WANDEEINGS IN SOUTH AMEHICA. 327 



together with that of another head, which is equally 

 striking. 



It is commonly reported, and I think there is no reason to 

 doubt the fact, that when Demerara and Essequibo were 

 under the Dutch flag, there were mines of gold and silver 

 opened near to the river Essequibo. The miners were not 

 successful in their undertakiug, and it is generally con- 

 jectured that their failure proceeded from inexperience. 



Now, when you ascend the Essequibo, some hundred 

 miles above the place where these mines are said to be 

 found, you get into a high, rocky, and mountainous 

 country. Here many of the mountains have a very 

 barren aspect, producing only a few stinted shrubs, and 

 here and there a tuft of coarse grass. I could not learn 

 that they have ever been explored, and at this day their 

 mineralogy is totally unknown to us. The Indians are so 

 thinly scattered in this part of the country, that there 

 would be no impropriety in calling it uninhabited : — 



"Apparent rari errantes in gnrgite vasto." 



It remains to be yet learnt, whether this portion of 

 Guiana be worth looking after, with respect to its suj^iposed 

 mines. The mining speculations at present are flowing 

 down another channel. The rage in England for working 

 the mines of other states has now risen to such a pitch, 

 that it would require a considerable degree of caution in 

 a mere wanderer of the woods, in stepping forward to say 

 anything that might tend to raise or depress the spirits 

 of the speculators. * 



A question or two, however, might be asked. When 

 the revolted colonies shall have repaired in some measure 

 the ravages of war, and settled their own political eco- 

 nomy upon a firm foundation, will they quietly submit to 

 see foreigners carrying away those treasures which are 



