EXPEDITION TO SURINAM, 



after it, and as well pleafed, as the foreft of Guiana could 

 make me. 



On the morning of the 4thj I difcovered a couple of 

 fine powefas on the branches of a high tree near the 

 camp, and requefted liberty from the chief to flioot one 

 of them, which however was bluntly refufed me, on 

 pretence that the enemy might hear the report of my 

 mufquet, though by the way, if it be not a folecifm fo 

 to exprefs myfelf, they knew better where we were than 

 we did ourfelves. A little after, however, a large f vike 

 appearing on the top of another tree, it was ordered to 

 be fhot immediately, whether from fear or antipathy I 

 know not. On the difcharge of the mafquet the animal 

 fell to the ground, quite alis^e, and Ihded inftantly into a 

 thicket near the magazine. Upon this occaiion I had an 

 opportunity of remarking the uncommon intrepidity of 

 a foldier, who creeping in after the reptile, brought it out 

 from among the brambles, fu per ft it iouily pretending that 

 he was invulnerable to its bite. However this may be^ 

 the fnake, which was above Bx feet Ion-, erected its head 

 and half its body fuccefiively to attack him, and he as 

 often knocked it down with his filf, and at laft with his 

 fabre fevered it in two pieces, which ended the battle; for 

 doing which he was regaled by Fourgeoud with a dram 

 of rum. 



Left I (liould be accufed of introducing a word which 

 is probably new and unintelUgible to my readers, I will 

 beg leave to add, that the powefay or peacock-pheafant of 



Guiana« 



