SECOND JOURNEY. 



91 



different species are raised and distributed gratis to 

 those colonists who wish to cultivate them. 



ISTot far from the banks of the river Oyapoc, to 

 windward of Cayenne, is a mountain which 

 i-J^^^?^^*^^ contains an immense cavern. Here the 



the Rock. 



Cock of the Eock is plentiful. He is about 

 the size of a fan-tail pigeon, his colour a bright orange^ 

 and his wings and tail appear as though fringed ; his 

 head is ornamented with a superb double-feathery crest, 

 edged with purple. He passes the day amid gloomy 

 damps and silence, and only issues out for food a short 

 time at sunrise and sunset. He is of the gallinaceous 

 tribe. The South- American Spaniards call him " Gallo 

 del Eio JSTegro,'' (Cock of the Black Eiver,) and suppose 

 that he is only to be met with in the vicinity of that 

 far-inland stream ; but he is common in the interior of 

 Demerara, amongst the huge rocks in the forests of 

 Macoushia ; and he has been shot south of the line, in 

 the captainship of Para. 



The bird called by Buffon Grand Gobe-mouche, has 

 never been found in Demerara, although very common 

 in Cayenne. He is not quite so large as the jackdaw, 

 and is entirely black, except a large spot under the 

 throat, which is a glossy purple. 



You may easily sail from Cayenne to the river 

 Surinam in two days. Its capital. Para- 

 maribo, is handsome, rich, and populous : 

 hitherto it has been considered by far the finest town 

 in Guiana ; but probably the time is not far off when 

 the capital of Demerara may claim the prize of 

 superiority. You may enter a creek above Paramaribo, 

 and travel through the interior of Surinam, till you 

 come to the Mcari, which is close to the large river 



