We will now ascend in fancy on Icarian wing and take a view of Guiana in
general. See an immense plain! betwixt two of the largest rivers in the
world, level as a bowling-green, save at Cayenne, and covered with trees
along the coast quite to the Atlantic wave, except where the plantations
make a little vacancy amongst the foliage.
Though nearly in the centre of the Torrid Zone, the sun's rays are not so
intolerable as might be imagined, on account of the perpetual verdure and
refreshing north-east breeze. See what numbers of broad and rapid rivers
intersect it in their journey to the ocean, and that not a stone or a
pebble is to be found on their banks, or in any part of the country, till
your eye catches the hills in the interior. How beautiful and magnificent
are the lakes in the heart of the forests, and how charming the forests
themselves, for miles after miles on each side of the rivers! How extensive
appear the savannas or natural meadows, teeming with innumerable herds of
cattle, where the Portuguese and Spaniards are settled, but desert as Saara
where the English and Dutch claim dominion! How gradually the face of the
country rises! See the sandhills all clothed in wood first emerging from
the level, then hills a little higher, rugged with bold and craggy rocks,
peeping out from amongst the most luxuriant timber.
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