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describes the region of Guiana :-"The coast, washed by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, is covered with mangrove and curida bushes, and presents a verdure of perpetual freshness, forming, as it were, a seam or fringe to the rich carpet behind. These are enlivened by numerous flocks of the scarlet ibis, the white egrette, and the splendid flamingo, which, disturbed at the approach of an intruder, soar into the air or perch on the summit of the trees. Where cultivation has not stamped its seal on the landscape the marshy plain changes to savanna, resembling the meadows of Europe, watered by rivers and limpid streams, interspersed by groups of palms or tufts of trees.

10. “On ascending the great rivers, which have been happily called the 'veins of the country,' we find them covered with verdant isles; and as we approach the primitive forests the landscape assumes the features peculiar to the tropics.

11. "It appears as if the powers and strength of productive nature in recoiling from the Poles had collected itself near the equator, and spread its gifts with open hand, to render its aspect more imposing and majestic, and to manifest the fecundity of the soil. Gigantic trees raise their lofty crowns to a height unknown in the European forests, and display the greatest contrast in the forms and appearance of their foliage. Lianas cling to the trunks, interlace their wide-spreading branches, and, having reached their summit, their aërial roots descend again towards the ground, and appear like the cordage of a ship. Clusters of palm-trees (of all vegetable forms the most grand and beautiful) rise majestically above the surrounding vegetation, waving their pinion-like leaves in the soft breeze.

12. "Nature, as if not satisfied with the soil allotted to her, decorates with profuse vegetation the trunks and limbs of trees, the stones and rocks. Even the surface of the water is covered with a carpet of plants, interspersed by magnificent flowers. What could better give an idea of the luxuriance and richness of the vegetation in Guiana than the splendid Victoria regia, the most beautiful specimen of the flora of the Western Hemisphere?

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13. "The calm of the atmosphere, where frequently no breath of wind agitates the foliage, no cloud veils the azure vault of heaven, contrasts strangely with the hum of animated nature produced by insects of every kind. The humming-bird, with its metallic lustre, passes rapidly from blossom to blossom, sipping the nectar of fragrant flowers, or sporting with the dew-drop which glitters on its leaf. It is usual to deny to the birds of the American forest all melody. Many are the feathered songsters which enliven the forest. Although they may not vie with our nightingale in melodiousness of tone, they are not devoid of it.

14. "Night approaches, and displays the firmament with all the splendour of the Southern constellations; the musical notes of birds now give place to the chirping voices of crickets, the sound of the tree-frog, lizards, and reptiles. Thousands of phosphorescent insects flutter among the foliage, emitting a light which, if it does not illuminate, assists to increase the characteristic features of a tropical night."

15. The principal products of Guiana are ornamental woods from the forests, sugar, rice, maize, coffee, and spices. The chief towns and the capitals of the three colonies are Georgetown (British), Paramaribo (Dutch), and Cayenne (French).

LESSON LX V.

THE ORINOCO AND ITS BASIN.-THE LLANOS.

1. Far away in the Sierra Parimé rises the great river Orinoco, but as yet its sources are a mystery. The wild native tribes still maintain their own in the upper waters of the river. The river is joined by a vast number of tributaries, the largest of them having their sources in the mighty Andes of Columbia. The length of the main stream cannot be less than 2,000 miles. this distance it is uninterruptedly navigable to the point

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where the Apuré joins it, a distance of 777 miles from the sea. Here a number of cataracts bar the way, though, these once passed, the depth of water and the smoothness of the river allow of navigation for many hundreds of miles more. The river and its tributaries drain an area

of 650,000 square miles.

2. The delta begins to form 150 miles from its mouth, at a point where a branch flows north to the Atlantic. Several of the many mouths are navigable, but the main channel is usually considered the Boca de Navios, which is divided by a number of small islands into two channels, each of which is two miles in width. The town of Bolivar, 250 miles from the sea, marks the limit to which the tide reaches. Here the river is four miles wide, and usually nearly 400 feet deep.

3. From its source the stream at first flows to the north-west, and a little below the town of Esmeralda it throws off a broad and navigable channel, the Casiquiare, which flows into the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon, thus connecting the waters of the two great rivers. After its junction with the Guaviare it takes an almost northerly course and receives on its left bank the Vicada and Meta, while at its confluence from the Apuré it turns to the east, and flows in that direction to the Atlantic Ocean. The Guaviare, Vicada, Meta, and Apuré, all have their origin in the Columbian Andes, and flow through the vast plains called llanos before joining the main stream. From the junction of the Apuré llanos stretch away on the left bank and dense forests on the right.

4. Near the mouths of the river the forest seems almost to rise out of the water, so little is the delta raised above the level of the river bed. Here there are scarcely any open spaces, dense forest being the rule, llanos the exception. A few Guarano Indians have their home in this unhealthy delta, and slender-looking houses their homes are. "A roof of thatch, supported by five or six upright poles, constitutes the dwelling-place of the redskins. Here they sling their hammocks on which they lounge by day and sleep by night. They cultivate a little sugar-cane and a few plantains, fish, or sit in their

canoes, or idle about without any other settled occupation."

5. Above the delta and as far as the junction of the Apuré, the banks of the river present only a scanty clothing of trees, and northwards from the river to the elevated table-lands of the coast range are the llanos. From the junction of the Apuré these vast grassy plains extend on the left bank of the river in a south-west direction and embrace a large portion of the east of Columbia. The whole of the llanos of Venezuela and Columbia cover an area twice as large as that of the British Isles. The contrasts presented by these interminable plains at certain seasons of the year are remarkalbe. At one time they are parched wastes, at another covered with the most luxuriant vegetation on which myriads of cattle are fed.

6. A native of this region has given a glowing description of a journey across the llanos of the Apuré. A dense mass of vapour, pervading the atmosphere, obscured the horizon, while the fan-palms seen from afar appeared like ships enveloped in a fog. The traveller was treading the shores of the great basin of the llanos over one of the ancient terraces, or mesas, which form the borders of these grassy oceans. For three hours he continued to ride over the mesa until he reached its border, which commanded an extensive view of the low-lying savanna.

7. The scene was at once changed into one of the most glorious panoramas of Nature. At his feet lay the beautiful expanse of meadow, fresh and smooth as the best cultivated lawn, with troops of horses and countless herds of cattle dispersed over the plain. Several glittering ponds, alive with an immense variety of aquatic birds, reflected from their limpid surface the broad-leaved crowns of the fan-palms. Farther beyond, and as far as the eye could reach, the undulating plain appeared like a petrified ocean after a storm. No description could convey a faithful idea of the reality of the scene-the harmonious effects of light and shade, and the blending of the various tints of green, blue, and purple dispersed over the extensive panorama-the gentle undulations of the plain

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