The two ends
proposed have been obtained. The Portuguese inland frontier fort has
been reached, and the Macoushi wourali-poison acquired. The account of
this excursion through the interior of Guiana has been submitted to thy
perusal, in order to induce thy abler genius to undertake a more
extensive one. If any difficulties have arisen, or fevers come on, they
have been caused by the periodical rains, which fall in torrents as the
sun approaches the tropic of Cancer. In dry weather there would be no
difficulties or sickness.

Amongst the many satisfactory conclusions which thou wouldst be able to
draw during the journey, there is one which, perhaps, would please thee
not a little, and that is with regard to dogs. Many a time, no doubt,
thou hast heard it hotly disputed that dogs existed in Guiana previously
to the arrival of the Spaniards in those parts. Whatever the Spaniards
introduced, and which bore no resemblance to anything the Indians had
been accustomed to see, retains its Spanish name to this day.

Thus the Warrow, the Arowack, the Acoway, the Macoushi, and Carib tribes,
call a hat, "sombrero;" shirt, or any kind of cloth, "camisa;" a shoe,
"zapato;" a letter, "carta;" a fowl, "gallina;" gunpowder, "colvora"
(Spanish, "polvora"); ammunition, "bala;" a cow, "vaca;" and a dog,
"perro."

This argues strongly against the existence of dogs in Guiana before it
was discovered by the Spaniards, and probably may be of use to thee in
thy next canine dispute.

In a political point of view this country presents a large field for
speculation. A few years ago there was but little inducement for any
Englishman to explore the interior of these rich and fine colonies, as
the British Government did not consider them worth holding at the peace
of Amiens. Since that period their mother-country has been blotted out
from the list of nations, and America has unfolded a new sheet of
politics. On one side the crown of Braganza, attacked by an ambitious
chieftain, has fled from the palace of its ancestors, and now seems fixed
on the banks of the Janeiro. Cayenne has yielded to its arms. La Plata
has raised the standard of independence, and thinks itself sufficiently
strong to obtain a government of its own. On the other side, the
Caraccas are in open revolt, and should Santa Fe join them in good
earnest they may form a powerful association.

Thus, on each side of the _ci-devant_ Dutch Guiana, most unexpected and
astoni