appears broken. The toes of the bird are connected together by a membrane like those of the duck kind, so that it can swim, but the legs are long, and it never makes this use of them in the common course of its feeding; the only purpose to which these webs serve, is the preservation of its life on singular occasions. The tides are sudden in some parts of America, where the bird is common, and while it is rooting under some rough stones for a shell fish, it becomes out of its depth. In this case the least gust of air might blow it to sea, and it must perish, for it does not very easily rise from the water when out of its depth. The webbed feet are now useful; it swims till it can reach the bottom, and as soon as a small part of its legs are out of the water, it takes wing.

Thus an indulgent Providence hath taken care, as well for its peculiar safety, as its general support. As they are to receive their nourishment from animals or plants, which are found in the water, and yet have no power to swim, the length of their legs and neck sufficiently answers all their demands. It was well known to the ancients, and its tongue was accounted a very great delicacy among the nice eaters of old times.

Vale.

LETTER VII.

Natural History, &c.—Mountains-Rivers-Hints respecting the Improvement of their Navigation--Petroleum, Bitumen, or fossile Pitch described-Gulf of Paria-Phenomenon peculiar to the Nile and Orinoco described-Sir Walter Raleigh's enterprize in search of Gold-Indirect Commerce with the Spaniards frus trated by the misconduct of Governor Picton-Reflection on his Character; his Prototype, &c.

DEAR SIR,

Head-Quarters, PUERTO DE ESPANA, March 1803.

IN many of the rivers on the west coast or gulf, are to be found sharks, lamentin, manatee, or sea cow, generally weighing from 8cwt. to 16cwt. The Indians and negroes harpoon it similar to the whale; its flesh is said to be good either fresh or dry. Some of the species have been caught in the French islands, twenty feet long and ten broad. The pantouflier, or zigene, is to be met with also; this dangerous, voracious monster, measures from ten to twelve feet long, and thick in proportion, with a head shaped like a hammer, large, terrific eyes, and a wide mouth, well armed with teeth, more con✩ veniently disposed for biting than those of the shark, whose body it more resembles. This horned fish has been often

found at Guadaloupe, in the road of Basse Terre, but it is common to some of the Antilles. The alligator and guana are also common; the latter is eaten by the negroes. I have seen a scorpion here about ten inches long: these creatures are reckoned very venomous; and I should suppose, from what has been said respecting them, that, were a person to be stung by so large a one as the one I saw, it would be immediate death. There are a variety of snakes, but as I have not seen any of them as yet, I cannot give you a description of their kinds, but as I mean to travel over a great part of the island in the course of next month, I shall have an opportunity of seeing them..

The fire fly is a remarkable curiosity, though very common in America. It has two tubes or horns, and six legs, having four wings of a bright flame colour, two of which only are to be seen when it flics, and the other two when it rests. The light proceeds from a circular patch under the wings, and is seen only when elevated, like sparks of fire appearing and disappearing every second. The air is full of them at night, but never in the day time, nor could I trace when any of them rested.

The musquitoes are peculiarly fond of tormenting the Europeans, almost indiscriminately, but I have no reason to complain of them, as they never troubled me ;-indeed, I have been a favourite of their's, not only on the continent, but in all the islands whereI have been. In St. Domingo I could not help admiring their conduct, when. they waged war against the usurper cut-throats, who appeared on the parade with pustules on their faces, so covered as to induce me to imagine they were all ill of the small pox. They were the potent allies of Toussaint, and constantly played their harrassing part at night. I knew an European gentleman, whom I saw on my way through New

Jersey, and found him confined to his chamber from the bite of one of them. He had been in that situation for six months, but at last got better. These flies may be compared to our gnats, but more troublesome ;--when they bite, the part itches very much, and if scratched till it bleeds, a sore generally ensues; when healed, the matter always appears of a blackish colour.

The sand fly is another troublesome insect, which is so small as hardly to be discerned. If the wind blows, it is not able to bite.

The centipes scolapendra morsitans, is here very common, but I do not learn that any harm has occurred from it.

The insect, called chigro pulex penetrans, is also com mon, small, and black, resembling a young flea; but soon after the destruction of Cape François in 1802, I observed them in vast numbers, in the ruins, as large, and sometimes larger than our common flea. My companions were constantly molested with them, particularly a young gentleman from Boston (New England), of the name of Burrows, on his passage to Philadelphia; he was almost crippled by them; he, however, got well immediately on his arrival. This troublesome insect insinuates itself in the soles of the feet, towards and about the toes, where it forms to itself a small bag like an hydatid, about the size of a pea, wherein it deposits its innumerable ova. The cure is effected by extracting the hydatid, or bag whole, with the point of a needle, or other sharp pointed instrument; the female negroes are peculiarly expert at it. Should the hydatid burst, in performing the operation, each ovum, when hatched, forms for itself a fresh nidus, and hydatid. The early symptom is indicated by an uncommon degree of itch

N

ing, and when neglected, it frequently endangers the loss of toes and feet.

The feathered tribes create admiration from their splendid plumage and variety. It is my intention to devote a little time to them, in order to make a collection of the different kinds, to take with me on my return to England; in the mean time, a description of the rivers may not be uninteresting.

There are in this island three distinct ridges of mountains, the northern, middle, and southern, covered with incorruptible woods proper for ship-building. The rivers, several of which are inconsiderable, have been traced and examined as to what distance they are navigable; and a report has been made by Mallet, with respect to the improvements they may be capable of, by deepning their beds, making canals, &c. But as this man (though a creature of Picton), never discovered any talents, except a series of ill treatment towards his amiable wife, I do not imagine that his surveys merit any notice.

The navigable rivers on the west coast which disembogue themselves into the gulf of Paria, are the Caroni, Guaracara, Coura, and Siparia; those on the east coast of the island, are the Ortoire, Neg, Lebranche, and the Oropúche.

Mr. Christie, a gentleman of considerable talents, in the Surveyor General's department, is preparing to survey the river Caroni, a few miles distant from hence. This is the principal river of the island, being navigable from its entrance to the Aripo, a branch of the Caroni, a distance of about twenty miles. The views of government are, to connect the Aripo with the Guaro, a branch of the Oropuche, also navigable to the sea, which will open a communication from the west coast of Paria, to the east coast, or Atlantic; and also to clear the bed of