22 
both ends by a number of fimall cotton 
ftrings, which join at each end a large rope 
of the fame ftuff. The whole burden is 
fupported by thefe ropes, which are falien- 
ed to the walls of the room by means of 
Jarge hooks ; the hammocks are generally 
fufpended in the corners of the room, whete 
they hang, like fwings, in the form of a 
garland. I have feen faloons, the four 
corners of which were ornamented with 
fuch hammocks ; and if there were four 
women in the houfe, they were fure to be 
occupied. 
For the full enjoyment of a hammock, 
an art is required, which the Creoles of 
Cayenne poflels in a high degree of per- 
fection. They fit down, or rather recline, 
on them inthe molt charming attitude, and 
thus {wing whole hours together in an uni- 
form motion, to fupport which they make 
ufe of their leg, carelefsly hanging down 
from the hammock, with which now and 
then they tip the ground, in a manner 
which can hardly be perceived. Themen 
poffefs the fame talent ; and it muf be con- 
fefled, that a hammock is a pleafant thing 
if you know how to enjoy it. Many per- 
fons fleep in them}; and this fort of beds 
affords the advantage, that in every pofi- 
tion all parts of the body are fupperted in 
an equal manner; for this reafon, children 
are frequentiy put into hammocks, where 
they perform:their little motions with the 
utmoft eafe, and without danger. They 
alfo take rides and pay vifits in hammocks 
in the fame mauner as inthe Antilles; in 
which cafe, the hammock is faftened to a 
large bamboo, the two ends of which reft 
on the fhoulders of two negroes, who car- 
fy it along. Very fine hammocks are 
made in Cayenne; but the moit beautiful 
are imported from Para, in Brazil, fituated 
on the right banks of the river Amazon. 
The latter are made of variegated cotton, 
after various defigns, ornamented with 
borders, taffels; and fringes, and coft 
about fifty dollars. 
Hammecks being particularly ufeful on 
journies by land, it will not be improper to 
infert here a brief defcription of the ufual 
mode of traveling in the interiorof French 
Guiana. As the rivers and the fea are 
made ule of for conveying goods, and keep- 
ing up a communication between the dif- 
ferent cantons, there exills noroad through- 
out the whole colony, but in the fmall ifland 
of Cayenne. The parts to which new 
roads might lead, are, moreover, as yet of 
too little confequence, and the interjacent 
country is too defert to encourage their 
contruction. The. inhabitants being, 
however, frequently neceffitated to travel 
- Authentic Account of Cayénne, continued. 
[Auguft 1, 
in the interior of the country, efpecially 
in, fummer, when it is extremely difficult 
to fail along the coaft againft winds and 
currents, they provide themfelves in fuch 
cafes with provifions, and ali other arti: 
cles they ftand in need of ; the principal 
piece of furniture is the hammock, which 
is packed up in a large {quare bafket, cal- 
kd pacafet; but they alfo take with them 
tools-for clearing the ground of brambles 
and bufhes; and guns, in cafe they 
fhould fall in with game of any kind ; 
and thus equipped they jet out on their 
journey. 
A good compafs and fome very indif- 
ferent guides ferve to direct the courfe of 
thefe caravans. From want of inns, they 
halt, at the fall of night, near fome {pring 
of good water, which, at a diftance from 
the coaft, is very common in French Gui- 
ana ; prepare their frugal meal, light a fires 
which at night-time is often neceflary in 
the forefts, and form of the branches of 
trees a canopy impenetrable to the rainy 
under which the hammock is fufpended. 
If they light upon a habitation, they are 
fure to be received with the utmoft kind- 
nefs and hofpitality. 
The inhabitants of Guiana are plenti- 
fuily fupplied with all the requifites of a 
good table, but they preter, as is general. 
ly the cafe in all the colonies, falt meat and 
fith to frefh provifions. This may be ows 
ing to the ufual bluntnefs of the organie 
fyftem which prevails in warm countries, 
and to the particular way of life of the 
colonifts; but nature prebably invites them 
alfo to give the preference to fuch food, as 
it is not liable to pals quickly into a fiate 
of putrefaction. However this may be; 
it is at leat certain that the inhabitants of 
Guiana are paffionatcly fond of every 
thing which is ftrong and piquant; for 
this they cultivate feveral forts of pepper 
for culinary purpofes, however intolerably 
fharp and pungent they may be. Pepper 
aéts above alla principal part in their dup- 
pers, where they ufually regale themfelves 
with a dith of fith, /eafoned with pepper to 
fuch a degree, that it makes the mouth 
fmart in the moft painful manner. But 
fometimes the pepper, which is of the fize 
of a piftachio, is aifo ferved up im parti- 
cular veffels, and then every one fqueezes 
out as much of the juice as he pleafes; a 
flight compreffion is fufficient to give a 
great quantity of fauce an acid and pun-~ 
gent taite. 
The Creoles being fo exceffively fond of 
falt and high feafoned dithes, it is difficult 
to account for the pleafure they find in fo 
taftelefs a fpecies of food as the cafava, 
which 
