PROVINCE OF GUIANNA. 



485 



CHAP. XXV. 



PROVINCE OF GUIANNA. 



Boundaries — Islands — Rivers — Towns— In dians . 



GuiANNA forms the eastern and southern portion of the region denominated 

 Terra Firraa, confined on the north by the ocean and the river Oronoco ; on the 

 south by the Amazons ; on the east by the ocean ; and on the west by the 

 rivers Hyapura and Oronoco. 



The Portuguese Guianna, which includes that belonging to the French since 

 1809, comprises the southern part of that vast province and celebrated island, 

 and is bounded on the north by the Spanish possessions and Surinam : the other 

 boundaries are those already mentioned. It is nine hundred miles in lengtli 

 from east to west, and three hundred at its greatest width, and extends from 

 6° north to 4° south latitude. The days and nights, with very little variation, 

 are equal all the year, and the climate is exceedingly warm. The territory is 

 not generally fertile, and has more of a flat than mountainous aspect. In many 

 parts of the interior it is very stony, with indications of ancient volcanos. It is 

 irrigated by many navigable rivers, some of which originate in an extensive range 

 of mountains, of no great altitude, prolonged with the Amazons from east to 

 west, but at a considerable distance from it. 



Trees are only of magnitude in the vicinity of the rivers and in the substantial 

 and humid soils. The most useful are those of the clove, pechurim, capiri. 

 Indian rubber, and cocoa. 



Minerals of iron have been found ; there are symptoms of silver, and some 

 stones of estimation. 



North Cape (Cabo do Norte) is the principal cape, situated in 2° north. 



Islands. — Terra dos Coelhos is between the mouths of the Aruary and the 

 Carapapiiry, with a channel on the west and the ocean on the east, on which 

 side is the point called North Cape above mentioned. 



Maraca is an island eighteen miles in length, with proportionable width, a 

 little to the north-west of the Coelhos. It has in the centre a large lake, stored 

 with fish, and its eastern coast is assailed by the Pororoca. 



