The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-11
From the Bangor { Maine) IVhig.

Cayenne, not The pepper, but the country known
principally on account of its being the ylum of
the French political refugees for the last half GEN.
tury is situated in South America, extending from
2 to north latitude, and from 25 to IS longitude
east from Washington. Ii has seacoast Of $40
miles extent, and contains b5 600 square miles. Oh
the coast lay group of islands known by the afec
tomato names of 81 Father, Mother, Child, and
Daughter )" and to the leeward another, to which,
however, less affectionate appeatou given,
as it is called DEVILS Island" In this latter the
French conyicts paced-pot political offend :
ers, but persons convicted of crime There are no
springs the island, and during the summer
water has to be transported from he Main. Piac-
ing these unfortunate wretches this island,
where there is shade to shelter them from a
burning sun, and no springs of water, is a refine
ment in judicial retribution that originated in the
prolific brain of the " Peoples Emperor"
In and bout the town of Cayenne the air is
bracing and salubrious. There only two
song. During the rainy season the water comes
. down in immense masses, making rivers in the
narrow streets, and checking out door business
for the time being. The temperature is perhaps
the rlost uniform on the globe, and generally
ranges at about 500 Fahrenheit. The prevailing
winds are from the north and northeast, and in their
nj ght the vast fields they literally bring
"healing on their wings. IL ia a remarkable fact
that Cayenne ia entirely free from those electric
phenomena usual in tropical climates, and pesti-
lental yapors cannot stand before the sea-oreczes
EARTHQUAKES are entirely unknown, and only two
Or three sg Int shocks, sght al to leave an doubt
whether they we're earthquakes at all, ever occur
red X has mines of gold and silver. There is a
rank luxuriance in its vegetation. The sugar-cape
and palm trees now lend charm to the planters
residence. Among the various kinda OF culture
that of sugar occupies the front rank. The Glove
tree ia plant that does not require much labor
care. and after five years growth they bear to
good old age The stems ALEC exported, and
form a profitable traffic. The cocoa, from which
our choc oate il manufactured, grove spontaneous
Iy in all parts of the country. IL is cultivated to
limited extent in some of the small plantato
near the town. The coffee produced in Cayenne
has never been equalled in delicate and aromatic
flavor. The annual export of this article never
amounted to more than 100 coo pounds. 1t grows
well on the noun tain sides and on the highlands
Among the other productions of The country are
cinnamon, nutmegs, pepper, rice, ban mas, pears
cabbages, parsley, lettuce, radisbes. melons,
oranges, lemons, ctron, apricots, pomegranates,
Sc, &c. Many of these are ind genous, and are
produced with greater or less perfection at the pre-
sent time.
Cayenne vas fret discovered in 1914 By French
adventure, but after residence of a short time he
and his band were murdered by the Indians. In
the November of the following year il was taken
possession of again by some Frencbmen, and they
likewise snared the same fate. For ten years 1t
remained unmolested, but at this time Dutch
man planted himself on the spot where the tow n
of CAYENNE nov stands. He lived a kind of Alex
ander Selkirk life and at last capitulated to the
French. Since then it has often changed its fla e.
In l667 il in the possession of the glish; in
1909, of the Dutch; and 1917 the Portuguese were
masters of the soil.
The above facts have been gathered from a lee
ture recently delivered by j. w. Fabeas, esq late
United States Consul at Cayenne.
The colony was very hourishing previous to the
emanci patton Of the slaves BY the French, in lSAs
since which il has deprecated