14 
WANDERINGS IN 
FIRST 
JOURNF. 
announce his near approach to the eastern horizon, 
- and the parrots and parroquets confirm his arrival 
there. 
The crickets chirp from sunset to sunrise, and 
often during the day, when the weather is cloudy. 
The beterouge is exceedingly numerous in these ex¬ 
tensive wilds, and not only man, but beasts and birds, 
are tormented by it. Mosquitos are very rare after 
you pass the third island in the Demerara, and 
sand-flies but seldom appear. 
Courteous reader, here thou hast the outlines of 
an amazing landscape given thee; thou wilt see that 
the principal parts of it are but faintly traced, some 
of them scarcely visible at all, and that the shades 
are wholly wanting. If thy soul partakes of the 
ardent flame which the persevering Mungo Park’s 
did, these outlines will be enough for thee: they 
will give thee some idea of what a noble country 
this is; and if thou hast but courage to set about 
giving the world a finished picture of it, neither 
materials to work on, nor colours to paint it in its 
true shades, will be wanting to thee. It may ap¬ 
pear a difficult task at a distance; but look close at 
it, and it is nothing at all; provided thou hast but 
a quiet mind, little more is necessary, and the genius 
which presides over these wilds will kindly help thee 
through the rest. She will allow thee to slay the 
fawn, and to cut down the mountain-cabbage for thy 
support, and to select from every part of her domain' 
whatever may be necessary for the work thou art 
about; but having killed a pair of doves in order to 
