and though the Indians shot many arrows wherever they saw the
leaves moving* they could not know the effect, as thé tamarind
trees stand here very close together, and the brancbestoueh each
other, the animal might therefore make its escape ; but now most
of the young Indians began a general attack by climbing the trees
with great agility, but not as the Europeans do, by the help óf the
knees. These Indians put the soles of the feet against the trees,
and in this manner walked up, holding fast with the hands, which
certainly must require a great deal more strength. When'they
reached the top of the trees they soon gave a shout of triumph, having
caught the game: and one of the Indians taking the eguahna
by the hind legs, stood upright on a branch without holding himself,
and swinging the animal several times over his hèad, threw it
down where the Indian females were waiting for it, whilst the other
Indians were still sporting with much address in the branches of
the surrounding trees. As this happened on the public Walk, and
near the government-house, several English officers; and many
other persons were attracted by the rejoicing and exclamation of
the Indians, and came to see the sport. Several of the Indian
women had light bows, and soft cotton balls,fastened on ttie points
of the arrows, for shooting those birds which they wished to préserve
alive; when we made them understand our wish to see 'thé effect
of their bows, they shot several little birds with great dexterity. All
these Arrawoukes Indians seemed to profit by their frequently
visiting the Europeans, and were of a very genteel behaviour, for
when many of us were too eager to see how they were shooting the
eguanna, and had advanced too much under the trees, the Indians
came directly to us, making signs with their hands that wé should be
hurt by the descent of the arrows, and they would therefore cease
shooting till we had removed from the place.
I bad thus an opportunity of seeing by chance the dexterity of
die Indians in hunting, which before had neveroccuned to me in
my various journeysinithèvcountry, and all who witnessed it. returned
home highly gratified with the spectacle.
With.respect to the other season, the rains seldom continue long;
but arc rather heavy showers, as the cloudsare.soon; dispersed .by
the sea breezes. I t seems that the change of the moon has here
sonae influence in regulating even,the hours when the rains fall,.and
this. will, continue in the same manner for several days, so that if it
rains much at night, the mornings in general become fair; and if
itrains early in the morning, then, for the most part at noon the rain
ceases. I have seen it rain* for about a week at noon, while the
mornings and evenings were very pleasant ; and there are always
many days in this season during which there is no rain. What hap-,
pened to me in this season, a few days ago, I shah relaté to, you
another time, f i l i a t e odw né dt
I t is, only in the rainy seaspn that thunder clpuds appear in this
part of thq world, and though they seem to be YeryhèaVy, yet, it is
said, that unfortunate accidents happen but seldom. The thunder,
however, rolls here in a most solemn and awful manner over the
whole horizon, and it cannot be better described than in the language
of the anqients, who called it,, (“ the voice of .the; Almighty
speaking to his creation.” ,
,, .TÇhe, superiority of this climate to that, of the West India islands
is proved by long experience, from the. circumstance that the desolating,
hurrieanes, .which ravage those i parts, never; extend so i^ear
to the line as where Guiana lies. This degree of the.tropic climate
is likewise observed by the physicians to resist the; action of the
malignant fever, which becomes less contagious ; the equal temperature
of the heat here having; the same effect as the cold weather
in the, north.
.. Dr. W—If—g, whq is one of the most able physicians of this
place,, tpldg me, that, he had tried the inoculation of; the cpw pox,
but that ,it had up effect, and as the matter might not have bee*