WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMEEICA. 311 



Eosinante's own. The mules feeding ou them, put you in 

 mind of Ovid's description of famine : — 



"Dura cutis, per quam spectari viscera possent." 



It is somewhat singular, that there is not a single river or 

 brook in the whole island of Antigua. In this it differs 

 from Tartary in the other world ; which, according to old 

 writers, has five rivers ; viz. Acheron, Phlegethon, Cocytus, 

 Styx, and Lethe. 



In this island I found the Eed Start, described in Wilson's 

 " Ornithology of the United States." I wished to learn 

 whether any of these birds remain the whole year in 

 Antigua, and breed there ; or whether they all leave it for 

 the north when the sun comes out of the southern hemi- 

 sphere ; but, upon inquiry, I could get no information 

 whatever. 



After passing a dull week here, I sailed for Guadaloupe, 

 whose bold and cloud-capped mountains have a grand 

 appearance as you approach the island. Basseterre, the 

 capital, is a neat town, with a handsome public walk 

 in the middle of it, well shaded by a row of fine tamarind 

 trees on each side. Behind the town, La Souffriere raises 

 its high romantic summit ; and on a clear day, you may 

 see the volcanic smoke which issues from it. 



Nearly midway, betwixt G-uadaloupe and Dominica, you 

 descry the Saintes. Though high, and bold, and rocky, 

 they have still a diminutive appearance when compared 

 with their two gigantic neighbours. You just see Mari- 

 galante to windward of them, some leagues off, about a 

 yard high in the horizon. 



Dominica is majestic in higb and rugged mountains. 

 As you sail along it, you cannot help admiring its beauti- 

 ful coffee plantations, in places so abrupt and steep, that 

 you would pronounce them almost inaccessible. Eoseau, 



