Insects abound in Guiana in vast numbers, owing to the continued warmth of the climate, which both favours their production, and prolongs their existence; and continually flying in the faces, or crawling about the bodies of the in habitants, are the'most intolerable pest of the country, es pecially to new settlers from Europe. Musquitoes are in conceivably numerous during the rainy season, particular ly on the coast, and on the banks of rivers ; and are said to prevail most in places, which are in a state of progress from a wild to a completely cultivated condition, The juice of lemons or limes mixed with water, and applied to the skin, is at once the best remedy for their stings, and a tolerable preservative against their attacks. Cock-roaches are found from one to two inches in length, which make their way into chests and boxes, and besides destroying cloths of every description, render every kind of victuals which they attack utterly disgusting, by the nauseous smell which they leave behind. As this creature is seldom seen to fly, the best preservative against its ravages is to place the boxes or trunks upon empty wine bottles, kept free from dust, so as by their smoothness to render its as cent more difficult. Ants of many different kinds are ex tremely numerous, and prove very destructive to the stoi es, (especially of sugar,) in the plantations. Their immense nests of black earth, built on the trunks of the trees, are often so high as to resemble large black bears at a dis tance ; and some of their hillocks on the ground have been seen as high as 15 or 20 feet, and nearly 100 feet in cir cumference. Some of these insects are above an inch in length, and cause great pain by their bite. A small spe cies, called the fire-ant, which flies in great numbers, oc casions a burning sensation resembling that produced by boiling water, supposed to proceed from some venomous fluid injected into the 'wound. There are two kinds of fire-flies, the smallest of which, seen only during night, emits sparks of fire at intervals; but the larger kind, which is more than an inch in length, affords so steady and clear a light, that two or three of them put into a glass will enable a person to read or write without difficulty. The bees of Guiana are very small, of a black colour, and armed with powerful stings; and one species, mentioned by Stedman, which builds its nest in the roofs of houses, is said to attack every stranger with the greatest fury, while it never molests the regular occupiers of the habi tation in which it has taken up its abode. The grasshop per tribe is sufficiently numerous; but two kinds are pe culiarly worthy of notice, one called " the walking leaf," from its wings, about three inches in length, being so fold ed on its back, as to give it a close resemblance to a brown leaf ; the other, called in Surinam " Spaanseluf fer," has a body about seven inches in length, not thicker than a common quill ; has no wings, but is mounted like a spider on six legs, nearly six inches long, and has on its head four antennw, 'two of which are about' five inches in length. An enormous and hideous looking spider, called the bush-spider, is found in the forests; and is of such a size, that one of them, when put into a case bottle eight inches high, actually reached the top with sonic of its claws, while its feet were resting on the bottom. It feeds upon all kinds of insects, and is said even to suck the blood of young birds. Its bite is so venomous, as to be supposed to prove sometimes fatal, and always at least oc casions a fever. The groe-groe, or palm-tree worm, about three inches long, and thick as a man's thumb, of a light yellow colour, with a black head, breeds in the cabbage tree after it is cut down, is roasted, and eaten as a great delicacy, equal to the finest marrow ; and sometimes its fat, melted and clarified, is used instead of butter. There are centipedes above six inches in length, which move with equal rapidity backwards or forwards, and whose bite is venomous. Scorpions, also, are frequently found among old trees and rubbish ; but their sting, though very pain ful, and apt to occasion fever, is said not to be mortal.
For au account of the native human inhabitants of this country, we refer to the general description of the Ame can Indians, given under the article AMERICA ; and shall only notice here, in a cursory manner, the particular tribes which occupy the interior of Guiana, but occasionally visit the European settlements on the coast. The chief of these are the Caribs, Accawaws, Arrowawcs, and \Vor rows. The Caribs inhabit that part of the coast which lies between the Essequebo and the Orinoco, and are by far the most numerous, warlike, and active of the natives.
Their stature is taller, their complexion lighter, and their features more sprightly and agreeable than those of the other tribes. They are also more industrious, and, besides the ordinary Indian occupations of hunting and fishing, they cultivate fields of plaintains and cassava around their dwellings. They carry on constant hostilities against the Spaniards ; but are considered as allies of the Dutch. They frequently go to war also with the other tribes ; and, in some instances, have been known to devour their ene mies slain in battle. The Accawaws inhabit the inland districts behind the Caribs, and adjacent to the sources of the Essequebo, Demerary, and Berbice. They bear a nearer resemblance in their persons to the Caribs than the other tribes ; but are more grave in their aspect and man ners, and remarkable for their superior cunning. They are also addicted, more than any of their neighbours, to the use of poison, both against their enemies, and those of their own people who may may have done them any in jury. The \Vorrows occupy the coast between Demerary and Surinam, and are much darker in their colour, disa greeable in their aspect, and dirty in their habits, than any of the other tribes. They are said to be extremely pusil lanimous and lazy, scarcely exerting themselves to pro vide any other clothing than the bark of trees, or to pro cure any better food than crabs and fresh water. The Arrowawcs reside behind the \Vorrows, at the back of the settlements of Surinam and Demerarv, and are described as the in gentle in manners, lively in temper, and hand some n person, of all the Indians of Guiana. They are remarkably friendly to the Europeans, and peaceable in their intercourse with the other Indian nations. Besides these four tribes, who are most frequently seen at the set tlements on the coast, other two have been mentioned, namely, the Taiiras, residing on the sea-coast between Su rinam and the river Amazon, who are said to be extremely numerous, but peaceable and indolent, resembling very much the \Vorrow tribe ; and the Piannacotaws, who live far inland, and are violent enemies to all Europeans, with whom they obstinately refuse to have any kind of inter course. It has long been the policy of the Dutch settle ments to cultivate the friendship of these native tribes; and an annual sum is expended in purchasing blue cloth, beads, hatchets, ribbons, and other ornaments and imple ments, as gifts to their Indian neighbours. They come down to the colonies occasionally in small parties, and make engagements to cut wood, an operation at which they arc remarkably expert ; but they soon become impatient of the restraint of regular industry ; and sometimes take their departure suddenly, without any apparent reason. They frequently appear also as traders, bringing as their merchandize, cotton hammocks, canoes, baskets, wax, balsam of capivi, arriotto, wild nutmeg, wild cinnamon, parrots, monkeys, ebony, and other curious woods; for which they receive, in return, chequered cloth, fire-arms, gunpowder, hatchets, knives, scissars, looking-glasses, fish-hooks, combs, needles, pins, beads, &c. One of their favourite purchases is rum, which they swallow with eagerness till they become completely intoxicated; but it is generally observed, that one half of the party keep themselves sober to watch their drunken friends, who af terwards perform the office of guards in their turn. Some times they bring down the prisoners whom they have taken in war, and sell them as slaves ; but these captives serve only for show, as they absolutely refuse to work ; and, if treated harshly, particularly if beaten, they pine and languish, refusing even to take food, till they finally die of want or dejection. The native Indians have a strong dislike of the negroes, whom they 'regard with contempt as an inferior race, and are generally ready to render as sistance to the colonists in suppressing insurrections among the slaves, or apprehending the runaways. It is strongly recommended that every inducement should be offered to encourage their intercourse with the settlements ; and that fairs should be held, at certain fixed seasons, for their barter trade, which might thus be greatly increased, to the mutual advantage of both parties.
See Depon's Travels in South America; Pinckard's Notes on the (Vest Indies ; Bolingbroke's Voyage to the river Demerary ; Stedman's Narrative of the Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam; Bancroft's Natural History of Guiana ; and Letters to Dr Pitcairn, published in 1766. (q)