Guiana: The Wild and Wonderful. 241 
We get rid of the monsters and raise up pictures of beasts, birds and 
insects all the more interesting because they are true to life. The 
wonders of the world are a great deal nearer to us than is generally 
supposed. 
Ages ago discoveries were made by the American peoples which are 
probably more striking than anything known in the Old World. To 
discover that the poisonous root of the cassava could be utilised for food 
was, no doubt, a grand step towards civilisation. Where this discovery 
was first made is impossible to tell, but it was probably near, if not 
actually in, Guiana. We can hardly conceive of such a discovery being 
made by one person; probably many persons died before the proper 
means of eliminating the poison was discovered. Not only was one food 
product discovered but a whole series. First, probably came selection 
by which the non-poisonous root was obtained, then the baking of 
cassava cakes which could not be too thick or some poison might be 
retained, followed by preparations such as ovicou, couac, farine and 
tapioca which could be stored for long periods. Another discovery was 
the Matapee or snake press by which the pulp was dried, and then 
perhaps the most wonderful of all that which gave us cassareep. How- 
ever any one could have learnt that the poisonous juice could be not 
only rendered harmless but useful as a preservative is impossible to 
conjecture. With the pepperpot came sterilising, a process only developed 
in Europe of late years, yet known in America for ages not only by the 
pot, but the barbecue as well. Further developments are the drinks 
made by fermenting infusions of cassava, generally connected with 
chewing. We thus have from the one root a boiled vegetable, bread, 
farine, tapioca, sauce and intoxicating liquors. We can hardly suppose 
that such grand discoveries were made by savages; they point to a 
civilisation perhaps far in advance of that of Mexico. 
Another wonder was the hammock. Why was not such a con- 
venience discovered in the Old World ? We can understand the necessity 
for hanging beds in a wet country like Guiana, and that they were 
invented to supply a want. Bunks on board ship were largely displaced 
by hammocks after the first voyagers to the West Indies returned with 
specimens. The invention was appreciated at once and hammocks 
became so common that their origin was forgotten. 
Among the wonders of America was the beautiful Mosaic feather- 
worl: which had been brought to such perfection in Mexico before the 
arrival of the white men that Spanish priests utilised the art for making 
pictures. Unfortunately this beautiful industry is almost gone, but good 
examples are to be seen in the Museum, including feather crowns and a 
decorated hammock. We may conclude that the art has degenerated, 
and probably it will be lost in the near future. This suggests that every 
care should be taken to preserve specimens of such work. Two or three 
examples sent from Mexico to Charles V. are still preserved in European 
museums and go to prove that the art was brought to great perfection and 
