ITIXF.RARY. XXXI n 



■while a small collection of plants, the great majority of wliich were new 

 species, serv-ed to indicate to some extent the peculiarities of its 

 biological condition. Brief as had been the visit of the explorers, the 

 results had been of very considerable interest, and rendered still more 

 ui'gent the desirability of a detailed exploration of the isolated 

 plateau — even though no indications had been met with of the antique 

 or antediluvian creatures which speculation had regarded as likely or 

 probable to be discovered. The path to tlie summit was, indeed, now 

 open, but the difficulties to contend with were hardly less serious than 

 before. 



The land near the coast and for several miles inland is uniformly 

 flat, and has been formed by a quite recent alluvial deposit from the 

 large i-ivers ; it is on this coast-line that the sugar-estates for which 

 the Colony has long been famous are situated, immediately behind is 

 dense forest extending inland for a vai-ying distance, not often less 

 than 200 miles and covering level country intersected by nm-nerous 

 streams ; the vegetation on all sides is most luxuriant, and for the 

 greater part so dense that it is impossible to peneti^ate without first 

 cutting a track, ^t'ter some fifty miles the land becomes hilly, in parts 

 even mountainous, and covered with large forest-trees ; beyond this 

 again comes the savanna district, extending far back into Brazil and 

 A'enezuela with mile after mile of open country crossed here and there 

 1)V small ranges of hills. 



Of details of the interior practically nothing is known — the many 

 i-ivers which run northwards to the sea, for the entii'e length of the 

 Colony, afford such a ready means of communication for the few 

 people who travel beyond the coast-line that the absence of roads has 

 never been found an inconvenience, and with the exception of one or 

 two small districts where gold has been found nothing is known of the 

 Colonv beyond the banks of the rivers. 



The parts of the rivers which run through the alluvial district, in 

 comparison with higher reaches, have little to recommend them to 

 travellers. They are tidal, and the black mud deposited on the banks is 

 repulsive ; the long line of bush on either bank, of which only the first 

 V)elt of trees can be seen, is low and wearisome. Nothing but muddy 

 water, mud, and continual green meet the eye, no spring or autumn 

 tints, and but few bright flowers relieve the monotony ; at the water's 

 edge grows a species of caladium known as moco vioco, and behind this 

 low undergrowth a forest of light timber of no practical use and of no 

 great size. 



Small steamers can travel for ji considerable disfcince up the rivers 

 until the channel becomes blocketl Vjy dykes of rock, and from these 

 points boats specially built for working on the rapids and falls ha\e to 

 i)e used. Here there is an entire change of scene, hills rise on either 

 hand almost from the water's edge, the muddy banks are replaced by 

 sandy V)eaclies, rocks and sand-banks sliow up in mid-.stream ; the water 

 is no longer muddy, but clear and bright anil)er-coloured. 



The lower parts of these rivers have just been described as low 

 dirty, and monotonous, and one might be inclined to think that tliey 

 are t/O be avoided ; but, although tlie general effect is as tli-sciilied, dose 

 investigation of details will well repay the obscr\er for his tioidilc. 



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