660 THK ESSIQUIBO. 



vegetation. Here also are numerous graceful palms, — the 

 cocorite, from which the Indians form their poisoned arrows ; 

 the troali, with broad and long leaves, used for thatching their 

 huts. The graceful manicol, rising to a great height, bends, 

 like the weeping willow, its slender stem over the stream ; 

 and, with several other species of palm, it affords the succulent 

 cabbage. Beautiful parasites hang in every direction from 

 the trunks and boughs — sipos ascending and clinging in intri- 

 cate network, interlacing the trunks and branches, and often 

 supporting the remnants of the trees they themselves b} 7- their 

 fatal embrace have destroyed ; indeed, the same style of forest 

 here exists as throughout the Valley of the Amazon. 



As the flora is much the same on a similar altitude, so 

 there is little difference in the fauna, although some species 

 are found in Guiana which are unknown in the latter region. 

 The native tribes, however — the red men of the wilds — differ 

 considerably. Near the supposed site of the famed El Dorado 

 at Pirara, situated on the borders of Brazil, some thirty years 

 ago, an attempt was made to cany, not the gold that perishes, 

 but the joyful news of salvation, to the long-benighted Indians 

 in that region. It was blessed, and was prospering greatly, 

 and gave promise of the speedy conversion of the Macusi 

 tribe and others, when some Brazilian Roman Catholic priests, 

 hearing of it, determined on its destruction, and induced their 

 government to claim the region as Brazilian territory. A de- 

 tachment of militia was despatched, and took possession of the 

 village. The Indians, fearing lest the Brazilians might conduct 

 them into slavery, dispersed into the forests and mountain*, 

 while the missionary with difficulty escaped with his life. 



The distance to be traversed from the British capital of 

 George Town to Pirara is about three hundred miles ; and 



