eye cannot distinguish where they begin nor where they end; while the
distant black rocks have the appearance of a herd at rest. Nearly in the
middle there is an eminence which falls off gradually on every side, and on
this the Indians have erected their huts.

To the northward of them the forest forms a circle, as though it had been
done by art; to the eastward it hangs in festoons; and to the south and
west it rushes in abruptly, disclosing a new scene behind it at every step
as you advance along.

This beautiful park of Nature is quite surrounded by lofty hills, all
arrayed in superbest garb of trees: some in the form of pyramids, others
like sugar-loaves, towering one above the other, some rounded off, and
others as though they had lost their apex. Here two hills rise up in spiral
summits, and the wooded line of communication betwixt them sinks so
gradually that it forms a crescent; and there the ridges of others resemble
the waves of an agitated sea. Beyond these appear others, and others past
them, and others still farther on, till they can scarcely be distinguished
from the clouds.

There are no sand-flies nor bete-rouge nor mosquitos in this pretty spot.
The fire-flies, during the night, vie in numbers and brightness with the
stars in the firmament above; the air is pure, and the north-east breeze
blows a refreshing gale throughout the day. Here the white-crested maroudi,
which is never found in the Demerara, is pretty plentiful; and here grows
the tree which produces the moran, sometimes called balsam-capivi.

Your route lies south from this place; and at the extremity of the savanna
you enter the forest and journey along a winding path at the foot of a
hill. There is no habitation within this day's walk. The traveller, as