26 TlMEHRl. 
tuberculosa) but the general character of the vegetation 
is decidedly weedy. But what a horrible lot of weeds ! 
From a large shrub hangs a veil of what looks like some 
pretty grass, but go a little closer you will find that its 
stems and leaves are edged with saw-like teeth, which, if 
they should happen to be drawn across the face or 
hands in passing through the bushes, will cut a deep 
gash through the skin in an instant. It is a species of 
razor-grass (Scleria scandens) and deserves its name as 
much as any other of the genus. A little farther on may 
be seen a lot of shrubby Solanums, armed with stout 
prickles, which can only be passed by frequent use of the 
cutlass. A few plants of the Krattee (Nidularium 
karatas) are always present, their impregnable circles of 
spiny leaves forming an efficient protection to the soft 
fruit in the centre, through which no animal can penetrate. 
Pine-apples are also always present in these places, and 
these together with krattee may be called "Red Man's 
Footsteps." Wherever the Indian has had a home these 
plants remain as evidence of his former presence. 
Thousands of such places are to be found throughout 
the colony, and at first sight they appear to confirm the 
accounts of the first explorers, that Guiana was densely 
populated when discovered. But in face of the fact that 
the Indian is continually wandering from one locality to 
another as his provision fields become exhausted, or 
for other reasons, the evidence becomes very doubtful. 
It may be possible by careful observation to get some 
idea of the time when these settlements were abandoned. 
A small clearing in the forest when abandoned, will soon 
get covered with grasses, silver ferns, and creeping 
plants such as Phytolacca. These will gradually give way 
