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— a species of vulture, whose utility is so great 

 that its destruction is prohibited by law under a 

 heavy penalty. In a country where putrefaction 

 is so rapid, it is of infinite consequence to preserve 

 an animal which, if a bullock or horse falls dead in 

 the field, immediately flies to the carcass before it 

 has time to corrupt, and gobbles it up before you 

 can say " John Crow," much less Jack Robinson. 

 The bite of the black snake is slightly venomous, 

 but that is all ; as to the great yellow one, it is 

 perfectly innoxious, and so timid that it always 

 runs away from you. The only dangerous species 

 of serpent is the Whip-snake, so called from its ex- 

 actly resembling the lash of a whip, in length, thin- 

 ness, pliability, and whiteness ; but even the bite of 

 this is not mortal, except from very great neglect. 

 The most beautiful tree, or, rather, group of trees, 

 all to nothing, is the Bamboo, both from its verdure 

 and from its elegance of form : as to the Cotton 

 tree, it answers no purpose, either of ornament or 

 utility ; or, rather, it is not suffered to answer any, 

 since it is forbidden by law to export its down, lest 

 it should hurt the fur trade in the manufacture of 

 hats : its only present use is to furnish the negroes 

 with canoes, which are hollowed out of its immense 

 trunks. I am as yet so much enchanted with the 

 country, that it would require no very strong addi- 

 tional inducements to make me establish myself 

 here altogether 5 and in that case my first care 



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