ropean productions as they were in need of. The exports from this place consisted of gold dust, brought from the inland parts of Brazil, and of various tropical productions, such as sarsaparilla, vanilla, sugar, and coffee, but principally of chocolate-nuts. The latter were used as the current money of the country, and chiefly conduced to the riches of the inhabitants.

M. de la Condamine was detained in Para till nearly the end of December, when, being desirous of examining the mouths of the Amazon, and thence proceeding to Cayenne, the commandant of Para supplied him with a canoe and twenty-two rowers, together with all the refreshments and conveniences that could be requisite for the voyage, and recommendations to persons resident in different places at which it might be necessary for him to stop.

Some leagues below Para, M. de la Condamine crossed the eastern mouth of the Amazon, or that branch of it which is separated from the main stream by the island of Marayo. This island occupies the whole space between the two mouths of the river. It is of irregular shape, and upwards of four hundred and fifty miles. round. The branch of the river which M. de la Condamine crossed below Para, was about three leagues wide, and increased in width as he approached the sea. He coasted along the island till he came to its south-eastern extremity, called Cape Maguari, after which he turned to the west, keeping still along the coast of the island, for more than forty leagues, in a direction hardly deviating from that of the equinoctial line. He passed also within sight of two large, but now uninhabited, islands, which he left towards the north, one called Machiana, and the other Caviana.

The soil, not only of both these islands, but also of Marayo, was entirely drowned, and almost uninhabitable. Beyond Caviana M. de la Condamine entered the true channel, or main stream of the Amazon. At this place it would be impossible for the Indians to cross the river in their canoes, if the channel were not

divided by several small islands, under which they could obtain shelter, and watch their proper times for passing from one to the other.

On the northern bank of this branch of the river is a Portuguese fort, called Macapa, adjacent to which the whole bank of the river was covered with trees. The interior of the country was open and level; and vast open plains extended thence to the sources of the river Oyapoc.

Between Macapa and the North Cape, in the part of the river where the main stream is most confined by the intervention of islands, the tide of flood exhibits an extraordinary phenomenon. During the three days nearest to the new and full moon, at the season of the spring tides, the sea, instead of flowing near six hours, as it does at other times, rises to its greatest height in a minute or two. But it may be imagined that this cannot happen quietly. At the distance even of more than a league, a dreadful noise is heard, occasioned by the sudden approach of the torrent. As it draws nearer, the noise increases; and, in a short time, a liquid promontory, between twelve and fifteen feet in height, is to be seen, rapidly advancing. This is followed by a second, and that by a third, and sometimes a fourth, occupying the whole width of the channel. This prodigious mass of accumulated waters, rushing forward with inexpressible rapidity, breaks down and carries before it every obstacle. Ships have no other mode of securing themselves from the fury of the torrent, than by casting anchor in places where there is great depth of water. The cause of this phenomenon has been ascribed to the opposition which the waters of the ocean suffer from being pent up, in their progress, within the narrow channels between the islands.

After experiencing much difficulty and many interruptions on the passage from Macapa, in his voyage northward, M. de la Condamine, after two months navigation, reached the harbour of Cayenne

on the 26th of February, 1744, whence he shortly afterwards departed for Europe.

Towards the conclusion of his narrative, M. de la Condamine speaks of the various natural productions that he had seen in the course of his voyage. He mentions, among others, a kind of Manati, or sea cows as he calls them, which inhabit the river and feed on the grass growing upon its banks. These animals, he says, are amphibious, though they seldom come entirely out of the water; are of large size, and have two fins near the head, shaped somewhat like small wings. They are found in the Amazon, the Oronoko, and other rivers of America. He also saw here a species of fish called electric eel, which has the property, when touched, of giving a shock to the hand, like that of an electrical machine. In the Amazon turtles were so numerous, and of such various kinds and sizes, that these animals and their eggs would alone have afforded a sufficiency of food for all the people who inhabited its banks. There were also some kinds of land tortoises, which were much esteemed as food. The lakes and marshes, near the banks of the Amazon, were filled at the overflowing of the river, by innumerable kinds of fish; and, during the dry season, when the waters receded within their banks, the fish remained in these lakes, where the Indians were able to catch them without difficulty. Alligators, some of which were twenty feet and upwards in length, were found through the whole course of the Amazon, and even in most of the rivers that fell into it. These animals, says M. de la Condamine, sometimes lie for hours, and even for whole days, stretched out and motionless upon the sand banks of the river: so that persons, not accustomed to them, would mistake them for trunks of trees, or long pieces of timber, covered with a rough and scaly bark.

In the forests, near the banks of the river, many kinds of quadrupeds are found. Among others M. de la

Condamine mentions one, which he calls an elk, and another, a species of weasel, called coati mondi. But the most common species that are in request among the Indians for food, are monkeys.

In his navigation down the river M. de la Condamine had seen so many of these animals that it would have been difficult even to enumerate them. Some were as large as greyhounds, and others as small as rats. Many of them had tails twice as long as their bodies, and, in their habits, were excessively agile and sportive. Wild boars, rabbits, ant-eaters, porcupines, sloths, and armadillos, were not uncommon in the woods. Serpents and reptiles every where abounded. Large bats, which, during the night, suck the blood of horses and mules, and even of men, if they sleep in the open air, were so common, that at Borja and other places, they had entirely destroyed the great cattle that the missionaries had introduced there. The number of birds in the forests adjacent to the river, seemed to surpass that of the quadrupeds. The plumage of most of them was extremely beautiful and brilliant, but their notes were, in general, harsh and unmusical.

Third Day's Instruction.

GUIANA.

Portuguese Guiana-Cayenne-Dutch GuianaSurinam.

THE country adjacent to the ocean, and extending from the mouth of the Amazon to that of the Oronoko, and occupying an extent of four hundred leagues, has the name of Guiana, and is possessed by five European powers, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch, the English, and the Spaniards.

A great portion of this vast country is unknown;

C

consequently any general description of it must be extremely imperfect. The climate is for the most part hot and moist. From November to July the weather is tolerably mild; but, during the rest of the year, the heat is intense, though it is somewhat mitigated by sea breezes. The rainy and dry seasons constitute the summer and winter in Guiana; and in no part of the year does the length of days vary more than about forty minutes. Ridges of lofty mountains, and lower grounds intersected by marshes and extensive savannas or grassy plains, are thinly inhabited by various tribes of Indians. The borders of the numerous rivers, by which the country is watered, are the parts that have been chiefly appropriated to plantations and culture ; and these yield an abundance of cocoa, coffee, sugar, and cotton. The maritime districts are low and fertile, but are frequently inundated.

Along the coast, the waters of the ocean flow continually with a current towards the north-west; and the shore is, in many parts, rendered inaccessible, from its being lined with dangerous quicksands, banks, and rocks.

Portuguese Guiana.

THE Portuguese have long possessed a settlement on the north side of the Amazon. This is known by the name of Portuguese Guiana, and is divided from the French colony by the river Carpana. Its length, from east to west, is upwards of six hundred miles, and its breadth about two hundred and forty. The greatest part of this extensive region is occupied by savage tribes, whose names even are scarcely known. There are many Portuguese forts and missionary stations, in different parts. Some of these extend as far towards the west as the Rio Negro, the present western boundary of this settlement. Portuguese Guiana has of late been annexed to the government of Brazil.