUTH AMERICA. 



FIRST JOURNEY. 



-"nec herba, nee latens in asperis 



Eadix fefellit me locis." 



IN the month of April, 1812, I left the town of 

 Stabroek, to travel through the wilds of Demerara and 

 Essequibo, a part of ci-devant Dutch Guiana, in South 

 America. 



The chief objects in view were to collect a quantity 

 of the strongest "Wourali poison, and to reach 

 the inland frontier fort of Portuguese Guiana. 



It would be a tedious journey for him who wishes to 

 travel through these wilds, to set out from Stabroek on 

 foot. The sun would exhaust him in his attempts to 

 wade through the swamps, and the mosquitos at night 

 would deprive him of every hour of sleep. 



The road for horses runs ^parallel to the river ; but it 

 extends a very little way, and even ends before the 

 cultivation of the plantation ceases. 



The only mode, then, that remains is to proceed by 

 water ; and when you come to the high lands, you 

 may make your way through the forest on foot, or 

 continue your route on the river. 

 B 



