278 TlMEHRI. 
and carrying the bricks far over your head and their 
former position. Some of the brickwork, and right good 
work it was, done by these old Dutch masons, still retains 
its lines, this being especially noticeable in the arches of 
a bridge spanning a small rivulet in the main thorough- 
fare. The visitor cannot but be attracted by the gigantic 
stems of the cabbage palms, straight as if plumbed with 
a line, carrying their plume of leaves high above the sur- 
rounding forest. The nature of the upper surface of the 
soil here is of course entirely artificial, the refuse and 
accumulation of a deserted town covered with a few 
inches of vegetable mould ; but the careful observer will 
have noticed, on landing, the tenacious nature of the clay 
on the edge of the river. Proceeding farther up the 
river to Pin. Friendship, where Mr. PATOIS has a fine 
house, situated on the shelving bank of the river, this 
clay is almost white on the surface ; hard and unfertile 
soil it looks in dry weather, in the rainy season assuming 
great tenacity and glueiness, making it very slippery to 
walk upon. Notwithstanding this, a few fruit trees are 
scattered here and there, which would thrive better 
if the great enemy the cooshie ant would give them an 
opportunity. A few steps behind the house brings you 
to a steep rise of about too ft., and whilst making the 
ascent, the stiff clay gradually becomes mixed with sand 
until the top is reached, when the clay has disappeared, 
giving place entirely to pure sand covered with decayed 
and decaying leaves from the trees, which extend for a 
hundred yards or so, until the open savannah is before 
you. A pretty sight it is and refreshing to the eye of 
those accustomed to the flat coast lands to see the un- 
dulating down stretching away for miles, dotted here and 
