84 Vaaden Heuvel on the Honey Bees of Guiana, &fC. 



and thrive more under his fostering care, beneath those 

 warm and indulgent skies, where nature affords nutriment 

 for them in gay profusion, and lengthened summers pro- 

 longing their labours render their products of greater impor- 

 tance. In like manner on the Western Continent, it is in 

 southern climes that they are found in greatest abundance, 

 and that the results of their industry are most valuable. 



The ardent sun of the iropics, which generates in all veg- 

 etable bodies an increased portion of saccharine matter. 

 which decks the woods and groves with an endless display 

 of blossoms and flowers, of aromatic and nectareous fra- 

 grance, and distils from the trees of the forest in luscious 

 streams those balmy juices with which it surcharges them, 

 furnishes a region where Bees may luxuriate in " a wilder- 

 ness of sweets." Accordingly in all parts of South Ameri- 

 ca, and in the West Indies, their different products form 

 not only material articles of diet and domestic utility, but 

 also very considerable items of foreign exportation. 



Along the banks of the Amazon, says Southey, (1st Vol. 

 History of Brazil) honey is one of the principal articles of 

 sustenance of the natives. 



In Chili, according to Molini, it is an article of commerce 

 between several of the provinces. 



In Paraguay, wax is one of the two staples of trade by 

 the river La Plate, aci'oss the country, (Ulloa.) 



In Peru, Bees are so numerous, that when one of the 

 Spanish Generals, on the conquest of it, entered a certain 

 province, scarce a tree could be cleft but honey flowed from 

 the aperture. (Southey.) 



The province of Yucatan, in New-Spain, says Hum- 

 boldt, is so well stored with this insect, that wax is its prin- 

 cipal export; and in the island of Cuba, adds the same au- 

 thority, it is so abundant, that in 1803, 45,000 Arobbas, or 

 one milhon pounds weight of that article was exported. 



In regard to the remaining part of South America, the 

 collection I lay before the institution, affords a sufficient 

 testimony to the point. 



Such being the abundance and variety of this insect in the 

 southern portion of the continent, far superior to all similar 

 productions of the old world, the idea of its transportation to 

 those parts from Europe, is manifestly absurd ; and' even if 

 the JYoi'th American Bee should be admitted not to be indi^ 



