Majestic woods of every vigorous green,
Stage above stage high waving o’er the hills.”
Thomson. [[20]]
The two highest mountains in South America, are that peak of the Andes called Chimborazo, which measures 20,460 geometrical feet above the surface of the South Sea; having, though under the line, 4000 feet of its summit continually covered with snow. The other is that, on the slope of which is built the city of Quito, at the height of 9,370 feet, and is thought to be the highest inhabited land in South America, if not in the world.
Sprig of the Arnotta, or Roucou Tree.
London, Published Decr. th. 1701, by Johnson St. Paul’s Church Yard.
We still continued marching north, on the 7th, over mountains, from which, at intervals, we had undoubtedly the most enchanting prospects, as well from the wildness of the country, as the beautiful variegated verdure displayed in so many different shades through this amazing forest. Here I saw a bird which is called a woodcock, which appears to have much of the colour of those in Europe, but which flew very heavily; I was however informed, that it can run with incredible swiftness. But the objects which most attracted my attention were the arnotta-trees, a few of which we met with: of these I have copied one of the twigs with great exactness. This tree, which is also called the rowcow, or the orlean-tree, and by the Indians cossowee, may rather be stiled a shrub, as it does not grow above twelve feet in height. The leaves are greener on one side than the other, and are divided by fibres of a reddish brown colour, as is also the stem; the pods, which are as large as a small hen’s egg, are bristled like the outer husk of a chesnut. At first they are a beautiful rose colour, which, as they [[21]]ripen, changes to a dark brown, when they burst open and display a rich crimson pulp, in which are contained seeds that are black, like those of a grape. The use of this pulp I have already described, when speaking of the Aborigines or Indians; and now I present the reader with a view of it, though from necessity on a small scale:—A is the leaf above; B the same below; C the pod before it is yet ripe; D the same ripe, and exposing the crimson pulp; E the black seed covered over with part of the pulp. Here again I must take the liberty to observe, that the rowcow plant, exhibited by the celebrated Madam Merian, is very unlike the original that I saw; and to my great surprize she says it grows on a large tree.
Having crossed an arm of the Mapanee Creek in the evening, we once more returned to our camp at Magdenberg; Mr. Noot, one of our officers, and several others, were so ill, that they were carried in their hammocks upon poles by the negro slaves, and a great number were so very weak that they could scarcely support the weight of their emaciated bodies; but to complain of sickness was to mutiny, till they dropped down almost ready to expire. During this expedition, in which we still perceived nothing of the enemy, I was remarkably fortunate, having neither suffered by fatigue, nor been persecuted by extraordinary bad usage. The succeeding day Colonel Seyburg’s column arrived, having, like us, seen no appearance of the rebels.
On the 9th, my boy Quaco returned from Paramaribo; [[22]]his master, Mr. Walter Kennedy, having, to my great joy, sold him to me for the sum of five hundred Dutch florins, amounting with the expences to near fifty pounds, for which Colonel Fourgeoud very civilly gave me a bill on his agent. The payment of this faithful servant’s ransom, of course revived my impatience for the long-wished moment of emancipation of my poor Joanna and her boy; from whose new master I had not yet received any answer.