The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-04-11
Scenery OH a River in Dutch
Guiana.

voyage on the COmmeWeyne. OUT, ulVerg |
ing, follow its tributary-or, rather, an
equal stream-the Cottica, and our course
is henceforth east, almost parallel with
the sea line. though at some distance
from it, From Fort Sommelsdyk on.
ward the view on either bank gains in
beauty what it loses in extent. The
bendings and turnings in the river are
inpumerable indeed, it not rarely coils
itself on itself in an almost circular loop,
the nearest points of which have been in
many instances artifcially connected by
short but deep and navigabe canal,
the work of Dutch industry. Several
little islands, each an impenetrahle mass
of tangled vegetation have thus been
formed; on two larger ones, far up the
river coffee is still grown. 1t was for
many years one Of the main articles of
cultivation in these districts, though now
it has fallen into unmerited neglect
whence i. will doubtless be rescued when.
ever better proportional labor supply
shall allow the colonists to reoccupy and
extend the narrow limits within which
their activity is at present restricted.
Several creeks, as all lesser water courset
are here called, fall into the main stream,
or fir m distance to distance connect it by
the aid of canals with the sea- On the
banks OF one of these Aourished, 10 days
gone by, the still famous Helena. mu-
latto siren. whose dusky charms are said
to have rivaled in their mischievous
effects if not in other respects, those Of
her Grecian namesake. These creeks,
with the canals and bitches dependent on
them complete the water system alike Of
irrigation and traffic through this won.
derful land, where nature has done so
much, and art and skill yet more. But
whatever the sea communication through
these occasi nal openings, no brackish
taint ever finds its way to the higher lev.
f ell, through which the Cottica flows; and
, the freshness of the water is betokened by
, the ever.pcreasing loveliness and variety
of tho riverside vegetation. Lowest down
hangs the broad fringe Of the large leaved
"moco moco"-a plant that has, 1 sup
; pose, some authentic Latin name, only
r know it not; nor would it, however ap.
} propriate, give thee, perhaps, gentle read
, er, any clearer idea of the plant thar
+. may its Indian one-dipping its glossy
. green clusters into the very stream
e Above tower all the giants of the Wes
/? Indian and South American forests, kni
}, together by endless meshes of convolvu
|. lous, liane, creeper, and wild vine, thu
$ woorai, ! am told, among the rest anC
s surcharged with parasites, till the burdeI
n Of single tree seems sufficient to replcn
n ish all the hothouses Of England ant
Wales from store to roof Piercing
through these, the eta.palm-it resemble
in growth the toddy.palm of the East In
l. dies, and, for aught my Ignorance can oh
ject to the contrary, may be the yer.
j. same waves its graceful fans hig
). against the steady blue; and birds innu
81 merable-black, white, mottled, plair
, blue, yellow, crimson, long.billed, parrot
T., billed, whole aviary let loose-f
u among the boughs. or strut fearless be
: tween the tree trunks, or stand mid lie
y deep, meditative in the water. Larg
= lizards abound on the banks, and snake
II too, it may be, but they have the grac
:, to keep out Of sight, along with the j.
!, u guars and other unpleasant objects of tb
- - Guiana jungle. In their stead light c(
'' rials, sometimes with only woman
y, paddle, sometimes a man or boy, dart oil
IL of the harbor.like shelter of the creeks
10 10 bush.negro families peer curiously frol
~ the doors of their floating cottages, {
guide their timber.rafts down the strean
as ~ Ever and anon white painted bark, col
N tanning an overseer, bookkeeper or SON
aS other of the white or semi-whito gentr
~ ~ rows quickly by, for the river is the higl
II way and the wayfarers along it many
u so that even where its banks are at tt
u oneliest, the stream itself has life an
=. activity enough to show. More oftel
~ however, it passes between cultivate
ct lands. for while the factories and suga
p estates diminish in number as we 20 fu
" " ther up, the small creole properties i
ne crease, and comfortable little dwelling
oe places, cottages, sheds, and out house
i" amid every variety of "provision groun'
-, a. cultivation, multiply along the bank
:sS ~ Fortnightly Reuiew.