Chapter XVI: The Isthmus Transit Schemes 346-364

Nelson's expedition to the San Juan--Miranda's project--Importance of a
canal--Central America--Effects of the discovery of gold in
California--The Panama railway--Canal projects--Darien again--The
_Times_ and the Nicaragua project--Ship railway--Lesseps and the Panama
Canal--Difficulties of the work--Its downfall--Character of
Lesseps--The Nicaragua Canal.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

1.--Reception of Spaniards by Arawaks. From Gottfried's
"Reisen" _Frontispiece_

2.--Reception of Spaniards by Caribs. From Gottfried's
"Reisen" 5

3.--A corner of Paradise. The Victoria Regia 8

4.--_En route_ to the goldfields of Guiana. Passing the rapids
of the Essequebo 10

5.--Worrying the natives with dogs. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 13

6.--A modern alluvial gold washing 16

7.--Suicides. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 17

8.--A Guiana river. The Tumatamari falls 26

9.--Inhabitants of the Spanish Main. From Colijn's "Reisen" 28

10.--"El Dorado." From Gottfried's "Reisen" 37

11.--Negro woman returning from market 53

12.--Negro barber 54

13.--Negro family on holiday 55

14.--Negresses gossiping 56

15.--Ralegh in Trinidad. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 71

16.--Gold hunting. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 80

17.--Carib attack on a settlement. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 89

18.--St. Kitt's. From Andrews' "West Indies" 118

19.--A Surinam planter. From Stedman's "Surinam" 138

20.--A negro festival. From Edwards' "West Indies" 140

21.--Voyage of the sable Venus. From Edwards' "West Indies" 142

22.--Slaves landing from the ship. From Stedman's "Surinam" 144

23.--Map of _Terra Firma_. From Gottfried's "Reisen" 197

24.--A rebel negro. From Stedman's "Surinam" 209

25.--The execution of breaking on the rack. From Stedman's
"Surinam" 212

26.--March through a swamp. From Stedman's "Surinam" 224

27.--Trelawny town. From Edwards' "West Indies" 231

28.--Pacification of the Maroons. From Edwards' "West Indies" 234

29.--View of part of Hispaniola. From Andrews' "West Indies" 258

30.--La Guayra on the Main. From Andrews' "West Indies" 280

31.--The First of August. From Madden's "West Indies" 308

32.--A relic of the slavery days--old slave buying fish 310

33.--Negress, Guiana 315

34.--Negress fish-sellers, Guiana 316

35.--Chinese wood-carrier 317

36.--East Indian coolie 318

37.--East Indian coolie family 319

38.--Coolie barber 320

39.--East Indian coolie girl 321

40.--Coolie women, British Guiana 322

41.--Coolie vegetable sellers, British Guiana 323

42.--East Indian coolies, Trinidad 324

43.--East Indian coolie, Trinidad 325

44.--Trinidad coolies 326

45.--Barbados. From Andrews' "West Indies" 330

46.--St. Lucia. From Andrews' "West Indies" 331

47.--Atlantic entrance to Darien Canal. From Cullen's "Darien
Canal" 348

48.--Europe supported by Africa and America. From Stedman's
"Surinam" 363

THE WEST INDIES.