98 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



announce his near approach to the eastern horizon, and the 

 Parrots and Parroquets coniirni his arrival there. 



The Crickets chirp from sunset to sunrise, and often 

 during the day, when the weather is cloudy. The Bete- 

 rouge is exceedingly numerous in these extensive wilds, 

 and not only man, but beasts and birds, are tormented by 

 it. Mosquitos are very rare after you pass the third island 

 in the Demerara, and Sand-flies but seldom appear. 



Courteous reader, here thou hast the outlines of an 

 amazing landscape given thee ; thou wilt see that the 

 principal parts of it are but faintly traced, some of them 

 scarcely visible at all, and that the shades are wholly 

 wanting. If thy soul partakes of the ardent flame which 

 the persevering Mungo Park's did, these outlines wUl be 

 enough for thee : they will give thee some idea of what 

 a noble country this is ; and if thou hast but courage to 

 set a;bout giving the world a finished picture of it, neither 

 materials to work on, nor colours to paint it in its true 

 shades, will be wanting to thee. It may appear a diflicult 

 task at a distance ; but look close at it, and it is nothing 

 at all ; provided thou hast but a quiet mind, little more is 

 necessary, and the genius which presides over these wilds 

 will kindly help thee through the rest. She will allow 

 thee to slay the fawn, and cut down the Mountain-cabbage 

 for thy support, and to select from every part of her domain 

 whatever may be necessary for the work thou art about ; 

 but having killed a pair of Doves in order to enable thee 

 to give mankind a true and proper description of them, 

 thou must not destroy a third through wantonness, or to 

 show what a good marksman thou art ; that would only 

 blot the picture thou art finishing, not colour it. 



Though retired from the haunts of men, and even with- 

 out a friend with thee, thou wouldst not find it solitary. 

 The crowing of the hannaquoi will sound in thine ears 



