146 WANDEEINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



previously to the arrival of the Spaniards in those parts. 

 Whatever the Spaniards introduced, and which bore no re- 

 semblance to anything the Indians had been accustomed 

 to see, retains its Spanish name to this day. 



Thus the AVarow, the Arowack, the Acoway, the Ma- 

 coushi, and Carib tribes, call a hat, sombrero ; a shirt, or 

 any kind of cloth, camiso ; a shoe, zapato ; a letter, carta ; 

 a fowl, gallina; gunpowder, colvora, (Spanish, polvora;) 

 ammunition, bala ; a cow, vaca ; and a dog, perro. 



This argues strongly against the existence of dogs in 

 Guiana before it was discovered by the Spaniards, and 

 probably may be of use to thee, in thy next canine dispute. 



In a political point of view this country presents a 

 large field for speculation. A few years ago there was but 

 little inducement for any Englishman to explore the in- 

 terior of these rich and fine colonies, as the British 

 Government did not consider them worth holding at the 

 peace of Amiens. Since that period their mother-country 

 has been blotted out from the list of nations, and America 

 has unfolded a new sheet of politics. On one side, the 

 ci'own of Braganza, attacked by an ambitious chieftain, 

 has fled from the palace of its ancestors, and now seems 

 fixed on the banks of the Janeiro. Cayenne has yielded 

 to its arms. La Plata has raised the standard of independ- 

 ence, and thinks itself sufficiently strong to obtain a 

 government of its own. On the other side, the Caraccas 

 are in open revolt, and should Santa Fe join them in good 

 earnest, they may form a powerful association. 



Thus, on each side of the ci-devant Dutch Guiana, most 

 unexpected and astonishing changes have taken place. 

 Will they raise or lower it in the scale of estimation at 

 the Court of St. James's ? Will they be of benefit to 

 these grand and extensive colonies ? Colonies enjoying 

 perpetual summer. Colonies of the richest soil. Colonies 



