FEENCH GUIANA. 



73 



escape from their political isolation. They have several times asked to be annexed 

 to French Guiana, notably in the year 1883, when they were visited by the explorer 

 Coudreau. 



At last the inhabitants of Counani, the chief village in the northern district 

 under litigation, resolved in 1886 to set up for themselves ; but after proclaim- 

 ing their political autonomy they wanted a French president, and Paris was for a 



Fig. 23.— Mapa and Carapapoeis Bay. 

 Scale 1 : 650,000. 



50' 50- 



West oF ureenwich 



50° 10' 



Depths. 



to 16 



Feet. 



16 to 32 

 Feet. 



32 Feet 

 and upwards. 



12 Miles. 



time entertained with the spectacle of a worthy geographer of Vanves suddenly 

 transformed to the chief of a hitherto unknown State. This adventurer forthwith 

 surrounded himself with a Court, summoned a Ministry to his aid, and instituted 

 a u^txowslovàev, l'Étoile de Counnni ("The Star of Counani"), with more com- 

 manders, grand-crosses, knights, and officers than the inhabitants of the capital 

 of the republic. But his Government was short-lived ; within a twelvemonth the 

 president of the new political community was deposed by his Prime Minister, 

 and nothing further was heard of the " independent State of Counani." 



