He is appointed by Government to give in his report to the protector of the
Indians of what is going on amongst them and to prevent suspicious people
from passing up the river.

When the Indians assemble here, the stranger may have an opportunity of
seeing the aborigines dancing to the sound of their country music and
painted in their native style. They will shoot their arrows for him with an
unerring aim and send the poisoned dart, from the blow-pipe, true to its
destination: and here he may often view all the different shades, from the
red savage to the white man; and from the white man to the sootiest son of
Africa.

Beyond this post there are no more habitations of white men or free people
of colour.

In a country so extensively covered with wood as this is, having every
advantage that a tropical sun and the richest mould, in many places, can
give to vegetation, it is natural to look for trees of very large
dimensions. But it is rare to meet with them above six yards in
circumference. If larger have ever existed they have fallen a sacrifice
either to the axe or to fire.

If, however, they disappoint you in size, they make ample amends in height.
Heedless, and bankrupt in all curiosity, must he be who can journey on
without stopping to take a view of the towering mora. Its topmost branch,
when naked with age or dried by accident, is the favourite resort of the
toucan. Many a time has this singular bird felt the shot faintly strike him
from the gun of the fowler beneath, and owed his life to the distance
betwixt them.