SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 377 



banky have hardly, as yet, taught there the European name 

 of a saint, or of a pair of scissars. But if, by that cession, 

 the navigation of the Maranyo could be opened to the West 

 Indies; almost every thing now procured from North America, 

 would be furnished more cheaply and no less expeditiously, 

 by the southern river-coast of Guyana. Barley is singularly 

 good there : for the culture of rice, it is better adapted than 

 the Carolinas, or than Louisiana. Timber, shingles, hoops, 

 and tubstaves may be collected with facility by establishing 

 saw-mills on the streams that fall into the Maranyo. Wax 

 and honey may be had in any quantity of the Indians. Hides 

 cost only the labor of killing the cattle. An earth useful in 

 pottery is thence procured by the Portuguese. 



A curious instance of progress in the civilization of those 

 savages, that dwell in the Portuguese territory, is related by 

 Coutinho in his account of the commerce of Brazil. Do- 

 mingo Alvarez Pesanka, who loved the Indians, and was de- 

 sirous of their good will, caused to be erected for their exclu- 

 sive use, a large and spacious building, which was fitted up 

 according to their own taste. This edifice stands close to the 

 water's edge, so that they may thence bathe, as is their cus- 

 tom, every morning and afternoon. This same building, also 

 serves them as a warehouse, or bazar, and is always crouded 

 with strangers, who come well laden from beyond the moun- 

 tains, to deal with the Portuguese inhabitants of the province. 



c c c 



