( II ) 



of the earth, for twelve inches irj 

 depth, is a flratum of perfect manure, 

 and as fuch, has been tranfported to 

 the ifland of Barbadoes but the wood- 

 ants, which are here very numerous, 

 committed fuch ravages in the vefiel, 

 that a repetition of that project has 

 not been attempted. 



But to convey an adequate idea of 

 the foil of which I am writing, I need 

 only tell you, that in Effequebo it has 

 produced thirty crops of rattoon canes, 

 fucceflively, without replanting; where- 

 as, in the Wefi India iflands, more than 

 two is never expected. I have inftan- 

 ced Effequebo, not becaufe its foil is 

 more fertile than that of this river, or 

 Berhlce, but becaufe no fettlemcnts 

 have been made on the lower parts 

 of thefe rivers, until very lately, the 

 Dutch having before cultivated the 



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