450 THE YEW TREE. 



at the operation. The Indian's hut, with its scanty furniture, and 

 bows and arrows hanging round ; the deep verdure of the adjoining 

 forest ; the river flowing rapidly by ; myself wasted to a shadow ; and 

 the negro grinning with exultation, as he showed me the chegoes' 

 nests which he had grubbed out, would have formed a scene of no 

 ordinary variety. 



Dogs are often sorely tormented by the chegoe ; and they get rid 

 of them by an extremely painful operation. They gradually gnaw 

 into their own toes, whining piteously as they do it, until they get at 

 the chegoe's nest. Were it not for this singular mode of freeing 

 themselves from the latent enemy, dogs would absolutely be cripples 

 in Guiana. 



But it is time to stop. I have penned down enough to give the 

 reader a tolerably correct idea of one of the smallest, and, at the same 

 time, one of the most annoying insects which attacks both man and 

 beast in the interminable region of Guiana. 



THE YEW TREE. 



I NEVER cast my eyes on the mouldering fabrics which once adorned 

 this land, without renewing my veneration for the memory of the 

 holy and useful monks who have gone before us. There is still 

 enough left of the falling walls to show how much these faithful 

 friends of the poor and needy must have been esteemed through the 

 whole extent of the nation ; and when I sit me down under the dark 

 foliage of some ancient yew tree, which has escaped the fury of the 

 destroying Vandals, and think of the miserable state to which the 

 sons of poverty are now reduced, I cannot help heaving a sigh, whilst 

 my very heart itself seems to sink within me. 



I am extremely partial to the yew tree. It has already repaid me 

 for the pains which I have taken in its cultivation ; and when I resort 

 to my usual evening stand, in order to watch the flocks of sparrows, 

 finches, and starlings, whilst they are dropping in upon the neigh. 



