SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, kc, 9 



the Courantine, situate between the Berbice and the Surinam, 

 and that we were about a hundred miles to the eastward of 

 Demerary river, but that he thought it adviseable to come to 

 during the night, and recommended a sharp look-out to be 

 kept, as the coast was much infested with privateers from the 

 Orinoko. 



We ahered our course two points to the westward, which 

 accordingly brought us more in a parallel with the coast, 

 which I had now an opportunity of particularly observing : it 

 was low and perfectly flat, and from its appearance quite 

 wild and uncultivated. Large forests of trees extend along the 

 coast even to the beach, which appeared to consist of mud, 

 with but few intervals of sand. This prospect of a country, 

 in which I was to become a resident for five years, certainly 

 was not the most flattering, but it being the end of my jour- 

 ney, and the first land I had seen for several weeks, I beheld 

 it with glad eyes, and really thought it a most delightful place. 

 I looked on the forests of trees as so many pervious groves 

 and pleasant plantations, and compared the situation of the 

 sea-shore, in my mind's eye, to some of our watering places 

 in England — I hugged myself with the idea of traversing 

 those rural retreats of wood, and hearing the dashing of the 

 waves against the lofty mangroves in my supposed walks of 

 retirement. 



