MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 IN 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 BLACKBURN AND PARDON, PRINTERS, 
 HATTON GARDEN. 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 IN 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA: 
 
 WITH REMARKS ON THE 
 
 MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND SUPERSTITIOUS RITES 
 OF THE ABORIGINES. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. J. H. BERNAU, ^ ' 
 
 MISSIONARY OP THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 JOHN FARQUHAR SHAW, 
 
 27, SOUTHAMPTON ROW, RUSSELL SQUARE. 
 
 1847. 
 
 boston college LMBABX 
 
 CHESTNUT LULL, MASS, 
 

 ‘f 2 37 1 
 'B 5T3- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 'J'HE Writer of this little work feels that some 
 apology is necessary for appearing before the 
 Public. He does so reluctantly, hut not being willing 
 to refuse the frequent solicitations of those who 
 delight in the spread of the Redeemer s kingdom, and 
 who from time to time have been interested in the 
 details of his mission, as he has had the opportunity 
 of stating them at public meetings in various places, 
 he has drawn up a hasty sketch of his proceedings. 
 
 Having accomplished this, with many interrup¬ 
 tions, he would crave the kind indulgence of the 
 Reader, who will hear in mind that in consequence 
 of being a foreigner, there may probably be found 
 modes of expression which will strike the critical 
 eye. But he is satisfied with the conviction that, 
 whatever defects may appear as regards language, 
 the whole comprises a simple statement of facts as 
 they occurred during his sojourn in America. 
 a 2 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vi 
 
 The part of the work which relates to the early 
 history of the Colony, and its natural productions, 
 he has drawn from various authentic sources, con¬ 
 firming the same by what he himself observed, in 
 order to interest the general reader, and to bear 
 witness that there is a large field in that part of 
 the world for scientific research. 
 
 And with regard to the remainder of the work, the 
 Writer hopes that the interest which has been excited 
 by the relation of detached facts on the platform, 
 may be kept up and even increased by the perusal 
 of the whole in connexion. 
 
 The Writer would take this opportunity of offering 
 his grateful thanks for the kind assistance tendered 
 to him towards the purchase of a church clock, now 
 on its way to its destination; as also to the many 
 ladies who have so kindly contributed various articles 
 for the benefit of the mission. May the Lord reward 
 abundantly all who take an interest in the spread 
 of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, and 
 make them know the happiness of the words of the 
 Lord Jesus when he said, “It is more blessed to 
 give than to receive.” 
 
In conclusion, the Writer prays that the humble 
 testimony he wishes to hear to the faithfulness and 
 loving-kindness of his Divine Master, and to the 
 all-sufficiency of the grace of the Gospel, to make 
 men wise unto salvation, may he owned and blessed 
 of Almighty God. The Lord of the harvest send 
 forth more labourers into his harvest, and hasten the 
 time when, according to his word, “ the knowledge 
 of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as 
 the waters cover the sea!” 
 
 Chelsea, June 1, 1847. 
 

CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 British Guiana—Boundaries, first settlement—Surrender to 
 Great Britain—Productions, Climate.1 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 Geology—Natural history.6 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Probable origin of the Indians—Similarity of customs with those 
 of the islanders in the Pacific—Distinguishing characteristics 
 from other heathen nations—Principal tribes in British 
 Guiana .......... 24 
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 Habits of these tribes—Their ingenuity in preserving game and 
 fish—Their mode of making bread, and preparing their dinner— 
 Structure of huts, and powers of endurance . . .38 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Redeeming qualities in the Indian’s character—His belief in a 
 supreme Being and the immortality of the soul—Law of revenge 
 —Ceremonies at funerals differing—Procedure in finding out a 
 supposed murderer—No religious rites, marriage—Moral sense 
 deteriorated by custom ....... 48 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Missionary labours among the Indians on the rivers Berbice and 
 Corantyn by the Moravians . . . .. . .62 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Policy of the British towards the Indians—First commencement 
 of amission by the Church Missionary Society—Plan pursued 
 by the first missionaries—Promising prospects of the mission— 
 Difficulties and discouragements . . . . .74 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The writer’s labours in Berbice among the emancipated negroes— 
 Difficulties and dangers—Conversations with a Jewish rabbi 
 and an infidel—Relinquishment of the mission . . .84 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Commencement of missionary labours among the Indians—Dif¬ 
 ficulties, and the method adopted for overcoming them— 
 Marriage introduced—Schools, and the blessing attending 
 them .......... 99 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Missionary labours of the Rev. T. Youd, in the interior of British 
 Guiana—Interference of the Brazilians—Relinquishment of 
 Pinara and Urwa—Forming of a new settlement at Waraputa— 
 Military expedition to Pinara—Death of the Rev. T. Youd— 
 
 Rev. J. Pollitt—Mr. Edward Christian—Languishing state of 
 that mission..114 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xi 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Blessing attending Missionary labours at the Grove— Franzen 
 and his children—Method of training and educating the 
 children—Discipline at school and church . . . .135 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Training of native teachers—Mode of answering objections 
 relating to the doctrines of the resurrection of the body, and 
 the holy Trinity—Extracts from-the writer’s journal—Travels 
 in the interior, and dangers attending them—The Indian’s 
 ingenuity in catching turtle—Dangers from reptiles—Contri¬ 
 butions to the building of the chapel—Difficulty in procur¬ 
 ing a livelihood—Purchase of communion plate and bell— 
 Proposed plan of Government to civilise the Indians, and 
 probable results . . . . . . . . .155 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Conversion of a conjurer—Revolting instance of infanticide— 
 Conversion of a chief and his people—The knowledge of 
 medicine and surgery subservient to obtain their confidence— 
 Force of Christian principle illustrated—Interposition of 
 Divine Providence—Failure of the writer’s ^health—Visit to 
 and return from the West India isles—His return to the 
 mission, and disappointment attending it—Mrs. Bernau’s 
 death—The writer’s return to England . . . .186 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Letters from Indian boys during their apprenticeship—Letters 
 from children at school—Combined causes threatening the 
 total extinction of the aboriginal race—Appeal—The Lord’s 
 Prayer in the Arrawak language..215 
 
LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1. Church Missionary Station at Bartica Grove—Frontispiece. 
 
 2. Map of British Guiana..13 
 
 3. The Silk Cotton Tree.15 
 
 4. The Papaw Tree.20 
 
 5. The Victoria Regia.22 
 
 6. War raw Dance.34 
 
 7. Mode of catching Fish by means of the Hai-arry Poison . 39 
 
 8. Carabeese Hut, and their mode of making Bread . . 41 
 
 9. Piwarry Feast of the Accaway Tribe .... 42 
 
 10. Hut of the Warraw Indians .... .44 
 
 11. Indian Weapons ...... .46 
 
 12. The Conjurer’s Rattle.. .55 
 
 13. Pinara and Lake Amucu . . . . . . .115 
 
 14. Waraputa Mission . . . . . . • .124 
 
 15. Encampment at Onissaro on the Essequibo . . .165 
 
 16. Shootiflg the Falls on the Essequibo.171 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BRITISH GUIANA—BOUNDARIES, FIRST SETTLEMENT—SURRENDER 
 TO GREAT BRITAIN-PRODUCTIONS, CLIMATE. 
 
 J>RITISH GUIANA, a colony situated on the north¬ 
 eastern coast of South America, and extending over 
 a surface of nearly 100,000 square miles, was ceded to 
 Great Britain by the Dutch, a. d. 1803. It is divided 
 into three counties, namely, Demerara, Essequibo, 
 and Berbice. It is hounded on the south-east by 
 the river Corantyn. Its precise boundaries in the 
 direction of the Brazils on the one hand, and the 
 Spanish possessions on the other, have never been 
 defined. Although a commission was sent by the 
 Dutch in the last century to accomplish this object, 
 it would appear that nothing definite was settled. 
 As early as 1580, settlements were formed by the 
 Dutch along the hanks of the Pomeroon and other 
 rivers, hut were as speedily destroyed by the Spaniards. 
 In the year 1602 they succeeded at last in obtaining 
 a footing in the Essequibo. The dense forests were 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 soon cleared away by slaves imported from Africa, 
 and one plantation after another was seen waving with 
 the sugar-cane, or covered with the cotton or coffee 
 tree. To protect themselves and their shipping 
 against the inroads of the Spaniards, and the ill-will 
 of the aborigines, a fort was constructed at the con¬ 
 fluence of the Mazaroony and Caiyuni rivers. Under 
 its protection the small town at Cartabo point seems 
 to have remained secure, whilst the freighted ships 
 were escorted to sea by their men-of-war. When the 
 colony began to extend itself, the seat of government 
 Was removed lower down the river, to an island 
 called “Fort Island.” Here a strong fortification was 
 erected, which effectually commanded the two chief 
 channels of the Essequibo. In 1763, an insurrec¬ 
 tion took place among the slaves, which proved fatal 
 to many Europeans, and in a great degree detrimental 
 to the further developement of this promising colony, 
 and which extended itself as far as Surinam, where 
 settlements had previously been formed. After chang¬ 
 ing owners several times during the wars between 
 England, France, and Holland, the present portion of 
 British Guiana was surrendered to us in the year 
 above-mentioned. Since the colony has been in the 
 possession of the British, the seat of government has 
 been removed to “ Starbroek.” Its name has been 
 changed into that of “ Georgetown,” in honour of the 
 late king George. It is situated on the banks of the 
 Demerara river, which is much better adapted to the 
 purposes of commerce than the Essequibo, on account 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 3 
 
 of its vicinity to the ocean, and its deeper and less 
 impeded channel. 
 
 British Guiana, like other parts of this continent, is 
 intersected by large rivers and numerous tributaries; the 
 mouths of these rivers, called creeks, are navigable for 
 ships of several hundred tons burden, for upwards of 
 eighty miles from the coast. The country lying between 
 the respective rivers is hut little known, and only 
 traversed by the wary Indian in the pursuit of game. 
 Were the face of the country cleared of the vast and 
 almost impenetrable forests, its beauties would vie 
 with any other within the tropics, from the cheering 
 variety of hill and dale. In its present state every 
 pleasing prospect is intercepted by the forests. 
 
 These forests abound in valuable timbers of various 
 kinds; and a wide field is open to the botanist for 
 exploring the world of plants and shrubs, among 
 which many are aromatic, and many more have 
 medicinal properties. 
 
 The soil on the coast, and for upwards of thirty 
 miles inland, is alluvial, which, with few exceptions, is 
 very rich and productive. The interspersed sand- 
 reefs are admirably adapted to the growth of all kinds 
 of provisions. Could British Guiana command suf¬ 
 ficient labour to develope its vast resources, we might, 
 it is said, part with all the islands of the West Indies 
 without regret or loss. 
 
 At present, only the coast and some of the islands 
 in the mouth of the Essequibo are under cultivation. 
 The chief staple commodity is sugar, which is grown 
 b 2 
 
4 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 by the now emancipated negroes; but not at all in 
 proportion to what might be done, could the planters 
 command, a sufficient supply of labour. The interior 
 is unoccupied except by a few woodcutters, and only 
 frequented by the red Indians. 
 
 British Guiana is not within the range of hurricanes, 
 although the wind at times is high, and now and then 
 a shock of an earthquake is felt. The thermometer 
 ranges in the dry season from 80° to 90° Fahrenheit, 
 in the shade. In the rainy season the writer has 
 never observed it lower than 72 °. The change of 
 seasons is pretty regular. There are two rainy and 
 two dry seasons. During the long dry season, which 
 commences with September, and lasts till the middle 
 of December, an easterly sea-breeze prevails almost 
 without interruption, by which the heat is moderated, 
 and the climate rendered healthy and delightful. 
 During the rainy season the land-winds predominate, 
 but not to the exclusion of the sea-breeze at times; 
 nor does the rain fall then so incessantly as it does in 
 Africa, and the East Indies. 
 
 The climate is not so unhealthy as has been 
 represented in various pamphlets which have been 
 published on the subject of British Guiana, since 
 instances of old age are frequently met with among 
 both Europeans and others. The great mortality at 
 times may be accounted for by the returning visitation 
 of epidemic diseases, which every other country is 
 subject to in its turn; or, it may be found in the 
 imprudent exposure to wet and heat, and still more in 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 5 
 
 the habit of intemperance to which Europeans seem 
 particularly tempted in the tropics. It is no exag¬ 
 geration to state that three-fifths of the deaths, 
 within the course of one year, are produced hy the 
 latter cause alone. On a comparison of the statistics 
 of mortality of late, with those of former years, the 
 result is decidedly in favour of its being more healthy 
 at present than heretofore. The yellow fever, which 
 occasionally ravages the town and its vicinity, seems 
 to he owing entirely to local causes, and would doubt¬ 
 less be remedied, were a wall constructed along the 
 side of the river, so as to do away with the wharfs at 
 present in use, under which filth of all kinds is 
 allowed to accumulate. 
 
 The inhabitants of the interior are subject to flux 
 and intermittent fevers, which, when properly and 
 promptly treated, do not necessarily prove fatal. The 
 former is caused hy drinking the water which flows in 
 the creeks, and which is strongly impregnated with 
 decayed vegetable matter. The latter is most preva¬ 
 lent at the change of the seasons, and is produced hy 
 exposure to wet, cold, or heat. Ophthalmia is also 
 frequently met with among the Indians, and is chiefly 
 owing to their want of cleanliness, or the incessant 
 glare on the water during the dry season. Other 
 diseases are rarely found, and if met with, may in¬ 
 variably he traced to constitutional causes. 
 
CHAPTEK II, 
 
 GEOLOGY-NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 ^HE geology of this part of America presents no¬ 
 thing very remarkable; and, it is supposed, by those 
 competent to judge, that few, if any, of the precious 
 metals are to he found there. Several attempts at 
 mining made by the Dutch, on their first settlement 
 in the Essequibo, proved abortive; or the ore was not 
 found worth the expense of working. Iron ore is here 
 and there met with in the interior, hut not in sufficient 
 quantities to recompense the labour and expense in¬ 
 curred. The coast lands of British Guiana being 
 principally composed of an alluvial blue clay, are of 
 amazing richness and fertility: not so the interior. 
 There is in most parts a sort of yellow clay, covered 
 with a stratum of half-decayed vegetable residuum, 
 which forms a great impediment to cultivation, and 
 obliges the Indian to prepare a new field every year in 
 virgin soil by cleaning away the forest and burning it. 
 Among the sand-hills which succeed, are found valleys 
 with a slight admixture of clay, which present many 
 fertile spots for the cultivation of provisions of all 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 kinds. Then comes the rocky region, consisting of 
 elevated ridges and detached conical hills. These 
 rest on bases of sandstone, granite, and silicious 
 crystal, containing iron ore, mica, prismatic and 
 hexagonal crystals. The country is crossed in an 
 oblique direction, from north-west to south-east, by 
 belts of granite rocks, which form the principal im¬ 
 pediment to navigation. In the Corantyn, hills of chalk 
 are met with; and. higher up, a kind of sandstone 
 of considerable hardness. Specimens of various kinds 
 of stone may he procured in the mountains of the 
 interior, which, when polished, have a beautiful ap¬ 
 pearance, resembling marble. Among the rest is the 
 cornelian, pieces of which, having been washed up by 
 the rivers, and turned into pebbles, are used by the 
 Indians to make their earthenware. 
 
 The zoologist and ornithologist will find ample 
 employment in British Guiana, as the forests and 
 savannas abound in all kinds of beasts, birds, and 
 creeping things, many of which have probably never 
 been described. 
 
 The number of quadrupeds is small, when brought 
 into comparison with those of Africa and the East; 
 nor are they equal to them in size, strength, and 
 ferocity. The principal animals are, the tapir, or 
 mypannie; -the jaguar, bakkine, pingo, and peccari 
 (wild hogs); the cayman or alligator, the coatimondi 
 (fox) ; the opossum, deer, manati, sea-cow, sloth, 
 ant-bear, &c. 
 
 The tapir is about the size of an Alderney cow, and 
 
8 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 needs no description, as it may be seen in the zoologi¬ 
 cal gardens in the metropolis. The greatest singu¬ 
 larity in this animal is its want of a gall bladder. It 
 confines itself chiefly to marshes and rivers, feeding 
 on roots and aquatic plants. It is very frequently 
 seen in the tributaries of the Essequibo, and much 
 sought after by the Indians. 
 
 The coatimondi (fox) is in body shaped like a dog, 
 of a dark brown colour, and measuring two feet from 
 snout to tail, which is long, hairy, annulated, having 
 black rings upon a deep huff-coloured ground; breast 
 and belly dingy white, jaws long and light brown, 
 snout black and projecting upwards, legs short (par¬ 
 ticularly the foremost), feet long, and, like the hear, 
 frequently standing upon its hind legs; and walking 
 always upon its heels : these animals are admirable 
 climbers, very cunning and strong, and great depreda¬ 
 tors on the poultry yards. 
 
 The jaguar is very courageous, hut seldom attacks 
 men. It is most destructive to cattle, and fondest of 
 goats’ flesh. It is entrapped by pits, in which a goat 
 is placed, the ground having been lightly covered over 
 with reeds and small brush-wood. The tiger-cat is 
 larger in size than our common cat, and exceedingly 
 ferocious. It fives generally in the woods, feeding 
 upon lizards, mice, and birds; but is also very de¬ 
 structive to poultry. The ant-bear catches ants with 
 his tongue, which is nearly twelve inches long, and 
 works like a worm covered with slime. This he 
 stretches out over an ants’ hillock, and when a 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 9 
 
 sufficient number of ants are thus entrapped, be draws 
 it in and swallows bis prey. His tail is of a prodigi¬ 
 ous length, with which he covers himself when asleep. 
 He is much sought after and relished by the Indians 
 as an article of food. 
 
 There are a great variety of the monkey tribe in 
 Guiana, of which the quatta is the most intelligent, 
 and may be taught to fetch water from the river-side 
 in a calabash. Several of the smaller kinds form part 
 of the domestic animals of the Indians, and are seen 
 clinging to their shoulders when at home and travel¬ 
 ling ; and are, with few exceptions, eaten by them. 
 The baboon, however, is preferred to all others, and 
 said to be excellent eating; but I could never make 
 up my mind to partake of it, although I have often 
 been pressed by the Indians to do so. The leguan, a 
 large species of lizard, I much relished, the flavour 
 being superior to that of a chicken. 
 
 Much as the writer could wish to enlarge on this 
 topic, it would, he fears, carry him beyond the limits 
 assigned him in this little compendium ; hut he can¬ 
 not forbear alluding to the feathered tribe; and as a 
 connecting link between birds and beasts, he must 
 mention, first, the vampyre-bat, the extended wings 
 of which often measure thirty inches from point 
 to point, although the body seldom exceeds seven 
 or eight; resembling the harpies of old in their 
 hideous and disgusting appearance. The writer 
 has seen these birds hanging head downwards in 
 clusters on the branches of trees : the large kind 
 b 3 
 
10 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 suck the blood of men and animals when sleep; 
 ing; the smaller, that of birds: while sucking, a 
 gentle flapping is kept up by the wings, which lulls 
 the sufferer until an exhaustion of blood prolongs the 
 period, when the vampyre may suck with impunity. 
 They frequently intrude themselves into houses, and the 
 writer has often been annoyed by them. When sleep¬ 
 ing in an open hut, or under the trees in the forest, 
 the only means of keeping off the vampyres is by large 
 fires, for they cannot endure the light. 
 
 The crested eagle far surpasses in size the monarch 
 of European birds, measuring seven or eight feet 
 across the wings; it has a crest of four long black 
 feathers, which are erected when about to seize its 
 prey, or if it be irritated. The colour is of an ash 
 grey, with dark shading ; the bill and legs yellow, 
 very strong and long; the eyes large and black. 
 
 Of falcons there are three species,—the white, the 
 brown, and the spotted falcon. 
 
 The king of the vultures, an immense bird, as 
 large as the black eagle, is of a pinky white or flesh 
 colour in the body ; wings black ; head and neck (en¬ 
 tirely divested of feathers) of an orange and rose colour, 
 alternately shaded ; the beak is overhung with a fleshy 
 substance, also of an orange colour, curiously shaped, 
 like an ornamental tassel; the eyes, of a light pearl 
 colour, are round, large, and sparkling• around the 
 neck and breast is a kind of collar of thick rough 
 feathers, of an iron grey colour, which serves it as a 
 safeguard to draw its head into when likely to be 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 11 
 
 stung or wounded by the venomous snakes upon which 
 it usually feeds. 
 
 The plumage of most of the birds is very beautiful, 
 more especially that of the humming-birds, an endless 
 variety of which may be seen when the trees and flowers 
 are in blossom. These are exceedingly quarrelsome, 
 and are proverbial, on that account, among the Indians. 
 There are eagles, of different sizes, falcons, banana- 
 birds, mocking-birds, trumpeters, swallows, cranes, 
 macaws, ducks; also the hon-ton and the vow-vow, so 
 named from the sound they utter; and among the rest, 
 and not the least noisy, are the parrots and a great 
 variety of paraquits. These are seen at certain times 
 in countless flocks, and fly always in pairs. The 
 mocking-bird takes up its abode near the habitations of 
 men, and will stop its own sweet short note to imitate 
 exactly the bleating of a sheep, the barking of a dog, 
 the cackling of the hen, or any other sound made by 
 domestic animals. 
 
 The trumpeter, or waracaba, has many singular 
 habits. It will stand on one leg, hop, dance, or 
 tumble over and over, uttering at the same time the 
 peculiar sound from which it receives its name. When 
 domesticated, it becomes much attached to the person 
 who feeds it, and follows him about like a dog, being 
 very jealous should any other animal approach to 
 supplant it. Singing-birds are rare, but the notes of 
 the few that are found, are peculiarly sweet; they are 
 taken care of by the Indians with much solicitude and 
 affection. 
 
12 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Guiana, like other tropical countries, abounds in 
 lizards and serpents. One of the most remarkable of 
 the former is the chameleon, which has the power of 
 changing its colour at pleasure, adapting it to the 
 ground over which it runs ; hut principally from 
 green to brown, and the reverse. Among the serpents 
 there are some of enormous size, and mostly of a 
 venomous nature. The most fatal is the rattlesnake, 
 which is, however, not so common as the other 
 species, and is found only in savannahs and moun¬ 
 tainous parts of the interior. It is a providential 
 circumstance that it gives notice of its approach by 
 means of thin horny rings with which it is covered, 
 and which produce a rattling noise when it becomes 
 excited. There is a large grey snake marked with 
 brown spots, called by the Indians “■ Colukurannu,” 
 which will seize deer and other animals of equal 
 size, and, winding itself round the body of its prey, 
 crush the hones and gorge the carcases whole. 
 
 The country swarms with insects, to the great 
 annoyance of its inhabitants. Among these are the 
 musquitos, the plague of the land, which, especially to 
 new comers, prove very irksome and distressing. At 
 certain seasons they are most troublesome, and can be 
 kept at a respectful distance only by means of smoke, 
 which, it may he easily conceived, is no pleasing 
 alleviation. Their sting provokes great irritation in 
 the skin, which, if rubbed, frequently becomes sore 
 and ulcerated. The scorpion, the centipede, and the 
 taruantula, are also troublesome, intruding, as they 
 
. PublishedT dv John P. SKavr, SoutRaxnp t qxl Row, Resell Square. 1847. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 13 
 
 do, into houses and even beds, yet it seldom occurs 
 that any persons are bitten or stung by them. 
 
 A welcome clearance of these noxious- animals is 
 effected by certain ants, called, in the Creole Dutch, 
 “jagman,” which, at least twice a year, visit the 
 habitations of men in the course of their wanderings, 
 and destroy all the vermin that they find. They 
 usually remain four or six days in one place, and 
 when left unmolested by man, are quite harmless. 
 The writer always quitted his house during their stay, 
 and was thankful for the visit when he returned to it. 
 
 Butterflies, beetles, spiders, and grasshoppers there 
 are in endless variety, and these will form no mean 
 amusement to the naturalist, while they afford 
 admirable proofs of the Creator’s power and wisdom. 
 
 The rivers and creeks abound with every variety 
 of excellent fish, as may be seen from the large 
 collection made by the scientific traveller, Sir Bobert 
 Schomburgh. The best flavoured is the pacou, to 
 ascertain the natural history of which has occupied 
 the attention of many a traveller. But there is no 
 doubt that its fry is found in the immediate vicinity 
 of the rapids, where the weyer grows. When yet 
 small it is seen in the shallows of the still waters; 
 and the writer has frequently, when accompanying the 
 Indians on their fishing expeditions, found it not 
 above one inch in length, and even smaller. 
 
 The trees in British Guiana are majestic, and their 
 foliage varied and beautiful. From the luxuriance 
 of vegetation they have not room to extend their 
 
14 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 branches until they reach an unusual height. Each 
 seems striving to out-top its neighbour, and the stems 
 usually rise to seventy, a hundred, and even more, 
 feet before they put forth a single bough. The king 
 of the forest is the maora tree, and whenever it takes 
 possession of the soil, every other tree is out-topped, 
 if not annihilated, by its enormous branches and size. 
 The black cinnamon, the acaucoa, the locust, the 
 purple and green heart tree, and an almost endless 
 variety, are useful for building, shipping, and 
 furniture. The bark and leaves of some trees are 
 used by the Indians for medicinal purposes. A late 
 attempt to produce a substitute for the Peruvian bark, 
 and the sulphate of quinine, from the seed of the 
 green heart, which is called, ff biberine,” has not met 
 with success. It is, however, beyond doubt that it 
 contains many of the anti-febrile qualities which 
 render quinine so valuable; and the inquiry may yet, 
 if prosecuted with assiduity, lead to a satisfactory 
 result. The seed of the daccambally is used by the 
 Indians in times of scarcity for bread, it being grated 
 and mixed up with the flour of the cassava root. 
 Although its taste is somewhat bitter and unpalatable 
 in its natural state, it is by no means disagreeable 
 when baked. 
 
 The black cinnamon is generally found about fifty 
 feet in height, and two feet in diameter. The leaves 
 are about the size of those of the orange tree, which 
 they resemble in fragrance. When fresh cut, the 
 wood is of a deep blood red, but in time becomes 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 15 
 
 black; it is very durable, takes a fine polish, and, 
 from its hardness and smoothness of surface, would 
 be well adapted for mill-cogs, wheels, and other 
 purposes. The Indians prefer it to any other for the 
 manufacture of their clubs, as it weighs heavy and 
 lasts long, the worm never touching it. 
 
 The letter-wood, properly so called, is the heart of 
 a tree which grows twenty feet in height; its leaves 
 are narrow and pointed, and the flower, which is 
 pentapetalous and of a purple colour, is succeeded by 
 a black berry. The wood is of a beautiful brown 
 colour, mixed with black or crimson spots, which bear 
 resemblance to hieroglyphics and letters. It forms an 
 article of trade among the Indians, but is rarely found 
 more than twelve inches in circumference, is very hard, 
 and takes a beautiful polish. 
 
 The silk cotton tree grows to an enormous size, one 
 hundred feet in height, and twelve feet in diameter. 
 Its roots spread to the distance of fifteen and twenty 
 feet all round. The trunk is covered with a thick 
 ash-brown coloured bark, set with short, sharp prickles. 
 The tree seldom puts forth a bough till it has reached 
 the height of sixty feet, and more. Its leaves are 
 oblong, and it is found in blossom only once in three 
 years. The blossom consists of a green calyx, with 
 five white folliculi, and the petals with five stamina, and 
 is succeeded by a bud containing a light grey silky 
 cotton, which, hy Europeans and other inhabitants of 
 the colony, is used in stuffing pillows and mattrasses. 
 The Indians chiefly use it for winding round the 
 
16 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 extremity of their arrows, which they blow through a 
 tube of ten, or more, feet in length, the point of which 
 has been poisoned with the warali poison. When 
 such an arrow pierces the flesh, it inevitably proves 
 fatal within a few minutes. The Indians also 
 manufacture their largest canoes from this tree, 
 although it is not as lasting as many others. 
 
 The maan tree produces a gum, which, when boiled, 
 makes excellent tapers. It is highly aromatic, and 
 very hard, resisting the action of the water and 
 the atmosphere. The Indians call it carimaan, and 
 chiefly use it in fastening the points of their arrows, 
 waxing their thread and fishing lines, and. calking 
 their canoes. Others of the trees supply the 
 aborigines with gum and resin, which they use for 
 burning instead of pitch, and various other purposes. 
 
 From the berry of the dab tree the Indians obtain a 
 kind of substance by boiling, similar to that used in 
 the manufacture of composition candles, and which 
 burns equally as well as wax. 
 
 The silk grass shrub resembles the aloe, hut is 
 much smaller ; its leaves rise in clusters from the 
 root five feet in height, with indented edges, pro¬ 
 tracted into prickly points. The inner substance of 
 the leaf consists of a number of small fibres, running 
 longitudinally, which the natives very cleverly extract 
 by means of a small loop of cord fastened to a post, 
 and through which the leaf is drawn with a jerking 
 motion. By this process the outer green substance is 
 taken off; the fibres are then dried in the sun, and 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 IT 
 
 twisted into bow - strings and fishing - lines. The 
 cord thus obtained is very lasting and elastic, and 
 admirably adapted to the above-named purposes. 
 
 The fruits of the tropics are delicious and wholesome 
 when eaten with caution. New comers especially 
 ought to be on their guard, as in many instances, 
 when too freely partaken of, fatal results have fre¬ 
 quently followed. Among these are the medlar, the 
 star-apple, the mango, the soursop, the sappadilla, the 
 orange, the shadock, the pom-rose, or rose-apple, the 
 granadilla, the semitoo, the cashu, and many more. 
 
 The star-cherry is, in size and form, as if four 
 European cherries were compressed into one, each 
 division having a stone. The pulp is enclosed within 
 a clear, tender, red skin, of an agreeable taste, some¬ 
 what between sweet and sour, with a slight aromatic 
 flavour. 
 
 There is another cherry growing in the forest, 
 resembling very nearly the European, but inferior in 
 flavour; it makes excellent preserves. The tree bears 
 fruit twice a year. 
 
 The maupee resembles the European plum-tree, 
 though much larger. It bears fruit of a dark orange 
 colour, like an olive, and its stone has an acid taste 
 and fragrant smell. 
 
 The cinnamon apple tree bears a fruit about the 
 size of a turkey’s egg, and of the shape of a pine-cone, 
 which, when ripe, is of a beautiful violet colour, 
 and tastes like very rich cream, flavoured with cin¬ 
 namon. 
 
18 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 The pine-apple grows wild, and thousands perish 
 for want of customers; it may he much improved by 
 cultivation, and makes a fine and well-flavoured 
 preserve. 
 
 Among the shrubs and plants, some possess 
 medicinal properties, and are well known to the 
 Indians, hut, from want of knowledge of the diseases 
 for the cure of which they are available, they sadly 
 misapply them. The simaruba tree bears a fruit 
 about the size of an English pippin, and has a 
 pleasant bitter taste. It is an efficient remedy against 
 dysentery, and a powerful stimulant. 
 
 The physic-nut shrub grows to the height of six 
 feet, with a slender knotted stem; the leaves are 
 slightly indented, and of an oval shape. The blossom 
 is of a dusky red ; the nut is thin-shelled, and its 
 kernel divided into four parts. It is a powerful 
 emetic. The castor-oil bush, or palma christi, is 
 about the same height as the before-mentioned shrub; 
 the stalks jointed, and the branches covered with 
 leaves about eighteen inches in circumference, forming 
 eight or ten sharp-pointed divisions, spreading out 
 in different directions: the flowers contain yellow 
 stamina; the nut is enclosed in a triangular-formed 
 husk, of a dark brown colour, and covered with a 
 light fur, of the same colour as the husk, and pro¬ 
 ducing oil of a highly medicinal quality. The writer 
 used to cultivate large quantities in his garden for the 
 benefit of the Indians. 
 
 The quassia-root was first discovered by a negro, 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 19 
 
 whose name it still bears; its stomachic qualities are 
 too well known to need description. It is a strong 
 hitter, and an excellent remedy against intermittent 
 fever; but objectionable, as it frequently enervates 
 the system, and renders the patient liable to paralytic 
 disorders. The Indians have a decided objection to 
 the use of it. 
 
 The ipecacuanha bush grows about two feet high, 
 with large smooth leaves, pointed at the end; the 
 blossoms of a vivid red colour; the fruit, oblong and 
 pointed in shape, about two inches in length, is 
 enclosed in a smooth green husk, containing a 
 number of small flat seeds, of a brown colour, joined 
 by a fine silky filament. The writer found it growing 
 wild on the mission station in the pasture grounds, 
 and in considerable quantity; but was obliged to 
 allow it to perish for want of time. The Indians 
 make a decoction of it, and use it against dysentery. 
 
 I may be permitted to add, that perhaps no soil and 
 climate can be more congenial for the produce of 
 grapes, figs, and dates, than appears to be that of the 
 interior of Guiana. It is my intention, on my return 
 to the colony, to make a fair trial of them; but as a 
 missionary I must not forget my proper calling. I 
 enlarge on the products of the vegetable kingdom to 
 show how much may yet be done in that country by 
 men who find pleasure in the pursuit of knowledge of 
 such a nature. 
 
 The qualities of the balsam capavi are well known 
 among them: it is mostly used for the healing of 
 
20 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 wounds. The poix doux is used for fences by the 
 colonists. The fruit of the guava is made into 
 marmalade, and much in requisition amongst the in¬ 
 habitants, as well as foreigners. The fruit of the 
 aquiro palm is eaten, and much relished by the 
 Indians, serving them instead of *hutter; its stone is 
 cut into rings, and other ornaments. It is of a black 
 colour, takes a beautiful polish, and is much worn by 
 women and children. The heri-heri is very useful 
 for kindling fire. The Indians take two pieces of the 
 wood, and, having cut a notch in the one, place the 
 other piece in the notch, and after rubbing it round 
 and round in their hands for a few moments, the 
 friction produces fire. From the • fibres of the silk 
 grass, stout cord and twine are manufactured, which 
 are used for hammock-ropes and fishing-lines. The 
 star-cherry, medlar, the papaw, and many others, are 
 valued for their fruits. 
 
 The papaw tree, as seen in the drawing, has a 
 graceful appearance, and presents a striking figure in 
 contrast with the surrounding hushes and trees. It 
 grows to the height of twenty feet, its stem is hollow, 
 and supports a head, not of branches, hut of large 
 leaves, at the end of very long foot-stalks. The 
 fleshy fruit, which is of a dusky orange-yellow colour, 
 and about the size and shape of a small melon, grows 
 suspended upon the naked trunk, just below the leafy 
 head. The leaves and fruit of the tree, till ripe, 
 abound in an acrid milky juice. The fruit, when 
 fully ripe, is eaten with pepper and sugar; and when 
 

 
 
 
 

 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 21 
 
 the half-grown fruit is properly pickled, it is little 
 inferior to the pickled mango of the East Indies. 
 Meat washed or rubbed with the acrid milk of the 
 unripe fruit, is thereby made tender. The writer 
 found the leaves a very attractive bait for catching 
 fish, by throwing a large quantity of them into the 
 pond constructed for that purpose at the river’s side. 
 It grows spontaneously, and begins to bear fruit 
 within ten months, never ceasing when once it has 
 begun. The writer has seen on the trees in his 
 garden, ripe and green fruit and blossoms at the 
 same time. The male tree, of which a blossom is 
 seen in the drawing to the left side of the stem, 
 is usually destroyed as soon as it is recognised as 
 such. 
 
 Among the medicinal plants may be mentioned the 
 quassia, ipecacuanha, gentian, sarsaparilla, the castor- 
 oil. The cocoa-nut tree flourishes everywhere. Coffee, 
 pepper, indigo, vanilla, potato, and other useful plants, 
 are indigenous to the soil. The cabbage, the pea, the 
 turnip, the carrot, and various other kinds of Euro¬ 
 pean vegetables, have been cultivated with success in 
 the interior by the missionaries; and there is little 
 doubt that any other vegetables would thrive, if 
 proper care and attention were bestowed upon them. 
 
 At certain seasons of the year there may be seen an 
 endless variety of flowers of the most brilliant colours 
 and exquisite beauty; and as they chiefly belong to 
 the convolvuli and other species of parasitical plants, 
 they cause the woods to appear as if hung with 
 
22 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 garlands entwining themselves to the top of the 
 loftiest trees, and presenting a most lovely appear 
 ance. 
 
 I cannot conclude this chapter without making 
 reference to a recently-discovered flower, which Sir 
 E. Schomburgh has denominated “Victoria Begia,” in 
 honour of her Majesty the Queen. It was discovered 
 by him in the Berbice river, hut is also found in the 
 Essequibo. As soon as I heard of the circumstance, I 
 described it to the Indians at the missionary station, 
 and was told that it had been seen of them in one 
 of the chirahahs, i.e. ponds, between the first and 
 second set of rapids. Accordingly, I despatched some 
 of the people in search of it, and had the pleasure of 
 seeing several specimens of that exquisitely beautiful, 
 flower which were brought to me in all its stages of 
 development. Some of its seeds were thrown into the 
 fish-pond, and I rejoiced to see them spring up ; the 
 leaves began to extend themselves; hut being obliged 
 to quit the mission on account of my health, I did 
 not see the flowers in blossom. The leaf, when fully 
 grown, is from four to six feet in diameter, almost 
 circular, with a broad rim of light green above, and 
 a vivid crimson below. The largest flower I have 
 seen was two feet and four inches in circumference, 
 but I admit that it was not fully grown. Its colour 
 passes from white into pink and rose; when it opens 
 in the morning it is usually of a pink colour in the 
 middle, which spreads all over as the sun gets hot. It 
 is of a sweet scent, which lasts for many hours after 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 23 
 
 sunrise. I visited the place where this memorable 
 flower was growing, and found it to he a kind of pond, 
 which must have been formed there by the inundations 
 of the river during the rainy season; it was from 
 three to six feet deep and about forty yards wide. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 PROBABLE ORIGIN OF THE INDIANS-SIMILARITY OF CUSTOMS 
 
 WITH THOSE OF THE ISLANDERS IN THE PACIFIC—DISTIN¬ 
 GUISHING CHARACTERISTIC FROM OTHER HEATHEN NATIONS- 
 
 PRINCIPAL TRIBES IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 J^TJCH lias been said and written on the origin of 
 the red man. That he comes from the east there 
 can he but little doubt; but when and by what means 
 will probably remain shrouded in obscurity. The 
 hypothesis that the Indians are the descendants of the 
 ten tribes of Israel, is exceedingly problematical, and 
 the reasons on which it is built inconclusive. The 
 same thing might with equal probability be said of 
 the islanders in the Pacific, as usages are met with 
 among them similar to those of the Indians. My 
 object, however, is not to discuss a question on which 
 so many conflicting opinions have been formed by 
 writers more competent than myself, but simply to 
 state what has come under my own observation; and 
 I desire to do it with much deference to those who 
 may happen to differ. My remarks apply only to the 
 
MISSION AEY LABOUES IN BEITISH GUIANA. 25 
 
 Indians of British Guiana, and may not be applicable 
 to those of other parts of that vast continent. A 
 slight resemblance may be traced between the Indian 
 and Polynesian tribes. They both attribute disease 
 and other misfortunes to the agency of evil spirits. 
 Both consider revenge a sacred duty, and steal on 
 their intended victim. The men, in both countries, 
 do not allow women when nursing to prepare or touch 
 the meat they eat. Both prepare for their festivities 
 an intoxicating liquor,—the islanders from the root 
 of mild pepper, which they call “ cava,” the Indians 
 from the root of the “cassava;” hut both prepare it 
 in nearly the same disgusting manner. Both catch 
 their fish by the use of narcotic plants, both take 
 their caste from their mother’s family, to which they 
 attach considerable importance. Both practise the 
 virtues of hospitality, and consider it almost a sacred 
 right to which any strangers, but more especially the 
 relations and people of the same tribe, are entitled. 
 The intercourse, however, which Indians of this part 
 have held with Europeans for generations past has 
 greatly changed and modified their customs and 
 • manners. It is, for this reason, not easy to determine, 
 with any degree of certainty, what is original and 
 what is not so. In Guiana this is so strikingly evi¬ 
 dent, that any inquiries as to what is strictly original 
 will issue in painful uncertainty and disappointment. 
 The Indians of British Guiana do not practise cir¬ 
 cumcision ; nor will they touch pork in their native 
 state. To drink the milk of any animal is an abomi- 
 c 
 
26 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 nation, and it requires no small self-denial on their 
 part to overcome them antipathy to it. But this fact 
 is remarkable* that, whereas the other nations of the 
 earth have yielded to the worship, either of a plurality 
 of gods, or of demons and idols, the Indians have 
 retained the knowledge of the one great Spirit, the 
 Creator and Preserver of the universe. No traces of 
 idols, no system of worship have been met with by the 
 missionaries who have laboured among them in 
 Guiana. The images produced by various travellers, 
 and said to he worshipped by the Indians, evidently 
 appear to have been introduced among them by the 
 Roman Catholics; such as crosses, images of brass 
 and silver, and even the rosary. Here are no monu¬ 
 ments of art, no national heroic lays, no sciences dis¬ 
 played, no improvements in the manufacture of their 
 implements—all seems stationary; and as they appear 
 now, such they seem to have been for generations 
 past, sunk in lethargy and apathy as to their future 
 welfare. There are, indeed, some hieroglyphics found 
 engraven in stone near the second set of rapids in 
 the Essequibo, just opposite to Ulavapula, but they 
 are of rude workmanship, and consist chiefly of • 
 monkeys and irregular figures very unlike those said 
 to exist in Mexico. No attention is paid to them by 
 the Indians, and they deem it an impertinent 
 curiosity if a traveller should express a wish to see 
 them. The Mexicans assuredly have been more 
 advanced, and however this circumstance may he 
 accounted for, certain it is that the Indians of 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 27 
 
 British Guiana are now what they must have been 
 centuries ago. 
 
 It may not be uninteresting to the reader to learn 
 what has been said on this most interesting subject, 
 “ the origin of the Indians in America,” by that inde¬ 
 fatigable traveller Sir E. Schomburgh. “ The Bible 
 and profane history corroborate the narrative, that 
 ancient Egypt and Hindostan were invaded by a 
 powerful tribe, who introduced their peculiar customs 
 into the conquered country, built temples and pyra¬ 
 mids, and covered them with hieroglyphics. His¬ 
 torians here allude to the Cushites, who, after having 
 erected a splendid empire, were dispersed by the 
 Almighty. They are traced chiefly by the ruins of their 
 mural defences, in a north-easterly direction to Pales¬ 
 tine; by the relics found in their tumuli, and their 
 peculiar zodiacal signs, to the north of Siberia, where all 
 further traces of them are lost. Similar tumuli, mural 
 defences, hieroglyphic inscriptions, astronomical divi¬ 
 sions of time, and zodiacal signs, were used by the 
 civilised aboriginal race of America; and as the 
 geographical position of Behring’s Straits, and the 
 Alcantski islands, admits the possibility of emigration 
 from Asia to America, we are led to believe that the 
 Toltecans, and Aztees, arrived that way. They were, 
 however, expelled by succeeding hordes, and during 
 the struggle for occupancy, the earthen ramparts may 
 have been constructed; but the frequent attacks, and 
 the arrival of new hordes, rendered their destruction 
 inevitable, if they obstinately persisted in remaining; 
 
 C 2 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 £8 
 
 they, therefore, abandoned the country to the con¬ 
 querors, emigrated southward, and became ultimately 
 extinct. 
 
 a The descendants of the latter savage tribes, the 
 conquerors of the ancient Mexicans, constitute, at 
 present, the aboriginal inhabitants of North and South 
 America, tribes who, though dissimilar in language, 
 possess philological affinities, and are distinguished 
 by the same predilections for a nomadic, or roving 
 and savage life, and are given alike to war and the 
 chase. 
 
 The Mongolian races of northern Asia,” Sir R. 
 Schomhurgh proceeds, “ possess a similar disposition; 
 hut we may infer a still stronger affinity between the 
 Indians of North America, and the nomadic tribes of 
 northern Asia, from anatomical evidences. Indeed, 
 the learned author, Dr. Prichard, in alluding to the 
 Mongolian races, and the North American Indians, 
 observes, £ we do not find that any clearly defined 
 difference has been generally proved between the two 
 classes of nations.’ 
 
 “ The present American race, blended with the Mon¬ 
 golian to the north, spreads over the whole of the new 
 world; and however feeble their intellect may he, they 
 surpass the more civilised, hut now extinct, races of 
 Mexico, in their fuller belief of the existence of one 
 great Spirit, a future life, and the immortality of the 
 soul.” 
 
 The writer fully coincides with the opinions of this 
 intelligent traveller; and with him deplores their state 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 29 
 
 and condition. They are fearfully diminishing every 
 year; a few generations more, and what is now said of 
 the Mexicans, will he equally true of these Indians, 
 “ they were, hut are no more found.” 
 
 The principal tribes in British Guiana, whose 
 diminished numbers contrast painfully with the swarm¬ 
 ing population, which the land supported when the 
 white man first appeared among them, are, the 
 Arrawaks, the Accaways, the Oaraheese, the Warraws, 
 the Macusies, and several others, which are nearly 
 extinct, of whom only a few families survive, to tell 
 the tale of their ancestors. 
 
 The Arrawaks live nearest the plantations, and are 
 the most civilised. Their number is estimated at 
 about fifteen hundred souls, and the whole tribe is 
 divided into twenty-seven families, or castes. They 
 are able to recognise each other, as members of the 
 same family, by certain marks aDd figures tattooed on 
 their faces when young, and coloured with the lan a 
 Caste is derived from the mother, and children are 
 allowed to marry into their father’s family, but not 
 into that of their mother. The Arrawaks are seldom 
 more than five feet four inches in height, plump, and 
 well proportioned, but not muscular. Their forehead 
 is lower than that of Europeans, but they do not 
 appear to be wanting in abilities. Those nearest the 
 coast are of a dark brown, but some of their castes 
 are as fair as Spaniards. Their features are small, 
 their expression, in general,, melancholy and depressed, 
 their hair strong, black, and straight. 
 
30 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 It is a fact worthy of notice, that, in children, when 
 instructed and educated, the forehead rises consider 
 ably. Their physiognomy undergoes a marked and 
 very perceptible change, and must he interesting to 
 every physiognomist. Their powers of imitation are 
 strong, their memory retentive, and by no means 
 inferior to that of Europeans; but, in calculation, they 
 seem to be deficient, for they do not count further 
 than twenty, which, if occasion requires, is repeated 
 over and over again. Their mode of counting is 
 peculiar, and not less amusing; thus, “five,” aba- 
 dakabo, means literally, “ once my hand“ ten,” 
 biama-dakabo, literally, “ twice my hand;” “ twenty,” 
 aba-olake, literally, “ once in,” (the place,) that is, a 
 man with hands and feet. Having counted five times 
 twenty, they say “ aba-hundred,” which term is not 
 their own. 
 
 Polygamy is allowed and practised by all the Indian 
 tribes, but it is by no means common, and only found 
 prevalent among the chiefs. Children receive their 
 names from the pe-i-man, or conjuror, and according 
 to the fee that is paid, will be the virtue of the incanta¬ 
 tions pronounced. Children without names are there¬ 
 fore found only among the poorer class, and are sup¬ 
 posed liable to every misfortune. This circumstance, 
 however, is easily accounted for, as the conjurors have 
 not received their fee. Although this tribe is the 
 most civilised, yet is witchcraft not less practised by 
 them than among the others. They, are full of fear 
 and superstition, and the implements used in their 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 31 
 
 incantations are handed down from the father to the 
 son; hut I am not aware of any peculiar sanctity being 
 attached to them. The son of a conjuror, as soon as 
 he enters his twentieth year, or even sooner, is made 
 acquainted by his father with the art of conjuration, 
 and enjoined the greatest secresy concerning it. His 
 right ear is pierced, and he is required to wear a ring 
 all his lifetime. The women of this tribe are seldom 
 seen in a state of perfect nudity, and their hair is 
 neatly tied up on the crown of their head. But with 
 all these advantages over other tribes, they differ hut 
 little in other respects. The Indian, having been 
 occupied in preparing and planting his fields for the 
 space of three months, spends the rest of his time in 
 hunting, fishing, visiting, drinking, and dancing. It 
 is with great unwillingness that he undertakes any 
 superfluous degree of labour, by which he relinquishes 
 a present enjoyment, for the prospect of future pro¬ 
 vision, about which he has no care: he lives only 
 for the day, and, having satisfied the cravings of na¬ 
 ture, he lies down to sleep. He requires no clothes a 
 or, if mere civilisation has taught him better, he is 
 content with one suit, and will wear it till it drops 
 off his body. 
 
 The Arraways inhabit the Upper Demerara, the 
 Mazarooni, and Putaro, and amount, probably, to six 
 hundred fighting men. The colour of their skin is of 
 
 deeper red than that of the Arrawak. They live in 
 a state of perfect nudity, and paint their bodies red 
 with the arnotto, or deep blue with the lana. Some- 
 
32 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 times they will paint one side red, the other blue. 
 The face is painted in streaks, in which performance 
 they seem to he very particular, as the women not 
 unfrequently spend hours at their toilet, when pre¬ 
 paring for the dance. They perforate the cartilage of 
 the nose, and wear a piece of wood in it, which often 
 is of the size of a finger. They ruh their bodies with 
 the oil of the carapa, to defend themselves against the 
 bite of insects, it being of a hitter taste, and nauseous 
 smell. The Arraways are a quarrelsome and warlike 
 people, jealous and suspicious, and, on that account, 
 dreaded by all others. Having planted their fields, 
 they move from place to place, living upon the hos¬ 
 pitality of their friends till their own cassava is ripen¬ 
 ing, when they again return home, and show the same 
 friendship to others. During an expedition, they 
 invariably travel for three days, and halt for two, in 
 order to fish, hunt, and dry their game. When in 
 times of war they approach a defenceless place, they 
 attack it, murder those who resist their violence, and 
 carry off the rest as slaves. They are determined 
 humourists, and fond of bestowing nicknames on 
 each other as well as strangers, whatever be their 
 rank or quality. If this conduct is taken with good 
 humour by those in authority over them, they yield 
 in return prompt and ready obedience to their wishes 
 and commands; and if once they form an attachment 
 to any individual, their affection is unalterable, and 
 so on the other hand their hatred is inveterate. In 
 manners they are more savage than any other tribe. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 33 
 
 In ability they do not equal the Arrawaks, their 
 foreheads being still lower and more depressed than 
 those of the people of that tribe. They make free 
 use of poisons of several kinds, but are not easily 
 persuaded to tell how and from what they prepare 
 them. The muneery , a black ant, an inch in length, 
 and found making its nest between the roots of a 
 certain aromatic tree, forms an ingredient in one of 
 their strongest poisons. 
 
 When an Indian is stung by it, he has to endure 
 a fever of ten hours, with the most excruciating 
 pains. They will catch a considerable number 
 and make a decoction of them, which they mix 
 with other ingredients and use for poisoning their 
 arrows. 
 
 The law of revenge is in full force among this tribe, 
 and they suppose that whenever any have died, it must 
 be from, the effects of poison. They are exceedingly 
 credulous, and it is not safe to offend even a child. 
 Notwithstanding all this, I have never experienced the 
 slightest insult from any of them, they being con¬ 
 vinced that I had come among them to do them good, 
 although at times their demeanour was anything but 
 friendly and encouraging. 
 
 The Carabeese occupy the upper parts of the 
 Essequibo, Cayung, Pomeroon, and Corantyn rivers. 
 They have so decreased in numbers, that it would be 
 difficult now to collect a hundred of them together in 
 the country below the rapids, where twenty years ago 
 they mustered a thousand fighting men. 
 
 c 3 
 
34 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 They are very haughty in their deportment and 
 much addicted to drinking, which, among other causes, 
 will speedily exterminate the whole tribe. They are 
 brave, credulous, obstinate, and their opinion once 
 formed is never modified by circumstances. The 
 women are very fond of ornaments, and invent strange 
 devices to render themselves acceptable in the sight of 
 their husbands. They perforate the under lip, and 
 wear a pin or pins in it. There is every probability 
 that the Carabeese must once have been the lords of 
 the islands, as the names of many rivers, islands, 
 and other localities, are evidently Carabeese. The 
 Carabeese are easily distinguished from any of the 
 other tribes, as they invariably have a large lump of 
 the arnatto fastened to the hair of their foreheads. 
 They are also very indiscriminate in the use of animal 
 food; tigers, dogs, rats, frogs, and insects of various 
 kinds, are greedily devoured by them, which I have 
 never observed to be done by others. 
 
 The Warraws inhabit the Pomeroon coast, and are 
 said to be about seven hundred in number. Some 
 are also to be met with in the Oorantyn. The 
 country they inhabit being flat, it not unfrequently 
 happens during the rainy season, that for months 
 their habitations are surrounded by water. They 
 are very clever in the manufacture of canoes and 
 corioles, which are wonderful specimens of untaught, 
 natural skill. The other tribes buy and barter canoes 
 from them, as the preference is given to their work¬ 
 manship over every other. These are made of the 
 

 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 35 
 
 trunks of trees, and have neither seam nor joint, plug 
 or nail, and are admirable for speed, elegance, safety, 
 and durability. Some of these canoes have been 
 known to carry one hundred men. The Warraws 
 might procure a decent livelihood by the sale of this 
 craft, hut with the carelessness of uncivilised nations 
 they waste improvidently whatever they earn. Their 
 principal food is fish, and a Warraw will eat as much 
 at one meal as would satisfy the appetites of three 
 Europeans. They are exceedingly dirty and dis¬ 
 gusting in their habits, and their children are so 
 much neglected that their fingers and toes are fre¬ 
 quently destroyed by vermin, their eyes blinded, and 
 their bodies crippled by having lost one member or 
 other. It is at times difficult to distinguish the 
 Warraw from the negro, on account of the habit of 
 smearing his body with oil, and seldom cleaning it. 
 The writer is not aware of any attempts having ever 
 been made for their amelioration, and it is a reflection 
 upon a Christian government that nothing should 
 have been done towards their recovery. 
 
 The Macusie are a tribe of which little is known, 
 hut that they outnumber every other. The whole 
 tribe probably amounts to three thousand; the 
 number of those inhabiting British Guiana, to one 
 thousand five hundred. They are found in the 
 open savannahs of the Rupununi, Parina, and the 
 mountain-chains Pacaraima and Coruku. They have 
 the cruel custom of selling each other as slaves. If 
 the husband dies, his wife and children are at the 
 
36 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 disposal of the eldest surviving brother, who may sell 
 or kill them as he pleases. The worali poison is 
 manufactured by this tribe, and bartered to others in 
 return for needful commodities. Its deadly effects 
 have been proved again and again, hut of what it con¬ 
 sists, and the manner in which it is prepared, are still 
 a profound mystery. The conjurors alone are con¬ 
 versant with the art of compounding it, and notwith¬ 
 standing the trouble that has been taken and the 
 inquiries made, to discover the process of manufac¬ 
 ture, every attempt to ascertain of what it is composed 
 has hitherto failed. Most of their game is killed 
 by it; and the wound having been cut out, no further 
 danger seems to exist to those who partake of the 
 animal. The Bev. T. Youd, late missionary to that 
 tribe, took great pains to make the discovery; but 
 all his endeavours proved unsuccessful, and probably 
 the secret will remain undisclosed till some of the 
 conjurors shall be brought under the influence of 
 Christianity. We shall have occasion to speak of 
 this tribe again, and therefore proceed without enter¬ 
 ing into particulars. 
 
 Besides the five tribes here enumerated, there are 
 several others, but their number is inconsiderable, and 
 all are hastening apace to extinction. Such are the 
 following: the Wajusiana, in the savannahs of the 
 upper Bupununi, amounting probably to five hundred. 
 The Atonais, along the north-western foot of the Bana- 
 waimi mountains, amount probably to two hundred. 
 The Taruma, in the upper Essequibo, amounting to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 37 
 
 about five hundred: and lastly, the Wayawais, between 
 the sources of the Essequiho, and the tributaries of the 
 Amazon river. The number of the latter does not 
 exceed three hundred and fifty souls. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HABITS OF THESE TRIBES—THEIR INGENUITY IN PRESERVING 
 GAME AND FISH-THEIR MODE OF MAKING BREAD, AND PRE¬ 
 PARING THEIR DINNER-STRUCTURE OF HUTS, AND POWERS OF 
 
 ENDURANCE, 
 
 'J'HE Indians are a people of migratory habits, and 
 have a natural dislike to settling down in one place. 
 They subsist upon hunting and fishing, and are very 
 ingenious in procuring their game. The dog is the 
 faithful companion of his master, and by his sagacity 
 discovers the haunts of those animals which live under 
 ground, or in hollow trees. But he is ill rewarded for 
 all this, for it is the practice of the Indians either to 
 blind, or nearly to starve him. The Indian’s dog is 
 the most miserable object that can he seen, and excites 
 at once pity and disgust. Their mode of hunting the 
 larger animals is singular, and equally ingenious. 
 The forest being very dense, and the danger from 
 tigers and snakes great, the Indian will penetrate some 
 hundred yards into the thicket, then burrow a hole in 
 the ground, and placing his ear upon it, discover any 
 animal that may happen to he near. Lest he should 
 lose his way hack, he bends, while going along, the 
 branches in the same direction, and this serves to 
 point out the way he came. The tread of the animal, 
 

MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 39 
 
 or its manner of eating, tells him of what sort it is, and 
 points out the direction where it is to he found. He 
 then steals upon it, and when within shot, seldom 
 misses it. The tapir, the deer, and many others, they 
 call by imitating the voice of their young, or that of 
 the female ; and when the unsuspecting animal 
 appears within shot, it is destroyed. With such sure 
 marksmen, the animals have hut a poor chance of 
 escape. Birds of all kinds are procured in the same 
 manner. The natives placing themselves under some 
 tree, imitate their notes, or search out the trees on the 
 fruit of which they are known to feed. No regard to 
 seasons being paid by them, it may he easily conceived 
 that in destroying the parents, the young perish along 
 with them. 
 
 Fish are caught by various methods, namely, the 
 angle, the line, the arrow, poison, or stratagem. In all 
 these they display considerable skill. They will, for 
 instance, catch the larger kind of grasshopper, and 
 having extracted the inside, fill the belly of the insect 
 with the “ quanami,”— a strong narcotic plant, the 
 leaves of which they make into a paste,—and throw 
 it into the river. The fish has no sooner swallowed 
 its prey, then it begins to feel the effects of the poison, 
 and in a few seconds expires, floating on the surface 
 of the water. During the height of the rainy season, 
 fish are scarce, and can only he procured by means of 
 the arrow, wood-ants, or seeds of various kinds having 
 been previously cast into the water to entice them to 
 the surface. When the river is receding at the com- 
 
40 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 mencement of the dry season, the Indians are seen to 
 make their way towards the rapids. It often happens 
 that they return loaded with all sorts of fish, which 
 they have taken by poison from the remaining pools, 
 which they call “ chiva-hah.” One or other of these 
 pools is selected during the day, and secured hy 
 placing stones in all the apertures through which the 
 fish might escape, excepting that above and below. 
 The fish frequenting these places hy night for the 
 purpose of sleep, go in from the bed of the river at 
 sunset, and are entrapped during the night hy means 
 of the “ parrythis consists of pieces of wood tied 
 together, having been previously prepared and fitted 
 for the place, which prevents the possibility of escape. 
 In the morning the Indians proceed to inspect the 
 place, and observing a number sufficient to recom¬ 
 pense them for their trouble, begin to heat the “ hai- 
 arry.” Having placed their canoes where the stream 
 enters, they fill them nearly full of water, and wash 
 the juice of the root into them. This being done, they 
 throw the poison in all directions. The fish no sooner 
 feel its effects, then they rise to the surface, and are 
 either speared or taken out with the hand. The 
 poison neither affects the taste, nor the wholesome¬ 
 ness of the fish so caught. The “hai-arry” is a 
 papilionaceous vine, hearing a small hlueish cluster of 
 blossoms, producing a pod about two inches long, 
 containing some small grey seeds. The root itself is 
 stronger in its effects than the vine, and always pre¬ 
 ferred hy the Indians. A solid cubic foot of this root 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 41 
 
 will poison an acre of water, even in the rapids. In 
 creeks and standing waters its effects are still more 
 extensive. 
 
 As in a hot climate, like that of Guiana, game and 
 fish cannot he salted in time to prevent putrefaction, 
 the natives have a method of preserving it which they 
 call “ barb arc ating.” A stage of a triangular shape is 
 erected over a smoking fire; and the fish or game 
 being laid on it, and exposed to twelve hours’ smoking, 
 is sufficiently dried to keep for several weeks. Salt is 
 a rare article with them, as they can only procure it in 
 sufficient quantities from Europeans. They have, 
 however, a method of their own by means of which 
 they procure some by boiling the weya, an aquatic 
 plant, which is found growing on the rocks in the 
 rapids, and on which the pacaw feeds. It is when 
 crystallised of a dirty brown colour, and of a very 
 inferior quality. 
 
 The principal food of the Indians is made of the 
 root of the cassava. This plant grows five feet in 
 height, and is covered with an ash-hrown coloured 
 bark, dividing near the top into several green 
 branches, from which spring large leaves, supported 
 by a red or blue stalk. There are two kinds of 
 cassava, the sweet and the hitter. The former kind 
 is eaten roasted, or mingled with their bread, and 
 called “ bussuli.” The juice of the other kind is of 
 a poisonous nature until well boiled. Bread is made 
 of the root in the following manner. The root 
 having been scraped and washed, is grated upon a 
 
42 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 "board covered with small pebbles, little larger than 
 coarse sand, which are fastened in resin, with which, 
 when in a liquid state, the board was covered. 
 Thus grated, the paste is put into a long tube, made 
 of the ittiritti, which is so constructed that it con¬ 
 tracts by having a weight attached to it, and which 
 causes the juice to flow out through the sides. The 
 flour is then dried in the sun, or over a fire, sifted 
 and baked into flat cakes on an iron plate of two or 
 more feet in diameter. Tapioca, which is well known 
 in England, is the dust of the cassava. The juice 
 when well boiled, is no longer poisonous, and is called 
 “ cassaripo.” It forms the chief ingredient in the 
 pepperpot, which is prepared with a variety of spices* 
 and preserves the meat put into it for any length of 
 time. 
 
 The natives also make bread of the “ ceriaca” or 
 maize, which produces ripe grain two months after 
 the time of sowing it. The fruit is usually roasted 
 before it arrives at maturity, hut when crushed and 
 baked, it makes a kind of juicy bread, called “ cha- 
 chapo.” From the sweet potato they make a drink 
 called “ casseeriand from the cassava bread a drink 
 called “piwarry.” The method of preparing the 
 latter would he considered somewhat disgusting in 
 civilised life. 
 
 The women assemble a few days before the dance 
 or some festival, which is to take place, around a 
 large fire on which cassava cakes are baking, till they 
 are burned through. Each woman then moistening 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 43 
 
 her mouth with a little water, chews a piece of the 
 burned bread until it is perfectly saturated with saliva. 
 She strains it through her teeth, and spits out the 
 moisture into a vessel placed in the centre. When 
 enough has been collected, it is thrown into a trough 
 made for the purpose from a hollow tree, which has 
 already been filled with bread with boiling water 
 poured over it, holding from two hundred to three 
 hundred gallons. After fermentation has taken place, 
 and the liquor become sour, the guests assemble and 
 drink till the whole supply is exhausted. After a few 
 hours all the party become intoxicated, when not 
 unfrequently violent quarrels ensue, and every kind 
 of wickedness attending drunkenness. From chewing 
 the burned bread, the Indian women destroy their 
 teeth, whilst those of the men are in no better 
 condition, owing to the acidity of the drink itself. 
 The effects of this drink upon the constitution are 
 by no means so injurious as those which are produced 
 by the excessive use of spirituous liquors common 
 amongst Europeans. These orgies are practised by 
 all the Indian tribes, this kind of intoxication being 
 their besetting sin; and most of their feuds have 
 their rise on such like occasions. They suffer, indeed, 
 from these debauches, but the piwarry being very 
 diuretic, its effects soon wear off. The Accaways 
 seem more addicted to it than any other tribe. 
 
 Whilst therefore their numbers remained undi¬ 
 minished by the use of their own liquors, they fall a 
 sacrifice by scores to the use of rum and brandy. 
 
44 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 However the palate of the European might revolt 
 from liquor so prepared, it would he deemed an insult 
 'to refuse drinking of it when entering into, and going 
 from the Indian’s hut. 
 
 Other vegetables they cultivate hut little, yet are 
 yams, potatoes, melons, pumpkins, and the banana 
 found with them. This latter plant, or rather tree, 
 produces a fruit, which when fully ripe, is not to he 
 despised. The tree grows sixteen or twenty feet high, 
 and throws out green leaves like rich satin, in the 
 form of an umbrella. A species of palm called 
 " cererito” produces an excellent cabbage, which is 
 found on the top of the tree in the very heart of it. 
 To obtain it the Indians cut down the tree. There 
 is usually discovered in it a worm or maggot, 
 called gre-gre, which is about four inches long, and 
 as thick as a man’s thumb. Though exceedingly 
 disgusting in appearance, it is considered a great 
 delicacy, and when dressed, is said to taste like all 
 the spices of the east. 
 
 The eta tree is very useful to the Warraws, and 
 grows chiefly in swampy places. The fruit of it is 
 made into a kind of paste, and tastes somewhat like 
 cheese. The young leaf is woven into hammocks, 
 ropes, and baskets; the old leaf serves for thatching 
 their huts. The trunk split up encloses them, and 
 makes the floor. The pith of the larger houghs is 
 tied together, and used as sails for their canoes; and 
 stringing a few fibres over a piece of the hollow 
 hough, and placing a bridge under them, they make 
 
tN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 45 
 
 a rough viol, to the music of which they dance. 
 Among the musical instruments of the other tribes, 
 we find the “ tom-tom,” which is made of the hark of 
 a tree rolled together, and covered over with the skin 
 of the tiger, and resembles the little drums of 
 children. The largest I ever saw was two feet in 
 diameter. They also make a kind of flute of the 
 bamboo, called the “quama,” which, however, pro¬ 
 duces only three notes, and very much resembles the 
 howling of a dog in distress. 
 
 Some of the tribes build their huts square, others 
 conical or arched; and others again live under a 
 few palm leaves thrown across some sticks. The 
 Arrawaks undoubtedly make the best houses, of a 
 square form; they surround them with the trunk 
 of the manicole palm, split up, and thatch them with 
 its leaves. The huts of the Carabeese are much 
 inferior to the Arrawaks, and open all around. They 
 are constructed of two rows of elastic rods about 
 twenty feet long, stuck firmly into the ground, and 
 bent over the top in the shape of a pointed arch. 
 The base is about twenty feet by fourteen, and the 
 whole is thatched from top to bottom with palm 
 leaves. The only outlet for smoke is through the 
 door. The Macusies plaster their huts with mud all 
 around, and the conical form prevails throughout 
 the interior. The articles of furniture are few and 
 simple; such are the hammock, a small log of wood 
 cut into the shape of a stool, a pot or two for 
 cooking, a few calabashes of different sizes for 
 
46 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 drinking water, &c., and a kind of basket called 
 “ gregall,” tastefully manufactured by themselves of 
 the “ittiritti,” a kind of reed, split up by them for 
 that purpose. In this they place their fishing lines, 
 painting apparatus, powder and shot, and other little 
 articles required for a journey. The dog, the parrot, 
 the fowls, the monkey, together with the Indian’s 
 wife and children, form part of his retinue. 
 
 An Indian, when painted and decorated with a 
 cap of parrots’ feathers, a bow and arrows in his 
 hand, a large knife suspended by his side, a tomahawk 
 in his left, and a gun in his right hand, will be found 
 a fearful-looking object. Very unlike their brethren 
 in the north, the Indians of South America are of 
 a phlegmatic temperament. Unless urged by hunger 
 to exert themselves, they will lie in their hammocks 
 for days together, in a state of apathy. Although 
 strong in his affections, an Indian in his native state 
 is never seen to weep, but will bear the most excru¬ 
 ciating pains and the loss of his dearest relations with 
 apparent stoical insensibility. Some of the articles 
 they manufacture, display a considerable degree of in¬ 
 genuity, but they never improve in them. They make 
 them exactly as their fathers have done before them. 
 The Indians are said to lack personal courage, and it 
 is true they would never be able to cope with Euro¬ 
 peans, or even the passionate negroes; nevertheless, 
 among themselves they display much fierce determina¬ 
 tion. When they wish to revenge themselves, they 
 will follow an enemy for years together. Their eyesight 
 

 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 47? 
 
 is remarkably keen, and their sense of hearing most 
 acute. Their powers of endurance are great, and 
 they will travel over three times as much ground as 
 an European, in the same space of time. They could 
 live also where Europeans must starve, as ten pounds 
 of cassava bread would enable an Indian to keep the 
 field for three weeks, or even a month; and it is 
 impossible to come upon him by surprise. 
 
CHAPTER Y. 
 
 REDEEMING QUALITIES IN THE INDIAN’S CHARACTER—HIS BE- 
 LIEE IN A SUPREME BEING AND THE IMMORTALITY OE THE 
 SOUL—-LAW OE REVENGE-CEREMONIES AT FUNERALS DIFFER¬ 
 ING-PROCEDURE IN FINDING OUT A SUPPOSED MURDERER- 
 
 NO RELIGIOUS RITES, MARRIAGE-MORAL (SENSE DETERIORATED 
 
 BY CUSTOM. 
 
 j^LTHOUG-H the Indians are sunk into a state of 
 apathy and lethargy which baffles description, and 
 can hardly he conceived by those who have never had 
 dealings with them, yet are there also many redeeming 
 qualities found among them, which, in some measure, 
 it may he said, place them in a higher scale than other 
 heathen nations. Forgetful and entirely regardless 
 of their Creator and Benefactor, it is nevertheless 
 true, that they have not debased and polluted them¬ 
 selves with the worship of idols. A corrupt system of 
 religion, as prevalent in the East, which connives at 
 crimes from which even common sense recoils, and 
 which presents the objects of worship and adoration as 
 polluted and stained by sin, has never obtained among 
 the Indians. And in some respects it would have 
 been much better had they never known of the 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 49 
 
 Christian religion, such as they found it to he when 
 America was first discovered, and such as in many 
 instances they still see it before their eyes. A mere 
 professor of Christ’s religion, having the form of 
 godliness whilst he denies the power thereof, is the 
 greatest anomaly to he met with, no matter whether 
 he lives in the east, or the west, or in a professedly 
 Christian country. The Indian, notwithstanding all 
 the barbarism which prevails, knows that there is hut 
 one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, whom he 
 designates “ the great Spirit,” in contradistinction to 
 all created spirits. He believes that from him all 
 good doth come, and that “ in him we live and move 
 and have our being;” and so far well; hut his under¬ 
 standing is darkened and his heart and mind alienated 
 from God by wicked works, for he recoils from the 
 idea of his justice and holiness. In this his blindness 
 he supposes “ the great Spirit” to be too good to 
 trouble or molest any of his creatures, no matter how 
 they live and act. And to stifle the least remonstrance 
 of conscience, that monitor found even in those who 
 are sunk deepest, he fancies that the great Spirit has 
 his abode above the stars, whom nothing can trouble 
 or molest, and who looks down with entire indiffer¬ 
 ence on what happens here below. The Indian, for 
 these reasons, neither loves nor fears him ; his know¬ 
 ledge, therefore, of a supreme Being does not influence 
 him either one way or the other. Death with him is 
 not the punishment for sin, hut the fate to which 
 every creature at length must submit; inflicted by the 
 
50 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 malice of the evil spirit and hastened on by passion. 
 Being altogether sensual, he casts in his lot with 
 those of old, saying, “ Let ns eat and drink, for 
 to-morrow we die.” He is dead in trespasses and. 
 sins, and for this reason quite unconcerned about his 
 relation as a sinner to his Maker and Benefactor; nor 
 is he anxious to propitiate him for sins committed. 
 In short, he is literally living without God and with¬ 
 out hope in the world ; a perfect stoic and an enigma 
 to himself. He is hardened through the deceitfulness 
 of sin, and thus because, when he knew God, he 
 glorified h i m not as God, neither was thankful, he has 
 been given up to a reprobate mind. Hence that strange 
 forgetfulness and total indifference as to what shall 
 happen to him after death. And is not this the con¬ 
 dition of but too many even in this Christian country ? 
 It remains true that “ the fear of the Lord is the 
 beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all 
 they that do thereafter : his praise endureth for ever.” 
 
 In this his natural state the Indian puts light for 
 darkness, and darkness for light; nor is this so much 
 to be wondered at, when we are told that even the 
 polished Greeks and hardy Romans changed virtue 
 into vice and vice into virtue. The Indian’s notion 
 of sin is peculiar and deserves mentioning; but he 
 wants the word in his language to express it in the 
 abstract. If any one is guilty of a deed by which 
 he shows himself a cowardly or weak man, he is 
 called a “ magguburugua,” literally, “ one without 
 sense.” Although a man should be a hard drinker. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 51. 
 
 this in itself does not make him a sinner, but when he 
 allows himself to he overcome he is a “ magguburu- 
 gua,” or a man without sense. He that is able to 
 drink most and does not become intoxicated, is a 
 “ gagguburugua,” literally, a man of sense, a brave 
 man. Lying, theft, and pilfering, are rarely found 
 among the Indians. If they happen to take anything, 
 they do it before one’s eyes, under the notion of 
 having some claim to it, which, when called to an 
 account, they are always prepared to substantiate. 
 
 They also fancy that, because they are themselves 
 hospitable, placing everything at the disposal of their 
 guests, excepting the toys of their children, nothing 
 should be denied them in return. Should they happen 
 to find fault with the entertainer respecting hospitality, 
 they do not scruple to rob his fields to an amount 
 sufficient to make him smart for his neglect. 
 
 The Indian considers himself bound to revenge the 
 death of any of his relations, should there appear 
 sufficient reason for supposing them to have died from 
 the effects of poison. In ordinary cases, when sick¬ 
 ness assails them, they present a propitiation to the 
 evil spirit, consisting of a piece of the flesh of any 
 quadruped. If recovery follows, they suppose the evil 
 spirit to have regarded and accepted the offering, and 
 neither return thanks to the great Spirit, nor do they 
 trouble themselves any further about the evil one. 
 Should death ensue, they silently submit to their fate, 
 and bury the corpse in the hammock in which the 
 person died, burn the hut under which he expired, and 
 d 2 
 
52 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 abandon the place after a short time., with the intention 
 of never returning to it again. This they will do 
 because they suppose that the soul of the departed is 
 hovering over its former tenement, and will not allow 
 it to he disturbed, without inflicting pain and disease 
 upon the offender. Such is the belief and invariable 
 practice among the Accaway tribe. 
 
 Among the other tribes the funeral ceremonies differ 
 in some respects. If a man of some note dies among 
 the Arrawaks, the relations plant a field of cassava 
 upon his death, and bewail the departed during this 
 time with sudden outbursts of doleful lamentations. 
 After the period of twelve moons, the relations of the 
 deceased are called together. The cassava being now 
 fully ripe, and plenty of game having been provided 
 for the occasion, they feast for several days. A dance 
 is then performed over the grave, and the dancers 
 lash each other with whips prepared for that purpose, 
 till frequently the blood gushes out, and they are 
 afterwards obliged to keep their hammocks for days 
 together. When the castigation is over, the whips 
 are hung up in the place where the person expired. 
 Six moons later, another dance follows, when the 
 whips are buried in the grave of the deceased, and 
 with them all resentment, should such have existed. 
 The Carabeese, if the individual departed he a man of 
 consequence, put the corpse into a hammock and 
 watch it with much solicitude. The women and 
 nearest female relations of the deceased wash it often 
 with water. After it has become putrid and nothing 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 53 
 
 but the skeleton remains, the bones are cleansed, 
 painted, and put into a pagall, or basket, and carefully 
 preserved. If they should happen to quit the place, 
 the bones are burnt in the very place where the person 
 expired, and the ashes carefully collected and taken 
 with them. 
 
 In ordinary cases, however, the body is interred in 
 the hammock in which the person died; and the attend¬ 
 ants at his funeral walk round his grave once or twice, 
 and concern themselves no further about it. The 
 women, who have been engaged in scraping and 
 burning the hones of the dead, are considered unclean 
 for several months after, and not allowed to touch 
 any of the food eaten by the men. 
 
 Among the Warraws the following customs prevail. 
 If a captain, or any other individual of influence, dies, 
 the corpse is put into a canoe, and all that he pos¬ 
 sessed when alive. On his heart is placed a looking- 
 glass, and into his hands his bow and arrows. His 
 favourite dog is killed, and its carcase put with him 
 into the grave, but not in the canoe, to assist him in 
 procuring his food in the untried world. The corpse 
 is always buried on the same spot where the person 
 expired, and a fire kept burning there for many weeks. 
 I could never learn the reason of this latter custom, 
 but suppose that the Indians imagine that the body 
 is conscious of the chill of death, and requires warmth 
 till accustomed to it. The relations and friends 
 bewail the deceased with howling and doleful lamenta¬ 
 tions for several months together. The widow and 
 
54 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 children of the deceased become the property of his 
 brother, or the next male relation. This latter cir¬ 
 cumstance creates a great deal of strife, and is the 
 occasion of many sorrows. Should, for instance, the 
 widow refuse to become his wife, she is subjected to 
 severe floggings and frequent insults; hut if these fail 
 to soften her, she is then allowed to choose whom she 
 pleases. Her children, however, must remain, and 
 are not allowed to he at large till they arrive at the 
 age of puberty. 
 
 The Macusie, and all the rest of the tribes in the 
 interior of British Guiana, bury their dead in almost a 
 sitting posture, without coffins, performing the same 
 ceremonies related above with some slight modifications. 
 
 Although the various tribes differ as to circum¬ 
 stantials at their funerals and the ceremonies attending 
 them, they are all alike credulous, and have many 
 stories to tell of this and that place being haunted by 
 some spirit; and nothing in the world will induce an 
 Indian to frequent a place thus marked and known. 
 The immortality of the soul is engraven upon the 
 hearts even of these savages ; hut as to where it is to 
 be after death, and in what condition, they are alto¬ 
 gether ignorant. Praised be God, that, by the appear¬ 
 ing of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, death is abolished, 
 and life and immortality brought to light through the 
 Gospel! 
 
 When a propitiation has been made, as related above, 
 and the sick person does not recover, but continues 
 to suffer from a protracted illness, they will apply to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 55 
 
 the conjurer to exert his influence with the evil spirit. 
 On his arrival he carries the sick person into the forest 
 close at hand, and having fastened his hammock to 
 some trees across the path, he commences his incanta¬ 
 tions. No one is allowed to witness what he is doing, 
 the patient even being enjoined to close his eyes and 
 not to open them again till the ceremony is over. The 
 conjurer holds in his hand a calabash which is filled 
 
 THE CONJURER’S RATTLE. 
 
 with small pebbles, which, when shaken, make a rattling 
 noise. He calls upon the evil spirit forthwith to appear, 
 he mutters, he howls, he grumbles, he whistles ; in 
 short, he imitates all the various noises in creation, 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 . 56 
 
 which in the stillness of the night sound truly awful, 
 and fill the hearer with a horror altogether indescribable. 
 I witnessed the ceremony hut once, having come upon 
 the Indians unawares, and should have paid dearly for 
 my temerity hut for the protection of my Divine 
 Master. I have no desire, however, to he present again 
 on a similar occasion. Whatever others may think 
 respecting the influence of evil spirits, I cannot 
 altogether divest myself of the impression this sight 
 made upon me, and cannot hut suppose that, for the 
 time at least, the conjurer is acting under a super¬ 
 natural influence. This they themselves allow, and 
 find it difficult to describe their feelings when thus 
 engaged. These incantations having lasted for some 
 hours, the evil spirit is at last supposed to have made 
 its appearance. The conjurer having drawn a circle 
 around the sick person, calls the evil one to account 
 for not having accepted the propitiation in behalf of 
 the invalid, and conjures him to help him forthwith. 
 This being done, the sick person is removed back to his 
 former abode, and must take his chance. If recovery 
 follows, the incantations have proved effectual; but if 
 he die, the question is, whether he has been poisoned 
 by men, or died from the malice of Satan. This 
 important question is to be decided by the conjurer; 
 and it may be easily conceived how much will depend 
 upon his “yes” or “no.” If the conjurer be at all 
 of a revengeful spirit, woe to those who have offended 
 him, for he is, so to speak, lord of life and death. 
 Should he decide that the sick man has died by the 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 57 
 
 malice of the evil spirit, the corpse is quietly buried, 
 and not a tear is shed around his grave. But if,- on the 
 contrary, he decides otherwise, the body is closely 
 inspected, and where a blue spot is discovered, it is 
 pointed out as the place where the invisible poisoned 
 arrow has fastened. The next thing is to find out by 
 whom the deed has been done. In order to ascertain 
 this, a pot is filled with certain leaves and placed over 
 a fire. When it begins to boil over, they consider that 
 on which side the scum first falls, it points out the 
 quarter from whence the murderer came. A consultation 
 is thereupon held, and the place is pointed out, and the 
 individual whose death is to atone for that of the 
 deceased. If he cannot he found, although he will he 
 sought for years, any other member of his family 
 will suffice. One of the nearest relations is charged 
 with the execution of the direful deed. The “ Canayi,” 
 the avenger of blood, forthwith puts on a curiously- 
 wrought cap, takes up his weapons, and pursues his 
 path in search of his victim. From the time of his 
 leaving until his return home he is to abstain from 
 meat, and lives upon what the forest supplies ; nor is 
 he allowed to speak with any he may meet in his 
 way. Having made his way to the devoted place, and 
 finding his victim there, he will lurk about for days 
 and weeks till a favourable opportunity shall offer to 
 perpetrate his revenge. If the victim pointed out he 
 a man, he will shoot him through the hack; and if he 
 happens to fall dead to the ground, drag the corpse 
 aside and bury it in a shallow grave. The third night 
 d 3 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 he goes to the grave and presses a pointed stick 
 through the corpse. If on withdrawing the stick he 
 finds hlood on the end of it, he tastes the hlood in 
 order to ward off any evil effects that might follow 
 from the murder, returning home appeased and appa¬ 
 rently at ease. But if it happens that the wounded 
 individual is able to return to his home, he charges 
 his relations to bury him after his death in some place 
 where he cannot he found, and having done so he 
 expires, not without great pains and fearful impreca¬ 
 tions. The reason why the avenger of hlood attacks 
 his victim from behind is evident from the circum¬ 
 stance that the Indian is always found armed, at least 
 with a knife. And again, the reason why the victim 
 desires to he buried where he cannot he found is to 
 punish the murderer for his deed, inasmuch as the 
 belief prevails, that if he taste not of the hlood he 
 must perish by madness. 
 
 If a woman or child he the viotim, their death is 
 brought to pass in a different way. The individual is 
 thrown down on the ground, the mouth forced open, 
 and the fangs of a venomous serpent driven through 
 the tongue. Before the poor creature can reach home 
 her tongue becomes inflamed and swollen, and she is 
 unable to tell who did the deed; and death is. sure to 
 follow. 
 
 It is not difficult to conceive how, under such cir¬ 
 cumstances, no man’s life is secure; whilst these by 
 no means unfrequent murders, must greatly tend to 
 diminish the number of the natives. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 59 
 
 The preaching of the Gospel among these Indians 
 has begun to shed its benign influence far and wide ; 
 and its enlightening rays are seen to chase away the 
 darkness which for ages past has brooded over them. 
 But it is inconceivable that any one, with such proofs 
 of human depravity before him, can remain indifferent, 
 or he opposed to the efforts made in our days for 
 making men acquainted with the Gospel of peace. 
 Verily “ the dark places of the earth are full of the 
 habitations of cruelty.” 
 
 As the Indians are not possessed of any religion, it 
 cannot he expected that there should he found any 
 religious rites among them. Marriage is frequently 
 contracted by parents for their children when infants; 
 and trees are planted by the respective parties in 
 witness thereof. It is considered a had omen if 
 either tree should happen to wither, as in that case the 
 party is sure to die. If an early betrothal has been 
 thus ratified, the man is hound to assist the family of 
 his bride until she arrives at a marriageable age, which 
 is earlier than is common in England. Girls of twelve 
 or thirteen, and boys of fifteen or sixteen years, are 
 married among the Indians. At the age of twenty- 
 five the women have lost all the appearance of youth; 
 hut men of forty years do not look older than Euro¬ 
 peans of the same age. The average duration of life 
 of both sexes is from forty to fifty years. Young 
 men and women who have not been betrothed in 
 childhood as stated above, marry when and whom 
 they please, asking only the consent of their parents 
 
CO . MISSIONARY. LABOURS 
 
 and relations. They do not generally marry out of 
 their tribe, for the doing so is looked upon with dis¬ 
 approbation, as they consider it derogatory to the 
 dignity of their respective tribes. There is no cere¬ 
 mony connected with marriage, except that a feast is 
 given alternately by the bride and the bridegroom. 
 Polygamy is not frequent, and mostly met with among 
 the chiefs. 
 
 Although the conjurers pretend to some knowledge 
 of diseases, and prepare various remedies themselves, 
 yet their knowledge of both is very limited, and the 
 application of their remedies proves often fatal to the 
 patient. Let the disorder be what it may, an emetic 
 is first administered, and followed by a purgative. 
 Both of these are of such proportions that many die 
 from sheer exhaustion. To create a counter irritation 
 in attacks of pleurisy, they either make large incisions 
 with the knife or apply the muneery ant, the sting of 
 which is poisonous, and produces fever in ordinary 
 cases, and even blood-spitting in sickly constitutions. 
 When attacked by measles, small-pox, or fever, they 
 go and sit in the water up to their necks till the 
 paroxysm of fever is over, or sudden death prevents 
 their coming out again. 
 
 Their moral sense of good and evil is entirely 
 regulated by the customs and practices inherited from 
 their forefathers. What their predecessors believed 
 and did must have been right, and they deem it 
 the height of presumption to suppose that any could 
 think and act otherwise. The soul after death lives 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 in the air, and is allowed to hover over its previous 
 tenement, provided the man has lived and died as a 
 “ gagguhurugna. ” But if any lived and died as a 
 “ magguhurugna, ” he must eternally wander about in 
 abandoned and unfrequented places. Such, then, are 
 the Indian’s ideas as it respects the world to come. 
 To him, his future state and condition are shrouded 
 in obscurity; yet one would suppose, from the belief 
 that the soul is hovering over its deserted tenement, 
 that we might argue a silent hope of a resurrection 
 slumbering in his breast. 
 
 Those who imagine that natural religion is itself 
 sufficient to lead man hack to his Maker, and teach 
 him to serve God acceptably, so as to obtain peace of 
 mind and possess a good hope of immortality, may 
 go to the Indian, and from him ascertain the truth 
 of such an opinion. 
 
 To acquaint these poor people with the Saviour of 
 mankind, who “ of God is made unto us wisdom, right¬ 
 eousness, sanctification, and redemption,” has been the 
 object of the Church Missionary Society and others 
 who have laboured before them. And, praised be 
 God, their labours have not been in vain in the Lord. 
 There are to be found amongst them, at present, a 
 goodly number who worship God in spirit and in 
 truth. Having been taught their duties as men, and 
 their privileges as Christians, they have learned to 
 trust in the “Lord, our righteousness;” and rejoice, 
 through faith, in the hope of everlasting life. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS AMONG THE INDIANS ON THE RIVERS 
 BERBICE AND CORANTYN BY THE MORAVIANS. 
 
 J)EFORE we proceed to give an account of the 
 labours of the Church Missionary Society, it will 
 not be thought irrelevant to ascertain what suc¬ 
 cess attended the labours of those who occupied the 
 field before them. It is with much pleasure the writer 
 contemplates the past efforts of that devoted band of 
 Christians, who from of old have been the standard- 
 bearers of the cross of Christ; and who, although 
 persecuted in the land which gave them birth, gladly 
 forsook their home and their all to preach the un¬ 
 searchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles. This 
 faithful band is no other than the “ Moravians,” who, 
 with a single eye to God’s glory, have prosecuted 
 their quiet and unobtrusive labours to promote the 
 salvation of thousands among our fellow-creatures. 
 No region of this globe seems to have been so remote 
 but that these messengers of peace were ready there to 
 impart those blessings which they themselves enjoyed 
 through faith in Him in whom the fulness of the 
 Godhead dwells bodily, and unto whom the uttermost 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 63 
 
 ends of the earth are given for a possession. We 
 find them among Greenland’s icy mountains, and on 
 the pestilential shores of Africa ; there and everywhere 
 scattering the blessings of Christ’s salvation. And, 
 although, in God’s mysterious providence, many of 
 their missions have been deserted, whilst others have 
 proved unsuccessful, this ought not to hinder us 
 from giving glory to God, on their behalf, nor tempt 
 us to think lightly of their disinterested, devoted, and 
 self-denying labours. 
 
 As early as the year 1738, two Missionaries pro¬ 
 ceeded to Berbice, and having no opportunity of 
 instructing the negro slaves, they went among the 
 Indians. The Indians living widely scattered through 
 an immense wilderness, the Missionaries had many 
 difficulties and hardships to encounter in visiting 
 them. On these occasions they were obliged to carry 
 with them a supply of cassava-bread for five or more 
 days; to have their hammocks on their shoulders; to 
 sleep on them suspended on trees in the woods; to 
 wade through brooks and rivers, and often to travel 
 great distances without meeting with a hut or human 
 being. If they came to the huts of the Indians when 
 the men happened to he absent, the women fled with 
 their children into the neighbouring thicket, uttering a 
 fearful shriek. Having, by the help of a mulatto 
 youth, translated into the Arrawak language an account 
 of the life of Christ, the Missionaries, in the course of 
 their visits, read this compendium to the natives. 
 They seemed at first little affected by these attempts; 
 
64 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 and it was not till some years had passed that the 
 Missionaries baptized some as the first-fruits of their 
 labours. Most of the converts, and some even of the 
 unbaptized, now built huts at “ Pilgerhut,” that they 
 might have an opportunity of daily enjoying Christian 
 instruction. The more religion spread among them, 
 the more were the Missionaries animated to prosecute 
 their work with energy and zeal. No wilderness ap¬ 
 peared to them too frightful, no road too dreary, no 
 Indian hut too remote, if they might hope to find a 
 soul ready to receive the Gospel. The mission had no 
 sooner assumed a promising aspect, than the jealousy 
 of some of the Dutch planters was roused. The 
 Missionaries were required to take the oath to govern¬ 
 ment, to whom their motives and designs had been 
 misrepresented, and with respect to which, their 
 enemies well knew they had conscientious scruples. 
 Disappointed in this stratagem—(for government 
 absolved them from the obligation)—they attempted to 
 drive away the Indians by circulating a report, that the 
 Missionaries designed to make them slaves; a rumour 
 admirably calculated to rouse the jealousy of the 
 savages, as the idea of slavery is more frightful to 
 them than death itself. In the year 1753, the number 
 of Indians who resided at the station amounted to 
 upwards of two hundred and sixty, and was daily 
 increasing. But not long after, the whole country was 
 visited with a severe scarcity which lasted several 
 years. This was followed by an epidemic disorder, 
 in consequence of which a great number of people 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 65 
 
 died; both Indians and Europeans. Several of the 
 Missionaries died, and the Indians began to disperse 
 again in the woods. The rest, however, resolved to 
 maintain their post, in the hope of the return of more 
 auspicious times; but alas! this hope was never 
 realised. 
 
 In the year 1763, the negroes in the colony rose in 
 rebellion against their masters, murdered many of the 
 white people, and laid waste the whole country. At 
 length they came near the mission, and the Mission¬ 
 aries were obliged to abandon the settlement and 
 escape for their lives. Great were the dangers with 
 which they were surrounded on all sides; and they did 
 not reach the town near the coast without undergoing 
 many privations and overcoming great difficulties. 
 At last they safely arrived at New Amsterdam, and 
 left with the first ship for Europe. Two of the 
 Missionaries remained until they should receive 
 instructions from home with respect to their future 
 proceedings, but died before the letters reached them. 
 Such was the melancholy termination of the labours 
 of the Moravians in Berbice. 
 
 After the year 1754, Messrs. Daehne and Ralfs, 
 two of the Missionaries, were charged to commence 
 another mission further to the east. They selected 
 two different' pieces of ground for the purpose; the 
 one on the river Sarameca, the other on the Corantyn, 
 which were both granted them by government. In 
 1757, they commenced their labours on the river 
 Sarameca, and called the station Sharon. Here they 
 
66 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 were joined by a large number of Indians, so that in 
 a short time they had a congregation around them. 
 The mission began to assume a very promising aspect, 
 but it met with a powerful enemy in the free negroes. 
 These people were originally slaves, who had escaped 
 from their masters and taken refuge in the woods, 
 where they maintained their independence, and whence 
 they often committed depredations on the estates, in 
 spite of all that government could do. To annihilate 
 them, a reward of fifty florins was given by govern¬ 
 ment for every slave whom the Indians captured and 
 carried back. This circumstance, naturally enough, 
 excited the enmity of the negroes against the Indians, 
 and they resolved to destroy the mission. Accordingly, 
 in January, 1761, a band of these marauders came 
 to the neighbourhood of Sharon to accomplish their 
 design. It was on the Lord’s day when they made the 
 attack; but being afraid to approach the house of the 
 Missionaries, where several of the Indians had fled, 
 armed with guns, they continued firing from behind 
 the trees. Mr. Oldenwald, one of the Missionaries, 
 was wounded by a ball in the arm. At last they set 
 fire to the house, and compelled its inmates to quit it 
 and flee into the thicket. The work of destruction 
 being accomplished, (for every house was burnt down, 
 including the church,) they took their departure. On 
 the return of the Missionaries, Oldenwald was found 
 still bleeding from the wound he had received; three 
 Indians lay dead on the ground, and eleven others 
 were carried away prisoners. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 67 
 
 Notwithstanding this terrible disaster, the Mis¬ 
 sionaries determined to remain, in the hope that the 
 revenge of the negroes was satisfied. Government, 
 much against their inclination, gave them a guard of 
 fifteen soldiers; hnt these proved only a burden to 
 them and a serious disadvantage to the Indians. The 
 mission having passed through many vicissitudes, was 
 at last relinquished in the year 1779. The rest of the 
 Missionaries joined Mr. Daehne on the Oorantyn. 
 
 This enterprising Missionary had commenced a new 
 settlement on the river Oorantyn, in the year 1757. 
 The Indians who accompanied him there soon left him, 
 except one, with whom he lived a very solitary life. 
 After some time his only companion was taken ill, 
 and the Indian doctors who passed by told him he 
 would never recover if he continued to live with the 
 white man, who was under the power of the devil, and 
 would likewise soon turn sick. Influenced by these 
 representations, the poor fellow, as soon as he got a 
 little better, forsook his teacher, and returned to his 
 own countrymen. But though Daehne was left alone 
 without either friend or companion, even in this 
 solitude he was content and happy: “ Our Saviour,” 
 says he, “was always with me, and comforted me 
 with his gracious presence, so that I can truly say, 
 I spent my time in happiness and peace.” 
 
 The Indians, at first, entertained strong suspicions 
 against him, and even formed the design of putting 
 him to death. He was informed of his danger, hut 
 his mind was kept in perfect peace. One day, how- 
 
68 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 ever, as he sat at his frugal meal, about fifty of the 
 Carabeese landed from their canoes, and surrounded 
 his cottage, with a view of carrying their threats into 
 execution. Some of them were armed with swords, 
 others with tomahawks. This was truly an alarming 
 sight, nevertheless he went out and hade them wel¬ 
 come. They then asked him, through the medium of an 
 interpreter, who gave him liberty to build on their 
 land? To this he replied, “The governor.” They next 
 inquired, what design he had in coming thither ? to 
 which he answered, “I have brethren on the other side 
 of the great waters, who, having heard that many of 
 the Indians on this river were ignorant of God, have, 
 from the great affection they felt towards you, sent me 
 to tell you of the love of God, and what he has done 
 to save you.” The chief then said, “Have you never 
 heard that the Indians intend to kill you ?” “ Yes,” 
 answered Daehne, “hut I cannot believe it. You 
 have among you some who have lived with me, and 
 they can tell you that I am the friend of the Indians.” 
 To this the chief replied, “Yes, I have heard so; 
 they say you are a different sort of Christian from 
 the white people in general.” The Missionary then 
 said, “ I am your friend; how is it that you come to 
 kill me?” “We have done wrong,” answered the 
 chief. Every countenance now altered, and the 
 Indians quickly dispersed. The chief, however, re¬ 
 mained behind, behaving in a very friendly manner, 
 and left him a supply of cassava. Thus the Mis¬ 
 sionary, by his magnanimous, yet temperate conduct. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 warded off the blow which threatened his life, and 
 converted his enemies into friends. 
 
 During his stay in this solitary situation, Daehne 
 was frequently in want of the common necessaries of 
 life. Besides these various trials, he now and then 
 suffered from fever, and was often in no small danger 
 from wild beasts and other venomous creatures. Thus a 
 tiger for a long time kept watch near his hut, seeking 
 an opportunity, no doubt, to seize the poor solitary 
 inhabitant. Every night it roared most dreadfully; 
 and though he regularly kindled a large fire in the 
 neighbourhood before he went to bed, yet as it often 
 went out by the morning, it would have proved hut a 
 miserable defence, had not the Lord preserved him. 
 The following circumstance is still more remarkable, 
 and illustrates, in a singular manner, the care of God 
 over his servants. Being one evening attacked with 
 a paroxysm of fever, he resolved to go into his hut 
 and lie down in his hammock. Just, however, as he 
 entered the door, he beheld a serpent descending from 
 the roof upon him. In the scuffle which ensued, the 
 creature hit him in three different places; and, pur¬ 
 suing him closely, twined itself several times round 
 his head and neck as tightly as possible. Expecting 
 now to be bitten, or strangled to death, and being 
 afraid lest his brethren should suspect the Indians 
 had murdered him, he, with singular presence of 
 mind, wrote with chalk on the table —“ A serpent has 
 killed me.” Suddenly, however, that promise of the 
 Saviour darted into his mind, “ They shall take up 
 
TO 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 serpents, and shall not he hurt.” Encouraged by this 
 declaration, he seized the creature with great force, 
 tore it loose from his body, and flung it out of the 
 hut. He then lay down in his hammock in tranquillity 
 and peace. This was most probably a boa-constrictor, 
 whose bite, though painful, is not venomous; and 
 which destroys his prey by crushing it to death, and 
 gorging it whole. 
 
 Daehne, growing, after many years’ labour, old and 
 infirm, returned to Europe. Others succeeded him, 
 and reaped the fruit of the seed he had sown. It is 
 stated, that many Indians departed this life rejoicing 
 in the Saviour, and in the sure and certain hope of a 
 resurrection to eternal life. The mission on the river 
 Corantyn was carried on till the year 1806, when a 
 destructive fire reduced the whole of the settlement 
 to ashes. There was every reason to believe that it 
 had been the act of an incendiary; hut no satisfactory 
 proofs could he adduced to bring it home to the 
 parties concerned. While the external circumstances 
 of the mission were so disastrous, its internal state 
 was not more flourishing. The number of Indians 
 had of late been greatly diminished, in consequence 
 of the small-pox; others fled from dread of that 
 frightful disorder into the recesses of the forest, 
 intending never to return again. Such as still 
 survived, so far from being truly religious, were 
 disorderly, dissolute, and refractory, and even mani¬ 
 fested a spirit of enmity to the Gospel. Discouraged 
 by these adverse circumstances, the mission was at 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 71 
 
 length abandoned; and although, a few years after, 
 an attempt was made to renew it, yet notwithstanding 
 the trouble which was taken, all proved unsuccessful. 
 How unsearchable are the judgments of the Lord, and 
 his ways past finding out!* 
 
 The writer cannot refrain from adding an extract 
 from his journal, when on a visit to this interesting 
 spot. In a letter to the Secretary of the Society he 
 says '“ In a former letter, I promised to give you 
 a more detailed account of the Indians on the Coran- 
 tyn. But what shall I say of them? If I tell you 
 what they really are, I must place a picture before 
 your eyes painted with the deepest colours, and veil 
 the whole in darkness. And if it were not for the 
 promises, the dawnings of that glorious day, when 
 there shall he no more darkness, hut all light in the 
 Lord, it would he extremely difficult to discover even 
 one pleasing and promising feature, behind the 
 almost impenetrable forests of ignorance, apathy, and 
 lethargy, in which this race of mankind seem to he 
 buried. Not only are their dwellings completely 
 surrounded by the bush, and almost inaccessible to a 
 stranger, but also their mind is so overgrown with 
 superstition and indolence, that it would appear, as 
 though every vestige of consciousness of the existence 
 of a supreme Being was completely choked; and that 
 portion of this race, which has not been disfigured 
 by natural evils, appears to have been ruined by 
 
 * Vide Brown’s History of Missions, vol. ii. 
 
72 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 spirituous liquors, obtained from those who ought, 
 as professed Christians, to have taught them better 
 things. This is the dark side of the picture; and it 
 would remain so, were it not for the express promise, 
 that “ all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation 
 of our God.” The day I spent among them being 
 rather rainy and cold, I felt chilly and uncomfortable; 
 but what pen can describe the feelings of my heart 
 when contemplating the spiritual darkness brooding 
 over this wilderness ? It is chilly, it is cold all around; 
 no friend to sympathise, no fruit, no blossom to be 
 seen, among those who bear the name of Christ, by 
 which the solitary wanderer might be refreshed. But 
 the Lord is near, and he can make up for every thing. 
 When standing on the spot where the house of 
 prayer is said to have stood when the Moravian 
 missionaries laboured among this benighted people, 
 my heart was musing on the past: and calling to 
 remembrance that there have been some whose hearts 
 believed in the Son of God, I began inquiring 
 whether there were any still remaining of those few; 
 and my inquiry was not in vain. A woman was 
 pointed out to me, who had been dedicated to the 
 Lord by her pious parents in her infancy; but having- 
 been left to herself without the means of grace, there 
 was nothing to distinguish her from others, save the 
 Christian name. When it was told them that I was a 
 Dominie (missionary), one of the Indians, apparently 
 a captain, for he had a cap curiously wrought and 
 decorated with many feathers, came and placed him- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 73 
 
 self before me, saying, “Dominie, are yon coming to 
 learn us ? Ob, glad me be, we learn good.” 
 
 There are but few Indians on this river belonging 
 to the Arrawak tribe; the greater part by far are 
 Carabeese. These are a fine-looking race of men; 
 their demeanour is friendly, but their warlike appear¬ 
 ance threatening, as they are always found armed with 
 a gun and bow and arrows, or with a club and long 
 knife. Their bodies are painted with the arnatto, 
 their faces tattooed; and, strange to say, their hair 
 is more like that of the coloured people, and curling. 
 Their beards and eyebrows are plucked out when 
 beginning to grow; all, without exception, live in a 
 state of nudity. From their frequent intercourse with 
 the English, they speak English tolerably well; but 
 among themselves the Carabeese language. When 
 will the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing 
 in his wings upon this wilderness? May the Lord 
 have mercy on them! In going down the river 
 we struck on the same bank on which the boat 
 belonging to the Moravian mission was lost, the 
 Missionaries themselves escaping with their lives. 
 The water being low, no harm happened to us, and 
 we floated again with the return of the tide. 
 
 E 
 
CHAPTER YII. 
 
 POLICY OF THE BRITISH TOWARDS THE INDIANS—FIRST COM¬ 
 MENCEMENT OF A MISSION BY THE CHURCH MISSIONARY 
 
 SOCIETY—PLAN PURSUED BY THE FIRST MISSIONARIES- 
 
 PROMISING PROSPECTS OF THE MISSION—•DIFFICULTIES AND 
 DISCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 js^INCE the colony has been under British sway, the 
 aborigines have been comparatively forgotten. The 
 writer is not aware of any attempts on a large scale 
 having been made to ameliorate their condition and to 
 make them acquainted with the Gospel of Christ. The 
 course of policy pursued by the Dutch in giving them 
 presents to keep them at hay, and to insure their 
 services in times of emergency, has been followed by 
 the British. And although some attempts have been 
 made to civilise them, at different times, in order to 
 render their services available for the colonists, all the 
 fruit which has accrued from such like undertakings 
 has been a few weeks’ labour from some few Indians 
 in the woodcutting establishments. Having accom¬ 
 plished the task the Indian had engaged to perform, 
 he has returned home and lived afterwards as he used 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 75 
 
 to do before, altogether forgetful of his Maker. Nor 
 was he the better for having mingled in society of 
 such a kind, for not unfrequently he would return a 
 confirmed drunkard, a sceptic, or a profligate of the 
 worst description. Without entering into the despe¬ 
 rate condition of either the ungodly European or the 
 demoralised Indian, not he that imitated, but he who 
 set the bad example, has the greater sin. 
 
 It has been, and still is, the opinion of many, that 
 it will be next to impossible to persuade an Indian to 
 give up his roving disposition and apply himself to 
 industry and the arts of civilised life. In this 
 opinion I fully concur; and I never expect to see 
 it accomplished unless the Gospel of Christ be 
 preached to this people. By the power of that Gospel, 
 however, I anticipate the glorious result of seeing 
 even the rude Indian recovered from his degradation 
 and hopeless condition. Sanguine and irrational even 
 as this hope may appear to those who, unacquainted 
 themselves with the Gospel, have no conception of its 
 saving and transforming influence, I would simply 
 point to the facts which have come under my own 
 notice during my sojourn among that people; and 
 although as yet little has been accomplished, I am 
 quite sure this should not hinder us from giving 
 glory to God, to whom alone it is due. Were not our 
 forefathers, if not in the same debased condition, 
 certainly not much better ; and what has raised them 
 and exalted this nation to such an elevated position 
 among the nations of the world ? It is the influence 
 
 E % 
 
76 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 of that grace which, appearing to us as a nation, and 
 manifesting its saving influence upon the hearts of 
 believers, has taught them to deny ungodliness and to 
 live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present 
 world. In the hope of seeing this result accomplished 
 in the Indian race, the Church Missionary Society 
 has not shrunk hack from introducing the plough 
 of the Gospel, which is to break up the fallow ground, 
 hut is now sowing the seed in the hope of a plentiful 
 harvest. In the year 1829, Mr. John Armstrong, a 
 catechist, was directed to proceed up the Essequibo in 
 order to ascertain how far the Indians were prepared 
 to receive a teacher. They at once showed great 
 eagerness to accept his offer, and promised to assist 
 him with food and in the building of a house. When 
 these accounts were received at home, it was resolved 
 that Mr. A. should leave the place where till then he 
 had been labouring among the negroes, and commence 
 a mission to the Indians. He fixed upon a place 
 called “ Bartica, ” that is, " red earth, ” which is 
 situated at the confluence of the Mazaroony with the 
 Essequibo, hoping that the Indians of both rivers 
 would find it equally convenient to visit him. The 
 then governor of Demerara, Sir Benjamin D’Urhan, 
 granted three hundred square roods of land for the 
 purpose, and the Missionary began his labours, not 
 without the hope of seeing many brought into the 
 fold of Christ. His first dwelling was a little thatched 
 hut, and as he travelled from place to place he was 
 content with the fare of the Indians and with such 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 77 
 
 accommodations as their lints afforded. Having ac¬ 
 quired the conversational language, which is a jargon 
 of many, he erected a kind of chapel, which at the 
 same time served as a school-room. Great was his joy 
 when on a Sunday he saw the people of various tribes 
 flock to him for instruction; hut their progress in 
 learning to read and understand was slow, on account 
 of their not comprehending so easily the things which 
 were spoken. During the week, he used to travel from 
 place to place in order to persuade them to locate 
 themselves near him, or to send their children to 
 school. The former they were unwilling to do, and 
 the latter was attended with difficulties, as in that case 
 the Missionary had to provide food for them during 
 the time they remained with him. It must he borne 
 in mind that the interior of British Guiana is covered 
 with dense forests, so as to render it altogether imprac¬ 
 ticable for children to return home after school-hours. 
 Others had to cross over the rivers, which is still more 
 impracticable from the roughness of the water. Those 
 difficulties have from the beginning of the mission 
 proved great obstacles to its growth and success, and 
 caused the Missionaries much solicitude. Nor is there 
 any remedy which we can provide against them, as 
 the Indians live scattered about, unless they make up 
 their minds to come and settle at the missionary sta¬ 
 tion. In the year 1833, Mr. Youd, another catechist, 
 was sent to assist Mr. Armstrong in his labours, as it 
 became evident that, if the mission were to prosper, 
 one Missionary should he resident whilst the other was 
 
78 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 travelling among the people. It was, however, not 
 long before Mr. A. left the colony to recruit his im¬ 
 paired health, and Mr. Y. was left alone. He, likewise, 
 travelled from place to place, and, anxious to remove 
 the difficulties, he established schools in various 
 places, which he himself taught as often as his other 
 labours would permit. But it is easy to see that 
 such a proceeding could lead to no satisfactory result, 
 •while much time and strength were spent to little 
 purpose. 
 
 One day, as Mr. Youd relates in his journal, while 
 going up the river, he met a party of Indians, who 
 inquired of the hoys with him where he was going; 
 on hearing that he was on his way to teach the 
 Oaraheese school on the opposite shore, their attention 
 was arrested, and, in a few days after, they came to the 
 missionary station in a body with the chief’s son Ana- 
 mooz at their head. Why am I come among you ? 
 asked Mr. Youd. The chief did not know. I am 
 come, rejoined Mr. Youd, to teach you, and the Indians 
 in general, to know God (Tamaosy.) The Missionary 
 showed Anamooz the writing of some Indians and the 
 various hooks contained in the Holy Scriptures, giv¬ 
 ing him a slight outline of the subject of each. He 
 seemed interested. Why not come and live where you 
 may hear of Tamaosy? inquired Mr. Youd. The want 
 of food seemed the chief difficulty. But when the Mis¬ 
 sionary promised to buy a field of ripe cassava, which 
 would serve for food till they could prepare a field of 
 their own, the Indian rejoiced at the proposal, and im- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 79 
 
 mediately promised to bring down his people to settle. 
 In the mean time, he left two youths under Mr. Youd’s 
 care, one about sixteen years of age, who was delighted 
 with the school, while the other, who was twenty-five, 
 and whose tastes and habits were confirmed, greatly 
 preferred hunting and fishing to learning. Mr. Youd 
 was not disappointed in his expectations of the arrival 
 of the promised body of Accaways. The ripe cassava 
 had been procured, and the Missionary immediately 
 set the new-comers to work to cut down trees in order 
 to clear a field for planting and to build huts for their 
 habitations. More land had been granted by the 
 governor; and if the Indians could only be induced 
 to settle, civilisation would follow. The new-comers 
 were invited to build their habitations at a place called 
 the Grove, about a mile from Bartica Point. To the 
 great delight of the women, the men under Mr. Youd’s 
 direction planted the new ground, instead of, as usual, 
 leaving the labour for them to perform. The men, on 
 their part, laughed and joked at the change they made 
 no difficulty in effecting, when they saw Mr. Youd 
 work with his own hands, both in the field and garden. 
 The first Sunday on which the new settlers attended 
 public worship, they were much delighted, and called 
 it a good day. We must bear in mind the variety of 
 occupations in which Mr. Youd was obliged to engage. 
 He was learning the Carabeese language, and making 
 a dictionary of it. He taught schools in several 
 places, and visited the various tribes. He was doctor 
 to the settlement, and, besides working with his own 
 
80 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 hands in the field, had to teach the Indians all the 
 every-day duties of civilised life. On Sunday he was 
 obliged to hold two services; the one in Dutch, the 
 other in English, close together, and thus had to use 
 his voice for four hours unceasingly. The labours on 
 week-days were arranged in the following order:— 
 At half-past seven, a.m., the horn was blown for 
 worship, when they sang a hymn and had some por¬ 
 tion of Scripture expounded to them. The adults 
 then went into the fields; the children going to 
 school at ten remained till two p.m., when, being 
 dismissed, the adults took their place till four. At 
 half-past six the horn again sounded for prayers, 
 when singing and exposition of Scripture concluded 
 the day. 
 
 About this time Mr. Youd had the pleasure of wel¬ 
 coming his nephew as an assistant in the mission; hut 
 his joy was of short duration, as the young man soon 
 sickened and died from over exertion and exposure to 
 heat and wet. His works, however, appeared to 
 prosper in his hands; the school children improved; 
 the Indians laboured cheerfully, and the Missionary 
 was at length gladdened by the proof of the Holy 
 Spirit’s work on the heart of a woman, named Betsy, 
 who began to feel the burden of her sins, saying with 
 tears, “ Sins lie heavy on my heart.” If great is the 
 pleasure when a garden full of short-lived decaying 
 flowers begins to repay the toil bestowed upon it by 
 showing the opening of the first hud, what must he 
 the joy of the Missionary to see the first commence- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 81 
 
 ment of the Holy Spirit’s work on the hearts of 
 the people among whom he is labouring! Mr. 
 Youd’s zeal increased in proportion when he saw 
 that his work was prospering in his hands, and 
 he had the inexpressible joy of beholding the 
 word take root in the hearts and affections of the 
 people. 
 
 In the beginning of 1835, Mr. Armstrong returned 
 to the mission with Mrs. Armstrong. The people 
 having settled around Mr. Youd at the Grove, he 
 found his house at Bartica Point in rather a dilapi¬ 
 dated condition, whilst the place was overrun with 
 grass and underwood. Snakes abounded, and Mr. 
 Armstrong killed one of the larger kind on the day of 
 his arrival on the same spot where he placed his bed. 
 It being the rainy season, in order to shelter himself 
 and his wife from the rain, he was obliged to spread 
 out his cloak and hold an umbrella over them. The 
 reason why Mr. Youd had abandoned the place 
 was, because he suffered continually from fever, the 
 immediate cause of which was a marshy waterside to 
 windward of this otherwise delightful hill. This 
 . circumstance, however, created some misunderstanding 
 between the Missionaries, which proved a great 
 hindrance to the progress of the mission, and event¬ 
 ually led to the resignation of Mr. Armstrong. The 
 writer sees no reason why this circumstance should 
 not be mentioned, as a warning to others who may he 
 inclined to foster the same unhappy disposition. God 
 is the God of peace, and no sacrifice on our side 
 e 3 
 
•82 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 should he deemed too great to preserve it, when 
 that may he done in accordance with our duty to 
 God and the preservation of a good conscience. 
 How many a mission has suffered loss, whilst many 
 more have come to ruin, where discord and dis¬ 
 union have prevailed among the Missionaries! The 
 heathen are remarkably sharp to perceive what¬ 
 ever is faulty and wrong in their teachers; and 
 fearful are the consequences both to themselves 
 and to those who prove an occasion of stumbling 
 to them. 
 
 Mr. Armstrong had scarcely left, in the year 1886, 
 when the measles broke out among the people at the 
 Grove, carrying off as many as seventy individuals. 
 Mr. Youd’s services were in constant requisition; his 
 house was crowded with sick, and not a day passed 
 when he had not to bury some. It was a trying time, 
 for there were not wanting those who accused him of 
 being the author of this malady. The few that were 
 left fled into the forests; and we may imagine what 
 feelings were stirring in the dejected Missionary, who 
 himself was nearly worn out with fatigue from his 
 watchings over the sick and dying for several weeks. 
 There remained with Mr. Youd a few youths, whom it 
 was intended to bring up as teachers, hut who, with 
 the exception of one, I was obliged afterwards to 
 dismiss, as I found them exceedingly depraved in 
 their morals and very refractory and insolent in their 
 behaviour. Towards the latter end of October, 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 83 
 
 Mr. Youd made a visit to Barbadoes, and obtained 
 ordination at the hands of the Bishop. He returned 
 to the mission at the close of the year with Mrs. 
 Youd, whom he had lately married in Barbadoes; 
 and, to his grief, found that affairs had altogether 
 retrograded. 
 
CHAPTEB VIII. 
 
 THE WRITER’S LABOURS IN BERBICE AMONG THE EMANCIPATED 
 NEGROES—DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS—CONVERSATIONS WITH 
 
 A JEWISH RABBI AND AN INFIDEL-RELINQUISHMENT OF THE 
 
 MISSION. 
 
 'J'HE negroes in the West Indies being emancipated 
 from slavery by a ransom of not less than twenty 
 millions of pounds, I was destined to proceed 
 thither, in the year 1835, to proclaim unto them that 
 liberty wherewith the Son of God makes free. My 
 destination, in the first instance, was the island of 
 Jamaica; hut there being many difficulties in the 
 way, my services were transferred to the diocese of 
 Barbadoes. I accordingly accompanied his Lordship, 
 the Bishop, on his return to that island, in the spring 
 of the year above mentioned. On our arrival there, 
 having spent nearly a month in that beautiful island, 
 I was directed to proceed to the Oorantyn coast of 
 Berhice, one of the counties of British Guiana, and 
 which at that time was not divided into parishes, 
 though in the diocese of Barbadoes. The district 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 85 
 
 assigned to me extended over thirty miles along the 
 coast, among a population of 2500 souls. I fixed 
 my residence on Achlyne, one of the abandoned 
 estates, and alternately visited the people during the 
 week and the successive sabbaths. My difficulties at 
 first were great and many, and I found that no less 
 firmness than wisdom was required to bring things 
 into something like order and decent behaviour, when 
 the people assembled for Divine worship. The state 
 of morals was exceedingly low, nor must we wonder 
 at this, when we are told that few, if any, of the 
 whites led a life at all consistent with the Christian 
 name. Polygamy was prevalent to a fearful extent, 
 and of feuds in families there was no end. This 
 lawless state of things had for generations past been 
 encouraged by the planters being subservient to their 
 own interest; but could no longer continue under the 
 influence of a holy Gospel. Hundreds were flocking 
 to the house of the Missionary, in order to be bap¬ 
 tized ; and, upon their being told that they must first 
 be instructed both in their duty and privileges, if 
 desirous of becoming Christians, they returned dis¬ 
 satisfied, complaining to their employers of having 
 met with a refusal. Upon this I have often received a 
 note from the respective employers couched in such 
 terms as these:—“ N. N. desires to be christened, to 
 which he has my full permission; and the parson is 
 requested to comply with his request. I remain,” 
 &c. &c. The Missionary, as might be expected, did 
 not act contrary, to his conviction, which he believed 
 
86 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 to rest upon the word of God. “ He that helieveth 
 and is baptized shall he savedand saving belief 
 there can he none, unless men are told that Christ 
 died for our sins, and that all who profess to he his 
 followers are required to die unto sin, and live a life 
 of righteousness and holiness. The writer does not 
 judge those who may happen to differ from him; hut 
 this he confidently affirms, that there would he seen 
 more of vital Christianity in our West Indian posses¬ 
 sions, had Scripture, and not expediency, formed the 
 rule Of conduct. To promote social happiness, how¬ 
 ever, and cut off the occasion for their continuing in 
 sin, I consented to marry as many as were willing to 
 enter into the holy estate of matrimony. On one 
 occasion a man came and gave in his name, and that of 
 his intended wife. The banns having been published 
 on the estate where service was often performed in the 
 verandah, or under a tree, or even in the boiling- 
 house, no less than seven women appeared the fol¬ 
 lowing day to stop the marriage. Their clamour was 
 such, that it was no small trial to endure it for hours 
 together; nor was it an easy matter to decide which 
 of the seven should be the wife. They were told to 
 go to the magistrate; he sent them hack, stating that 
 he could not interfere. Seeing that there would he 
 no end of the contention, they were told that it would 
 he as well to kill the man, and give them each a portion, 
 he being determined henceforth to have only one wife. 
 After a little pause they cried aloud, “ No, massa, 
 let him have that wifeand so the matter ended. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 87 
 
 One day an old negro, walking on crutches, came 
 to Achlyne,. saying, “ Massa, me have heard you 
 preach, me should like to learn read that hook.” 
 “ You are rather an old scholar.” “ Never mind, massa, 
 me will try.” He was told that there was no place 
 for him, where he might remain, except the stable. 
 He replied, “ Massa, me content with that, me like to 
 know more of that hook.” He was taught his letters, 
 and, astonishing to relate, he learned to read tolerably 
 well within six months. Being unable to work, he 
 would sit poring all the day over his New Testament, 
 and often came into the house, saying, “ Massa, this 
 word too hard for me, cut it up.” Such was his 
 earnest desire to communicate what he had been 
 reading, that on Sundays, when I returned from my 
 tour, I often found him surrounded by a number of 
 people, to whom he read and explained the word of 
 God. He felt the burden of his sins, and often 
 lamented having lived so long without the knowledge 
 of his Saviour; and there is little doubt that he 
 departed this life having found peace and acceptance 
 with God through faith in the Redeemer. 
 
 In the year 1836, his Lordship, the Bishop, visited 
 the colony, and I was requested to attend the visitation 
 at New Amsterdam. The rains had been falling inces¬ 
 santly, and the dams were threatening to give way: I 
 thought it advisable that Mrs. Bernau should accom¬ 
 pany me to town. This was a providential circum¬ 
 stance, for in the night following, the dams were 
 broken through, and the coast was flooded to the 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 extent of ten miles. Some of the sugar plantations 
 suffered severely, whilst the people residing on cattle - 
 farms had to escape for their lives. His Lordship, on 
 leaving the colony, requested that the people should 
 not he entirely neglected. Accordingly, I set out on 
 horseback with the intention of first paying a visit to 
 my abandoned house, and then proceeding to one of 
 the estates. I made my way with difficulty, as many 
 of the bridges had been carried away by the water. At 
 length I reached the house, and tying the horse to the 
 verandah, proceeded to secure my books, &c. To my 
 great surprise, I saw the horse, having become restive, 
 and broken the bridle, run off. The thought, however, 
 that the people, when seeing the saddle on him, would 
 come to the conclusion that their minister must he 
 there, comforted me, and I confidently expected a boat 
 would he sent me to make my escape. The morning 
 and evening of the following day came, and no human 
 being made his appearance. The groom had quietly 
 taken off the saddle, and put the horse in the stable, 
 where he had often been, without mentioning the cir¬ 
 cumstance to the proprietor of the estate. Towards 
 evening I had a smart attack of fever, hut the hope 
 that help would he sent me, cheered me up in this 
 desolate condition. There was nothing to eat, as all 
 the stores had been destroyed, (it being the custom 
 in those countries to keep the provisions under the 
 house,) except a little rice and a few lumps of white 
 sugar, which I found in the servants’ room. The 
 fourth day arrived, and no help came; and being 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 89 
 
 much weakened by returning attacks of fever, I pro¬ 
 ceeded to nail together a raft of boards, which I 
 obtained by breaking up the floor of the verandah. 
 This being tried was not found to answer, the water 
 being too rough, and the raft not large enough to 
 sustain the weight. Not knowing what I should do 
 next, I went into the servants’ room, where my eye 
 caught the bath, which was convieniently large to 
 answer the purpose. It was forthwith launched, and 
 having obtained a pole ten feet in length, I bade adieu 
 to the deserted dwelling, trying to reach, if possible, 
 the high road, which was distant about half a mile. It 
 must be borne in mind, that the whole coast of British 
 Gruiana is an alluvial flat, intersected with many 
 canals, and dammed in on every side. This made my 
 navigation a dangerous experiment. If I were suc¬ 
 cessful in reaching the high road, there would then be 
 no more than three, or, at most, four feet of water, 
 but if I should miss that, the depth of the canals 
 would be often twelve feet and more. There being no 
 trees to guide me, the latter was the case, and when 
 poling confidently along, the current swept me off 
 the straight course; and finding no bottom, I was 
 nearly upset, the bath becoming half filled with water. 
 After having proceeded a considerable distance, and 
 continually drifted to leeward, the shadows of the 
 evening began to lengthen; and I shall never forget 
 with what concern I watched the setting sun. At last 
 it retired beneath the horizon, and there being but 
 little twilight in those regions, the shadows of the 
 
90 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 night came rapidly on. Commending myself to the 
 protection of him who is the Lord of life and death, 
 and without whose will not a sparrow falleth to the 
 ground, I was able to rely on my God and Saviour. 
 Having just finished singing a hymn ere it became 
 quite dark, I observed at some distance something 
 moving along on the water, without being able to dis¬ 
 tinguish what it was. At first I believed it was some 
 large animal seeking a place of refuge to escape a 
 watery grave. I called out, and a voice answered, 
 which proved to be that of a negro, who had come 
 from town, having a parcel of letters tied on his head. 
 He laughed heartily to see massa in such a predica¬ 
 ment, and having satisfied himself with laughing, was 
 about to proceed on his way to his estate. “Do you 
 then really mean to leave me here in this perilous 
 condition?” I inquired. “Yes, massa, me very sorry, 
 but me cannot help you. If me do not get home to¬ 
 night, my massa will (be) vexed with me.” It was 
 with much difficulty that he was prevailed upon to 
 stay; nor did he seem willing to lend a helping hand 
 till a handsome reward had been promised him. It 
 was rather a dark night, and both of us were at times 
 in danger of being drowned, whenever it happened 
 that we had to cross a canal. About eight in the 
 evening we fell in with another man, who was returning 
 home from hunting, and who, when asked, most cheer¬ 
 fully lent a helping hand. Thus we arrived safely at 
 Port Maurant at last, where we found all hands at 
 work in heightening the dams, which were threatening 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 91 
 
 to give way. From thence the journey to New 
 Amsterdam was safely accomplished on horseback. 
 The writer, in narrating this his wonderful escape, 
 desires to record his grateful remembrance to his 
 Lord and Master; and to testify that his arm is not 
 shortened that it cannot save. Although I had been 
 exposed to the rays of a vertical sun for about eight 
 hours, and drenched with wet all the time, I was as 
 well the next day as if nothing had happened. 
 
 During the time of the inundation, which lasted 
 for nearly six months, I took up my residence in 
 New Amsterdam, the principal town in Berbice, and 
 commenced a private school for the benefit of Euro¬ 
 pean children. Whilst there I was reluctantly brought 
 in contact with the Popish priest, who wished to carry 
 on things with a high hand. I preached a course of 
 lectures on Popery, and had the satisfaction of seeing 
 my adversary give in for a time. In the month of 
 August I had a visit from a rabbi, and held several 
 conversations with him. I may be permitted to quote 
 the account of these visits from my journal. 
 
 August 29th, 1836.—An old rabbi, from Poland, 
 called on me to-day: he is, strange to say, on his way 
 to Jerusalem. He is full of Talmudical learning, and 
 very self-conceited. After many hours’ conversation, 
 I inquired into the reasons of his hope ; and whether 
 he believed that Messiah had already come—or 
 whether he expected him, and how ? He denied that 
 he had come, and said that he believed he would 
 come in glory. Upon this, I brought out my German 
 
92 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Bible; but he objected to enter upon any argument 
 drawn from the German text. I accordingly put 
 aside the German, and took up the Hebrew Bible. 
 After having made many frivolous objections as to 
 the time when, the place where, &c., Messiah should 
 appear, I referred him to the fifty-third chapter of 
 Isaiah, asking, “ To whom do you believe all this 
 refers ?” He replied, “ To Messiah.” “ How is it, 
 then, that you expect him to come in glory, whereas 
 the prophet describes him as a suffering Messiah ?” 
 He seemed perplexed; and, laying aside the Bible, he 
 said, “I was born a Jew, and I will die as such.” 
 This gave occasion to speak of Israel’s forlorn con¬ 
 dition and wretched state, until this very day, on 
 account of the blindness and hardness of their hearts, 
 in reference to Hosea iii. 4, 5. He wept bitterly. I 
 handed him a Hebrew Testament, saying, “ Bead this 
 with prayer; and you will be convinced that Jesus 
 of Nazareth is that prophet of whom Moses and the 
 prophets bear witness. Believe in him as a crucified 
 Messiah for our sins; and when He comes in glory, 
 you shall not be confounded.” 
 
 October 26th.—On my return from the coast to-day, 
 I was not a little surprised at seeing the old rabbi in 
 town, whom I mentioned in my journal not many 
 days ago. A heavy gale had carried away the mast 
 of the vessel in which he was a passenger, and 
 obliged them to put back, having had a narrow escape 
 from a watery grave. Once more I directed his 
 attention to the one thing needful; and took a farewell 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 93 
 
 as if we should never again meet on earth, being at 
 the same time deeply impressed with the blindness 
 and hardness of heart of this son of Abraham. Oh ! 
 how long shall the veil remain on the heart of Israel ? 
 Is that time yet distant, when the Spirit of the Lord 
 shall revive these dry hones, and accomplish that 
 which seems impossible to us, through our unbelief? 
 
 November 12th.—Alas! the rabbi is no more! A 
 fatal fever, soon after his arrival in Surinam, put an 
 end to his life. 0 God! how wonderful are thy ways 
 with the children of men! Did he come to Berbice, a 
 country distant from his home, to hear once more, 
 before his death, the invitation to seek the Lord God 
 of Israel while he may he found, and to call on him 
 while he is near ? for until then he had been apparently 
 deaf to the entreaties of other missionaries. Did he 
 cross the Atlantic to accept of a Testament sealed 
 with the blood of the Son of God, which he had often 
 refused in the pride of his heart ? He was horn a Jew, 
 as he used to say, and wished to die as such; and 
 the Lord appears to have taken him at his word! 
 When I saw him last, he applied the passage relating 
 to Cain s wandering about, to himself; and, with tears 
 in his eyes, added, "Surely the God of our fathers 
 has forsaken us, and made us a by-word among all 
 nations!” whereupon I remarked, “ Yes, such is the 
 case; hut return, O Israel, to thy God, and he will 
 have mercy upon you.” The Hebrew Testament 
 which he received, may, perhaps, he a seed carried by 
 this wandering bird to Surinam, where there are 
 
94 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 multitudes of Israel’s forlorn sheep; for who can 
 search out the ways of the Almighty, whose paths are 
 in the mighty waters, and whose footsteps are not 
 known ? 
 
 I trust I may he forgiven for quoting another 
 passage from my journal hearing on the subject of 
 infidelity; and showing how little men, who profess 
 themselves infidels, feel in their hearts what they 
 strenuously advance or oppose by their reason. 
 
 October 30th, 1836.—Called to-day on a professed 
 infidel, a blacksmith, with the intention of meeting 
 him on his own ground, having heard so much of 
 his learning and ingenuity; and though I am fully 
 convinced that arguments of this sort will but seldom 
 convince the heart, still, as missionaries are debtors 
 to all men, both to the wise and the unwise, I think 
 it no more than just to pay that debt, by conversing 
 with those who evade and slight the ordinary means 
 of grace. This man has read a great deal, hut appears 
 to have profited little by his reading. He is also 
 in possession of the Bible, and reads it frequently, 
 though, I apprehend, to his own condemnation. 
 While he was shoeing my horse, I said, “ How is it 
 that I have never seen you go to any place of 
 worship ?” “ Oh, Sir, I don’t trouble myself about 
 
 nonsense ; and am persuaded that I can serve God 
 at home, as well as in the church.” “ True, we ought 
 to serve God at all times, and in all places; hut, 
 pray, who is that God whom you serve ?” “ Why, 
 
 Sir, perfection is God; and in fulfilling my relative 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 95 
 
 duties, as a husband, father, and friend, I serve per¬ 
 fection.” “And what then is your object and aim 
 in serving that perfection ?” “ Why, to live in peace 
 
 with all men and with myself, and to enjoy the 
 esteem and good-will of my fellow-creatures.” “Have 
 you at all times, and under all circumstances, per¬ 
 formed your duty in this service ?” “ Why, Sir, this 
 
 is rather a close question ; and I am hound in honour 
 to acknowledge that I have not.” “Do you think 
 that perfection, whom you serve, can he pleased with 
 your imperfections in serving him?” He appeared 
 to he at a loss what to say; hut, after a little pause, 
 he replied, “By the workmanship, the master is 
 known.” “Do you mean to say, that because you, 
 myself, and all men, are guilty and sinful, falling 
 infinitely short of perfection—do you mean to say 
 that He who made us must he sinful too ?” He did 
 not venture to assert this blasphemy; and tried to 
 evade a decisive answer, by asking whether I had read 
 Tom Paine, Voltaire, and others. “I have read a 
 few words, which fill my mind with anxiety and 
 concern for your temporal and everlasting welfare; 
 and would to God I could write them with flaming 
 letters upon your heart!” 
 
 “ And what are they ?” he anxiously asked. “ Why, 
 it is written somewhere, The wicked shall he turned 
 into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” After 
 a long pause, he exclaimed, “ I wish I could believe !” 
 From this moment he appeared to be very uneasy, 
 and I, perceiving that his conscience was at work. 
 
96 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 bade bim adieu, saying, “Mr. M., God so loved the 
 world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
 whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but 
 have everlasting life.” 
 
 November 17th.—Called to-day again on Mr. M., 
 and found him willing to listen; though he did not 
 appear to be humble on account of his imperfections 
 in serving his Master. He now plainly told me, 
 that he firmly believed the whole Bible to be an 
 imposture; and that he could not think God was 
 such a cruel being as Moses, the Psalmist, and the 
 prophets describe him to be. As for Jesus Christ, 
 he could not tell whether such a man ever lived or 
 not, because he finds so many glaring contradictions 
 in the accounts given of him by the evangelists, and 
 more particularly as it regards the supposed event of 
 his resurrection. I asked him whether he had ever 
 accustomed himself to listen to, and ponder over, 
 sound and fair arguments, as it regards matters of 
 fact. “Yes, Sir, I am fond of argument, provided 
 a man argues philosophically—I mean, in such a 
 manner that my reason is able to comprehend both 
 the premises and the argument drawn from them; 
 and whatever others may believe, I know I am in the 
 right when rejecting everything that surpasses my 
 comprehension.” “ Were you ever in London ?” 
 “No, Sir.” “Did you know Voltaire, Tom Paine, 
 and others, whose works you possess?” “No.” 
 “Do you believe that there is such a place, and that 
 the books which are said to be written by those men 
 
TN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 97 
 
 are the works of their hands?” “Doubtless, Sir.” 
 “ Then what reason have you for believing this hook 
 —the Bible—to he an imposture ? and on what 
 ground do you reject the testimony of the apostles 
 and prophets ?” His answers were shrewd, and some 
 of them absurd. From his replies, I perceived that 
 he must have read Hume with much attention; and 
 therefore answered him with Paley’s arguments, hut 
 more particularly with Scripture; as, after all, this is, 
 and ever will he, the sword of the Spirit, whereby even 
 the mighty are discomfited, and must fall prostrate 
 before it. Four hours had passed; and, seeing that 
 little good was likely to result from carrying the con¬ 
 versation any further, I concluded by saying, “ With 
 all your wisdom, which more properly should he 
 called self-conceitedness, you are still an unhappy 
 man, and a slave to your passions; unhappy, because 
 there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; a 
 slave, because you are not yet come to Him who 
 has said. If the Son shall make you free, you shall 
 he free indeed.” 
 
 December 22nd.—Met this day with Mr. M., the 
 blacksmith, and entreated him to return to God with 
 a perfect heart. I enlarged upon the love of God 
 towards him—upon eternity and judgment to come— 
 the wretchedness of those who are lost—and the 
 blessedness of those who are saved. He deeply felt 
 what was said, and replied, “ Mr. Bernau, you cut me 
 to the quick; and, to tell you the truth, I have never 
 given these things any serious thoughts; hut I will 
 
98 MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 do so.” What a confession! Is not the manner of 
 this man like that of many who call themselves 
 sincere, and wish to appear in earnest about what 
 they speak and do, concerning religion ? I am per¬ 
 suaded that, if all infidels were to bethink themselves 
 as becomes reasonable and accountable beings, there 
 would he more devotedness to the cause of truth, and 
 less cavilling about mere fancies and lies. When 
 taking leave of him, I said, Cf Mr. M., God loves you, 
 but you hate yourself. Oh, turn to the Lord! why 
 will you die ?” He turned away, apparently much 
 affected, and said, “I see I must begin anew: may 
 God assist me!” 
 
 Berbice being, in the course of the same year, 
 divided into parishes, it was resolved by the Committee 
 that I should join the Berbice mission upon Mr. 
 Armstrongs resignation. This I effected in the 
 beginning of 1887, having previously visited the 
 Indians on the Corantyn, as has been stated above. 
 
OH APT EH IX. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OE MISSIONARY LABOURS AMONG THE INDIANS- 
 
 DIFFICULTIES, AND THE METHOD ADOPTED FOR OVERCOMING 
 
 THEM-MARRIAGE INTRODUCED-SCHOOLS, AND THE BLESSING 
 
 ATTENDING THEM. 
 
 QN arriving at the Grove, I was as much grieved as 
 astonished to find the settlement completely aban¬ 
 doned by all, except Mr. Youd. I was met by that 
 worthy and indefatigable man at the water side, who 
 told me the sorrowful tale with tears in his eyes. 
 How unsearchable are the Lord’s judgments, and his 
 ways past finding out! He does not give account of 
 his matters to sinful and short-sighted man, and it 
 becomes us to adore Him in dust and ashes. When 
 surveying the place where, hut a few months before, so 
 many had lived, worshipped, and rejoiced at hearing 
 the glad tidings of salvation, my heart sank within 
 me. But the thought, “ Shall not the Judge of all 
 the earth do right ?” silenced every unbelieving 
 thought, and inspired me with hope for the future. 
 It was agreed that Mr. Yond should take the travelling 
 department, and that I should remain at the Grove 
 T 2 
 
100 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Accordingly, Mr. Yond proceeded, as soon as the 
 season would allow of it, into the interior, with a 
 view of stirring up the Indians to seek for instruction, 
 and to settle at the mission. The huts of the few 
 Indians who had escaped from the measles having 
 been burnt, according to custom, the settlement pre¬ 
 sented a very mournful aspect. Mr. Youd’s cottage, 
 and a rude shed, used for worship, alone were left 
 standing. Being aware of the superstition prevalent 
 among the Indians, that “every place is haunted 
 where any have died,” I could not think of living in 
 Mr. Youd’s house, as most had died under its roof; 
 and as it had been resolved to move the house of Mr. 
 Armstrong from Bartica Point to the Grove, as soon 
 as a carpenter could be procured, I acquiesced in the 
 request of those concerned in the matter. I therefore 
 thought of putting up another, some hundred yards 
 distant from it, Accordingly, I went to engage a few 
 hands to assist in clearing away the forest; but to 
 my great surprise, the people ran away on my 
 approach. Compelled by necessity, I commenced the 
 work myself, and, with the aid of some boys, left by 
 Mr. Youd, I succeeded in clearing a place sufficient! 
 large to put up a hut. It was thatched with the leal 
 of the Aquiro palm, and completed in about six weeks. 
 In this humble cottage, I lived for about eighteen 
 months, content and happy; for “the kingdom of God 
 is not meat, or drink, but righteousness, and peace, 
 and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Possessing these, we 
 may be happy in any situation, and under all circum- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 101 
 
 stances. During the first years of my sojourn in that 
 wilderness, months passed away without my having 
 seen a white face, excepting those of my own family. 
 The morning would often provoke the question, “What 
 shall we eat, what shall we drink?” hut ere the evening 
 closed, we had reason to thank God for supplies 
 vouchsafed. Under circumstances like those, how 
 differently did we pray, “ Give us this day our daily 
 bread!” and how sweet and strengthening was the 
 promise, “Thy bread shall he given thee, and thy 
 water shall he sure!” I state this to show that, 
 although the Missionary may have privations to 
 endure, yet shall he obtain what is needful for him; 
 and, having food and raiment, let him he therewith 
 content. I cannot hut think that the privations of 
 a Missionary’s life have been greatly magnified; and 
 I venture to say that, perhaps, many a young soldier 
 has shrunk back from enlisting himself among the 
 small hand of Missionaries on that account. 
 
 Having completed my hut, I proceeded to visit the 
 Indian settlements around ; hut, wherever I made my 
 appearance, the children would scamper into the 
 hushes, their mothers following them uttering a fearful 
 shriek. The fathers, when at home, would grasp 
 their hows and arrows, and slowly follow after them. 
 It would not have been safe to remain, nor wise to go 
 after them, for they evidently seemed terrified when¬ 
 ever the Dominie made his appearance. The reason 
 of this their sudden fright emanated from the pei-men 
 (conjurers). “You see,” they said to the people. 
 
102 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 “ what has happened at the Grove; all that went there 
 have died. If the Dominie were to come near or touch 
 you, you would die likewise.” It is not difficult to 
 conceive that all this was believed by the Indians, for 
 they are exceedingly credulous in their savage state; 
 nor is this to he wondered at, when we remember what 
 in reality they had seen and heard. I persevered, 
 however, in my visits; and although no opportunity 
 offered, for a considerable time, to converse with them 
 concerning their souls, I still hoped that the frequency 
 of my visits would convince them of my good inten¬ 
 tions towards them. In this I was disappointed; and 
 I soon convinced myself that if I did not wish to 
 spend my strength in vain, I must think of some 
 means whereby to make them my friends. On read¬ 
 ing the words of the apostle, “ being crafty, I caught 
 you by guile,” I was led to adopt the following 
 method. Whenever I went on a visit to their respect¬ 
 ive settlements, I used to carry with me a large 
 supply of small biscuits; of these, I would throw a 
 handful over the heads of the children when about to 
 scamper away into the hushes. I did this twice or 
 thrice, and was not disappointed in my expectations, 
 for no sooner had I set my foot in a place than the 
 little creatures surrounded me on every side, asking, 
 “ Dominie, have you brought anything for us ? ” 
 “ Come and see,” was the reply; and they helped 
 themselves to as many as they pleased from my 
 pocket. They were soon convinced that, although 
 they had touched “ the troubler,” yet they did not die. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 108 
 
 The children remaining, the mothers did not ran off, 
 while the fathers were looking on. At last I began to 
 introduce the subject of religion—not by beginning to 
 upbraid them with their sinful practices, hut by simply 
 stating to them the great and glorious facts of the 
 Gospel. I told them that the Great Spirit loved 
 them, and that he “ So loved the world as to give his 
 only begotten Son, that whosoever helieveth in him 
 should not perish, hut have everlasting life.” To this 
 they replied, “We know that the Great Spirit is good, 
 for he does us no harm; hut where do you think all 
 our forefathers are ? ” I could not say they were in 
 heaven, and to say that they were in hell would only 
 have tended to exasperate them the more. Accord¬ 
 ingly I inquired, “ Where do you think they are ? ” 
 “ In the air,” they replied. “ Above the air is a place 
 which you call c ayumbanan,’ that is, heaven; there 
 the Great Spirit is, and thither it is his will that you 
 should go.” “ If our forefathers are not there,” they 
 answered, “we have no desire to go there; and if they 
 he in hell, we do not mind to go there also.” I said, 
 “ Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins; he 
 died for your sins and for mine.” “ We are no sin¬ 
 ners,” they replied: “ are you a sinner ? ” “ Yes,” I 
 
 answered. “We have never seen you drunk,” they 
 said; “ what have you done ? ” As it would he a 
 fruitless attempt to convince a blind man of the 
 difference of colours, so, until the heart of man is 
 made to feel its own bitterness, it will be useless to 
 convince it of sin. The understanding, indeed, may be 
 
104 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 convinced of this and that being wrong, and the con¬ 
 science may hear witness to the truth, but the heart 
 will remain indifferent, because it loves sin too dearly 
 to part with it on inferior considerations, unless the 
 Lord open it, as he did that of Lydia. Still must 
 we address ourselves not less to the understanding 
 than the heart, if peradventure God will give men 
 repentance unto life. “ Yes,” I said, “I am a sinner, 
 for, like yourselves, I lived for twenty-three years 
 in forgetfulness and ungratefulness. I knew, like you 
 do, that there is a God in heaven; a heaven to obtain, 
 a hell to he feared, and for all this I did not love him, 
 nor did I fear him, neither was thankful for the many 
 gifts of his providence.” “ Well,” said they, “what is 
 that to us? see thou to that.” “Suppose,” con¬ 
 tinued I, “ you have a friend to whom you show every 
 kindness; he eats and drinks with you, and comes 
 in and goes out as one belonging to your family; yet 
 that very man acts as if he had never known you, he 
 slights your kindness and never returns thanks for 
 what he has received : tell me what would you think 
 of that man ? ” “ He is a wakaiyatto,” that is, a had 
 
 man. “ True,” replied I, “ he is a had. man, and does 
 not deserve your love. You say that the Great Spirit 
 is good, and that you receive all that is good from 
 him alone, and yet you slight him, you live in forget¬ 
 fulness of him, and act as if you had never received 
 kindness from him; say, what must the Great Spirit 
 think of you Indians!” They paused and were 
 pensive. I looked at them, and at length said: “The 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 105 
 
 times of ignorance Giod hath winked at, hut now 
 he commandeth every man everywhere to repent.” 
 “ Eepent ye, therefore, and he converted, that your sins 
 may he blotted out.” As God has pardoned me, 
 although I lived for twenty-three years in forgetful¬ 
 ness of him, so will he pardon you if you believe on 
 Jesus Christ, who was “ delivered for our offences, and 
 raised again for our justification.” 
 
 The preaching to them Jesus, and his free grace,—a 
 free, full, and complete salvation,—proved to them the 
 “ savour of life unto life.” They felt astounded at the 
 love of God in Christ Jesus; they felt ashamed of 
 their past lives, and I had the joy of seeing these weary 
 wanderers shed tears in abundance. The stony heart 
 was smitten, and the waters of repentance gushed out. 
 To see an Indian cry from a sense of his guilt and 
 past ingratitude is the more remarkable, as no pain, 
 however severe, no loss, however great, can extort a 
 tear from him. My visits were then made more 
 frequently, and on leaving I often used to hear them 
 say, “ Dominie, come soon again, for we love to hear 
 more from you.” Thus five families were brought, 
 within one year, to the knowledge of the truth as it is 
 in Jesus. I now endeavoured to persuade them to 
 come to the mission, as much invaluable time was 
 taken up by crossing and recrossing the river. But 
 the fear of dying was not yet subdued, nor their faith 
 strong enough to triumph even over death. It was 
 therefore necessary that this point should not he 
 pressed too closely, hut left till they were able to bear 
 f 3 
 
106 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 it. At length I was cheered by hearing them say, “ If 
 you think it will be better for us and our children, we 
 will come and live near you.” They came and set to 
 work in clearing away the dense forest; they intended 
 to build their huts after their own fashion; but I 
 prevailed on them to build theirs after the pattern of 
 a hut which I had built myself, which hut, when 
 finished, I made a present to a widow woman. The 
 recollection of what took place at this time is amusing, 
 for it not unfrequently happened that, in the course of 
 one day, I was called to act as the minister, school¬ 
 master, carpenter, mason, doctor, and dentist. It will 
 be seen, from such a variety of occupations, that, 
 whatever talent the Lord has given us, may be pro¬ 
 fitably employed in the mission work. I have often 
 regretted my inability to help, to counsel, or to 
 instruct in things, which, in my younger years, I 
 fancied I should never have need of. But there is no 
 talent a Missionary possesses which may not be made 
 subservient to the glory of God and further the end 
 he has in view. This remark applies more especially 
 to the knowledge of medicine and surgery, because, by 
 showing kindness to suffering humanity, though men’s 
 hearts be ever so ungrateful and destitute of love, a 
 way is opened to their inmost recesses. It has been 
 well said, that “ kindness is the key to the human 
 heart;” and I can set my seal to the truth of it. How 
 futile is the observation, nay, how unjust the remark of 
 those who maintain that there is no room for the 
 exercise of talents in the mission field; and that less 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 107 
 
 talented men will do well enough for Missionaries, 
 while talent can he profitably employed nowhere hut 
 at home. He who was brought up at Gamaliel’s 
 feet did not judge thus; hut what things were gain 
 to him, those he counted loss for Christ, that he might 
 preach the unsearchable riches of Christ among the 
 Gentiles. 
 
 On the Indians settling down at the mission, it was 
 of the utmost importance not to allow any of their 
 heathenish customs, such as painting themselves and 
 dancing. These had formerly been allowed by the 
 Missionaries, in the hope that, on becoming Christians, 
 they perhaps would leave off practising them. But in 
 this my predecessors were sadly disappointed; nor 
 would it have been in their power to do away with 
 them without endangering the safety of the mission. 
 Whenever a disposition for these things was shown, I 
 would remonstrate kindly with the party in question ; 
 and if this failed, positively forbid them on pain of their 
 being obliged to quit the mission. It is much better 
 that there should he found in a mission one or two 
 holding forth the word of life, than hundreds or more, 
 professing godliness, hut denying the power thereof. 
 This circumstance is now so well known among the 
 heathen Indians, that they will never send invitations 
 to those at the mission ; nor are they offended in case 
 of a refusal, knowing that such things are deemed 
 frivolous, if not positively sinful, by our people. 
 With regard to polygamy, I endeavoured to act with 
 tenderness, yet decision, believing that, if allowed, it 
 
108 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 could not be otherwise than productive of great evils;. 
 One among the converts above mentioned, and the first 
 who wished to be baptized, had two wives who were 
 sisters, by both of whom he had children. When told 
 that, on becoming a Christian, he must put away either 
 one or the other, he said, “ That is very hard indeed, 
 for I love them both, and they are sisters.” He went 
 away in sorrow, and was evidently struggling hard with 
 his own feelings. He inquired again and again, why, 
 as a Christian, he should not be allowed to have more 
 than one wife ? It was now time fully to enter into 
 the subject, and, in conclusion, he was told that it was 
 better “ to enter maimed into the kingdom of heaven 
 than, having all our desires and wishes satisfied, to be 
 cast into hell at last.” This decided the case, and as 
 he was a conjurer, his example has exercised a vast 
 influence over others. He married the one and 
 divorced the other, the Missionary taking care of the 
 children. 
 
 Since then not less than seventy-three couples have 
 entered the holy estate of matrimony; and most asto¬ 
 nishing is the effect which this has produced upon the 
 heathens. On the day of marriage, a dinner is pro¬ 
 vided by the bridal pair for the relations and friends 
 who may happen to witness the ceremony. In the 
 course of the day an invitation is sent to the Mission¬ 
 ary, his wife, and children, to attend the festival, after 
 the hour of prayer, which is at seven o’clock in the 
 evening. If the persons to be married have lived 
 for any time in the conjugal relation, the Missionary 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 J 09 
 
 invariably accepts the invitation. On bis arrival a 
 few verses are sung, a suitable address given, a bless¬ 
 ing implored; and then, the cake having been cut, 
 and the health of the bridal pair proposed, he retires 
 at about nine o’clock. By eleven all the guests dis¬ 
 perse, each quietly proceeding to his home. If they 
 be young persons, and their conduct, prior to their 
 marriage, has been blameworthy, the Missionary in¬ 
 variably refuses to attend the festival. He has been 
 begged with tears to comply ; but it is not difficult to 
 see that, if the standard of morals and godly living is 
 to be promoted, it is necessary, on no considerations, 
 to yield to entreaty of any kind. This circumstance, 
 I am happy to state, has wrought very beneficially 
 upon the young people, and preserved them from sin 
 which otherwise they might have brought with them 
 into the married state. 
 
 I now proceeded to build a boys’ school, which may 
 be seen in the sketch as standing to the left of the 
 mission-house. Above the school is the dormitory, 
 and a room serving for a hospital; at the back of the 
 house are found accommodations for the teacher. 
 Behind and around the house is the garden, planted 
 by-the boys in their leisure hours. There were, when 
 I left in 1845, some fifty-six hoys, of whom twenty- 
 five were boarders, the rest day-scholars. 
 
 They are under instruction for five hours every day, 
 excepting Saturday. The first class are employed as 
 monitors and Sunday-school teachers; and, having 
 completed their fourteenth year, they are apprenticed 
 
110 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 in Georgetown to various trades. They are allowed 
 to choose what trade they please; and the Missionary’s 
 heart has been often greatly cheered by their con¬ 
 sistent conduct and Christian-like behaviour. To 
 keep up intercourse with them, I used to address a 
 letter conjointly to them, admonishing them to flee 
 youthful lusts, to shun evil companions, to he diligent 
 in the use of the means of grace ; and they, in return, 
 would write to me, individually, to advise them, or 
 supply the wants they might have. 
 
 Several of the boys have died a happy death. I 
 may he allowed to relate hut one instance. Mention 
 has been made of Aramoosy the chief’s son, who, in 
 Mr. Youd’s days, escaped death, when many died of 
 measles. For several years after, he kept aloof from 
 the mission ; but, being at length softened by the 
 death of four of his children, he consented to give the 
 remaining one to he educated in the school at the 
 Grove. From the commencement, this hoy appeared to 
 he influenced by the grace of God. He soon learned to 
 read, and, while the other children were playing, he 
 would go apart and study the New Testament. At 
 length he fell sick. His father, fearing he would die, 
 came and carried him off secretly into the woods, for 
 the purpose of conjuring the evil spirit on his behalf. 
 The hoy took with him his Testament, Prayer-hook, 
 and Hymn-hook, hut no one knew whither he had 
 been carried. On hearing that he had been carried 
 off, I gave my scholars a holiday in order that they 
 might seek in all directions for their companion. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 When they succeeded in finding him, I immediately 
 went to him. “ I am wretched, I am miserable,” said 
 the poor child ; “ Oh, take me back with you !” “ I 
 
 cannot,” I replied, “ without your father’s consent.” 
 Seeing the boy’s misery, Aramoosy, at length, con¬ 
 sented to bring him back the following day, when 
 he was placed in the hospital. When I visited him 
 I said to him, “ My child, where is your hope, for 
 I think you will not be much longer in this lower 
 world ?”■ He replied, “ You have often told us in 
 school that Jesus Christ shed his blood for sinners; 
 you also said that he invites children to come to him: 
 I have come to him.” “ Do you believe that your 
 sins are forgiven ?” “ I do believe,” he replied, “ that 
 
 he has forgiven my sins.” Some days after he said, 
 “ I believe that this will be my last day.” He was 
 prayed for and comforted. His father came to see 
 him, and he said to him, “ Father, God gave you five 
 children, and has taken them away one after another; 
 I am the last. I fear, if I had grown up, you would 
 not have given me up to God. You do not care what 
 the Dominie says, and when he begs you to come and 
 settle near him and learn about Jesus, you say, f Wait 
 a little.’ I fear the time Will never come.” The boy 
 was right, the “more convenient season” never did 
 come. Aramoosy died, some time after, in the woods. 
 He was, however, now greatly moved by his child’s 
 address; and, although an Indian, in his native state, 
 never weeps, when I met him, as he left his son, tears 
 were on his face; this being the only instance which has 
 
112 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 come to my knowledge where an Indian, in his uncon¬ 
 verted state, has heen seen to shed tears. “ What is 
 the matter ?” I inquired. Aramoosy made no reply, 
 and passed on. The child repeated what he had said 
 to his father; and when I asked whether he had spoken 
 with the duty and affection due to a parent, he replied, 
 that he thought he had; and added, that he hoped he 
 had not sinned in speaking to him. About midnight 
 he begged that the hoys, who were sleeping in the 
 adjoining room, would procure a light. This being 
 done, he requested that they would sing the hymn, 
 
 “ How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
 In a believer’s ear! 
 
 It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, 
 
 And drives away his fear.” 
 
 When that was ended, he said, “ I should like much 
 to see the Dominie once more;” hut when he was told 
 the hour, he observed, “No, he is tired; do not call 
 him.” He then requested the bystanders to pray; and 
 as they were praying around his hammock, his happy 
 spirit departed into the regions of bliss and glory. 
 
 Whilst Missionaries are thus obtaining seals to 
 their ministry, and encouraged to persevere in their 
 “ work of faith and labour of love,” instances are not 
 wanting which afford us proofs of the insufficiency of 
 any instruction, or care, and indeed of anything, save 
 the grace of God, to convert the heart of the sinner. 
 It is needful for us to know and feel this in the time of 
 success, that God alone may have the glory and praise. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 J13 
 
 It is true that he employs human instrumentality, and 
 hy the use of means accomplishes his greaf designs ; 
 hut who will dare to say that he cannot do without 
 either! “ Even a Paul may plant and an Apollos 
 water, it is God that giveth the increase.” Let him, 
 therefore, that glorieth, glory in the Lord. A boy of 
 the Accaway tribe fell sick in consequence of his being 
 addicted to eating clay and charcoal. Much pains 
 was taken to restore his health; hut, such was his 
 cunning, that he eluded his nurse to satisfy this unna¬ 
 tural propensity. It became evident that he could not 
 live much longer ; and the Missionary addressed him 
 with tenderness and affection on the concerns of his 
 soul. But the name of Jesus was grating to his ears; 
 and whenever he was spoken to, he would hide his 
 face in the blanket, and positively refuse to answer 
 any question relating to the state of his soul. He 
 departed, in a very unpromising state, during the 
 absence of the Missionary. 
 
 Two Oaraheese hoys were carried off hy their father 
 at night; no one being able to tell what had become of 
 them. They were seen some weeks after reeling about, 
 in a state of drunkenness, in the streets of George¬ 
 town. A Macusie hoy, of promising talent, was found 
 drowned at the waterside. Strange to say, he had 
 been left to perish in the woods hy his mother, he 
 being a twin brother, hut was rescued at the time hy a 
 distant relative, and sent down to the Grove. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS OR THE REV. T. YOUD, IN THE INTERIOR OR 
 BRITISH GUIANA—INTERRERENOE OR THE BRAZILIANS-RELIN¬ 
 QUISHMENT OR PINARA AND URWA-RORMING OR A NEW SET¬ 
 
 TLEMENT AT WARAPUTA—MILITARY EXPEDITION TO PINARA— 
 
 DEATH OR THE REV. T. YOUD-REV. J. PULL1TT-MR. EDM. 
 
 CHRISTIAN—LANGUISHING STATE OR THAT MISSION. 
 
 JN the year 1832, Mr. Armstrong had visited the 
 Macusie country; and the accounts he gave of the 
 readiness of the Indians to receive instruction, were 
 cheering and inviting. Mr. Youd arriving to assist him, 
 there was a probability that Mr. Armstrong, at some 
 future period, might settle amongst them. We have 
 se'en, however, that he was obliged to leave the mis¬ 
 sion on account of the failure of his health, and return 
 to England. It has also been noticed, that Mr. Youd 
 remained at the missionary station at the Grove, till 
 the writer arrived there, in the year 1837. As soon 
 as circumstances permitted, Mr. Youd proceeded on 
 his tour into the interior as far as Pinara, where he 
 intended to form a settlement. This happened at the 
 time when Sir Robert Schomburgh was engaged in 
 exploring the unknown regions of British Guiana; 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 115 
 
 and we cannot do better than adduce his testimony- 
 respecting the change that was effected. He says : 
 
 “ Three years had elapsed since my first visit, when, 
 in the (pursuit of discovery, I again approached 
 Pinara, and remarked with surprise and pleasure, the 
 appearance and number of dwellings which composed 
 the village. I counted upwards of thirty Indian huts, 
 the highest place being occupied by a building some¬ 
 what European in construction, the walls of which, 
 plastered by the red ochreous clay of the savannahs, 
 and the roof with gable-ends neatly thatched with palm- 
 leaves, formed a strong contrast to the surrounding 
 dome-shaped huts of the Indians. Another building, 
 a little to the east of the former, and of large dimen¬ 
 sions, but of similar construction, was in the course of 
 erection, and men, women, and children, appeared 
 equally eager to lend an assisting hand for its com¬ 
 pletion. This house was intended to be dedicated to 
 the service of the only true God, the former for the 
 dwelling of the Missionary, to whose arrival and resi¬ 
 dence among them they appeared to look forward with 
 great delight. It was pleasing to observe their zeal 
 in such a good cause, and the more so, when I con¬ 
 sidered that the light of Christianity had not yet been 
 diffused among them. Their wish to become Chris¬ 
 tians had been awakened by the temporary visit of a 
 Missionary, from the mission at Bartica Point, at the 
 confluence of the Mazaroony with the Essequibo, who, 
 as they expressed themselves, only opened the sacred 
 book, which the white man possessed, without telling 
 
116 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 them of its contents. In anticipation that their re¬ 
 quest for a Missionary to come and settle among 
 them -would he ultimately granted, they had begun 
 to erect these houses, according to their idea of the 
 mode of building among the white people, and twenty- 
 nine men of their tribe had been selected to proceed to 
 the coast region, in order to assist in conveying the 
 Missionary to his station. 
 
 “ While residing in this place, I was present at the 
 arrival of the first Protestant Missionary among the 
 Indians in the interior of British Guiana; and the joy 
 which it caused to those who were to he confided to 
 his spiritual care, although they were as yet walking 
 in perfect darkness, was a proof of their wish to 
 become Christians. The efforts of the Missionary 
 were crowned with success, and I have seen from four 
 to five hundred Indians assembled in the chapel; and 
 although, in the commencement, they attended in 
 their native and savage state, young and old ap¬ 
 peared equally zealous for conversion, and to receive 
 instruction. 
 
 “ The new mission at Pinara already promised the 
 best results, and at that period great changes might 
 he observed in the conduct and manners of the 
 Indians, when, under the plea of pressing natives for 
 the Brazilian imperial army, one of those slaving ex¬ 
 peditions arrived at San Joaquim, which, for ages, the 
 Brazilians have been in the too frequent habit of making, 
 and which have been the bane of the Indian races. 
 The expedition was to he directed against Pinara, 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 117 
 
 where, from the then populous state of that village, 
 they thought they might seize a large number of un¬ 
 suspecting natives. Many favourable circumstances 
 combined, enabled me to have some influence in 
 saving the new mission at Pinara from the evil effects 
 and subsequent miseries of a ‘ decimento,’ as those 
 slaving expeditions are called. It fell, however, upon 
 some settlements at the Ursato mountains, on the 
 eastern hank of the river Takutu, which they surprised 
 at midnight, and, having set fire to the houses, captured 
 the greater part of their inhabitants, and ransacked 
 the huts of every valuable article which they contained. 
 I saw, with the deepest sorrow, that the number of 
 those who were led away into slavery consisted of 
 forty inhabitants, namely, eighteen children under 
 twelve years of age, thirteen women, and nine men, of 
 whom only four were less than thirty years old, and 
 consequently fit for the avowed service of serving in 
 the imperial army. The sensation which these cruel 
 proceedings caused among the Indians at the new 
 mission cannot he described. Seven hundred of them 
 assembled at Pinara, where they thought that the 
 presence of the Missionary would protect them against 
 the barbarous atrocities of unprincipled men. 
 
 “ On our return from an exploring expedition to 
 Pinara, in May, 1839, we found it occupied by a 
 detachment of Brazilian national guards, under Sen- 
 hor Pedro Ayres. The church, in which formerly 
 hymns to the praise of our Lord had been sung, and 
 where the first seeds of Christianity had been sown 
 
118 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 among the benighted Indians, was now converted into 
 barracks, and was the theatre of obscene language and 
 nightly revels. Urgent business had called the Mis¬ 
 sionary to the colony, and during his absence, it had 
 been taken possession of by the Brazilians. On 
 his return, an official despatch was delivered to him 
 from the commander of the upper and lower Amazon, 
 who, it appears, assumed authority over Pinara, and 
 desired him to withdraw, and to disperse the mission. 
 The Brazilian detachment had orders to see the 
 mandate obeyed, or to enforce it in case of refusal. 
 The Missionary removed to the eastern hank of the 
 Bupununi, and after his departure the inhabitants of 
 Pinara dispersed, and have since wandered about the 
 wilderness. Too many desolated places are now to 
 be seen in the savannahs, which were once the site of 
 villages, and which met with a similar fate. May the 
 moment soon arrive when the boundaries of the rich 
 and fertile colony of British Guiana shall he clearly 
 defined! then only, can peace and happiness he insured 
 to the poor remnants of those who once roved in full 
 supremacy over the soil which Europeans and their 
 descendants have usurped. Taught by the past, let 
 them settle on the British side of the frontier, and 
 they shall soon he aware, that 
 
 “‘Where Britain’s power is felt, 
 
 Mankind will feel her blessings too.’” 
 
 Thus far the relation of Sir R. Schomburgh ; we now 
 accompany the Missionary in his travels and future 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 119 
 
 labours till the time when his Master called him to 
 his rest. 
 
 Mr. Youd having obtained holy orders from the 
 Bishop of Barbadoes, and completed his preparations, 
 proceeded on his missionary tour in the beginning of 
 the year 1838. In his way to Pinara he had to en¬ 
 counter many dangers in ascending the rapids, but, 
 after a sail of five weeks, he safely reached the place. 
 We have heard of his welcome from the natives, and 
 may suppose that his heart was greatly cheered after 
 what he had been called to endure at the Grove. He 
 describes his first Sabbath among them thus:— 
 “Early on the Sabbath morning the whole village was 
 alive to see what would be done. My dwelling, in 
 which, since my arrival, I had made two windows, was 
 thronged; and through every crevice in the wall, as 
 well as through the door and window, the eyes of the 
 natives were gazing at me. When I had put on my 
 robes, there was a general rush to the chapel, and the 
 people stood in groups around the posts, until entreated 
 to be seated on the trunks of trees which were laid for 
 their convenience. Hymns were sung in the Macusie 
 language, and these, with a prayer offered by the inter¬ 
 preter, in the same language, pleased them much.” Mr. 
 Youd then explained to them his intentions; told them 
 of the Christian people in England and the concern 
 they felt for the Indians and the heathen in general. 
 “I am come,” he continued, “to take up my abode 
 among you, and from time to time to pay visits to all 
 the different tribes around you. I shall remain at 
 
120 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Pinara for the present, and hold daily service and 
 school for yonr benefit. I also thank yon most 
 cordially for the pains yon have taken in building a 
 house of God and a dwelling for the Dominie.” To 
 this address the chief replied, “We have done it; and 
 now you have come among us all is good : yes, all is 
 good: you will sit well.” 
 
 The appearance of the congregation was most 
 extraordinary. All, except the chief, were well painted 
 on the forehead, face, arms, and legs. Some had 
 cutlasses, others bows and arrows. One had a monkey 
 on his back, others wreaths and crowns of feathers; 
 some with belts of wild hogs’ teeth from the top of 
 their shoulders, crossing the breast and hack and 
 falling on the hip on the opposite side; others with 
 knives, sticks, and other things. Some were engaged 
 in cutting their nails, or some small sticks, others in 
 detecting the vermin which abounded; some stood or 
 sat with their backs to the preacher, and others leaned 
 against the posts. The number present within the 
 chapel was a hundred and fifty-six. The afternoon 
 service was attended with more devotion, and the day 
 closed with an English service for those who under¬ 
 stood it. 
 
 After a short time, a padre (Roman Catholic priest) 
 made his appearance at Pinara, and having taken a 
 comprehensive survey of what was going on, he dis¬ 
 appeared on a sudden. Mr. Youd, in the beginning 
 of the year 1839, returned on a visit to the Grove, and 
 thence to Georgetown; and great was the joy of his 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 121 
 
 hearers when he told them of the progressive work 
 among the Indians. Of some who had died during 
 the course of the year, he had reason to believe that 
 they departed this life calling upon the Lord Jesus, 
 and their end was peace. Others he overheard pray¬ 
 ing at midnight in their huts or in the adjoining 
 hushes ; and many gave evidences of the grace of God 
 working in their hearts. Mr. Youd made rapid pro¬ 
 gress in acquiring the language, and within a twelve- 
 month he was able to dispense with his interpreter, 
 who frequently made great blunders in stating the 
 meaning of the Missionary. On his return to Pinara, 
 he had a narrow escape from being bitten or strangled 
 to death by a large snake, the account of which, as 
 given by him to the writer, is as- follows:—On a fine 
 morning, when they were quietly paddling along, the 
 Indians observed a snake swimming across the river. 
 They at first halted to obtain a nearer sight of the 
 creature, but on perceiving that he was making his 
 way for the canoe, Mr. Youd directed them to proceed 
 with all speed. Soon, however, the snake had over¬ 
 taken them;. a scuffle ensued, the Indians striking 
 him with their paddles; he became greatly enraged, 
 and raising himself over their heads, he dropped into 
 the canoe in the midst of them. In a moment every 
 Indian was in the river, diving and swimming from the 
 canoe. Mr. Youd grasped a cutlass, and, just when the 
 monster was raising himself a second time to make an 
 attack, he fortunately struck a blow a few inches below 
 his head, and cut through the vertebrae. It dropped 
 
122 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 into the canoe struggling, and Mr. Youd soon de¬ 
 spatched him hy a few more blows. He measured 
 thirty-one feet, and his body was the size of a stout 
 man’s leg. It was a fortunate circumstance that the 
 blow fell just below the head, where his body was 
 no thicker than a man’s arm, and the skin not so 
 tough as in other parts. 
 
 Great was his astonishment when, on his arrival at 
 Pinara, he found it occupied hy troops. He obeyed 
 the mandate which required him to withdraw, and 
 commenced another settlement at the Urwa rapids, 
 hoping that the Indians would soon follow him. 
 With much labour he cleared the dense forest, and 
 planted a large field; hut he suffered much from 
 fever; still he was cheered hy seeing mauy of the 
 people come flocking to him. The Indians were 
 positively forbidden by the Brazilians to settle with 
 the Missionary; and a promise was held out to 
 them that a padre would soon arrive to make them 
 Christians. Those, therefore, who went to the Mis¬ 
 sionary had to forsake their all, for if they had hap¬ 
 pened to return and he caught, they would have been 
 carried away as slaves to the Brazils. The padre at 
 length appeared, the same who had been at Pinara 
 before, and took possession of the Missionary’s house. 
 Those of the Indians who were desirous of becoming 
 Christians, were baptized, and some badge, the cross, 
 or rosary, was affixed to them, to distinguish them 
 from, others. Under such circumstances it is not 
 surprising that a Protestant Missionary should lose 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 123 
 
 ground and feel discouraged. Mr. Youd, however 
 still held on, hoping for brighter days. About this 
 time it pleased God to take from him by death his 
 beloved wife. Her departure was sudden; after a 
 very short illness. Many of the Indians were much 
 affected by the loss, and eighty of them attended her 
 funeral. It is her husband’s testimony of her, that 
 Christ was all in all to her, that she was a woman of 
 much prayer, well read in the Scriptures, and that she 
 lived near to God; and, consequently, he doubted not 
 that his loss was her unspeakable gain. 
 
 It doubtless added to his trial, in leaving Urwa 
 rapids, to leave there the grave of his wife, unknown 
 and uncared for; but he well knew that there is an 
 Eye which marks that burying-ground; and when the 
 archangel’s trump shall sound, that dust, now mixed 
 with the Indian soil, will arise and reunite with the 
 spirit, and, clothed with immortality, rejoice with him 
 for ever, that God had permitted her the privilege 
 of taking any share in the extension of his kingdom 
 which is never to end. “ Precious in the eyes of the 
 Lord is the death of his saints.” 
 
 Soon after Mrs. Youd’s departure to a better world, 
 he received orders to quit that settlement likewise. 
 There was no other alternative but to obey, for might, 
 as it is said, makes right. On his arrival in the 
 colony, however, he laid the papers before the 
 governor, who forwarded them to the colonial secre¬ 
 tary. The government at home, considering these 
 proceedings on the side of the Brazilians unjustifiable, 
 g 2 
 
124 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 as encroaching upon the British frontiers, meditated a 
 demonstration to that effect. 
 
 When the Committee of the Church Missionary 
 Society were put in possession of all these occurrences, 
 they resolved to withdraw their Missionary from the 
 disputed boundary line, so as to have no concern 
 whatever with questions of a political nature. Accord¬ 
 ingly, Mr. Youd was instructed to proceed down the 
 river as far as Waraputa rapids, and there to com¬ 
 mence a mission. It was hoped that many of the 
 Indians would resort thither, and, from its geogra¬ 
 phical position, have nothing to fear from the 
 Brazilians. The Missionary was cheered by seeing 
 many come down, and in less than a year there 
 were found above a hundred settlers. To strengthen 
 his hands, I parted with Mr. Dayce, who had been 
 labouring as a catechist for some time past at Cartaho 
 among the Carabeese. The dark cloud seemed to 
 have passed, and the sun shone forth as brightly as 
 ever upon those benighted regions. It was, however, 
 not long before the horizon became as dark as before, 
 for a military expedition to Pinara had been resolved 
 on by the home government, and Mr. Youd was 
 requested to accompany these troops both as inter¬ 
 preter and to facilitate the obtaining of supplies. 
 
 This circumstance proved detrimental to the new 
 settlement, for all the Indians, when observing what 
 was doing, and hoping to see their wrongs revenged, 
 by the British soldiers, left the place and followed the 
 Missionary. The detachment consisted of upwards of 
 


IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 125 
 
 sixty men, rank and file; and when I saw them arrive 
 at the Grove, and learnt their destination, I could not 
 hut grieve and fear the worst. 
 
 The priest having been informed that a detachment 
 of British soldiers was approaching, quitted Pinara 
 and fled to the Brazilian fort San Joaquim. Mean¬ 
 while, possession was taken of Pinara by the soldiers; 
 a fort was constructed, and the British flag was seen 
 waving in the midst of it. Hundreds of Indians 
 collected from all quarters, and the Missionary was 
 once more permitted to occupy the chapel and his 
 dwelling-house. But the place did not exhibit the 
 same peaceful and orderly appearance as before, for, 
 notwithstanding all discipline, it frequently occurred 
 that depredations and excesses of all kinds were com¬ 
 mitted by the soldiers on the Indian females. The 
 Indians complained bitterly to the Missionary, but 
 his remonstrances proved ineffectual; and he was 
 soon convinced that the kingdom of God is not to 
 he promoted “ by power nor by might” of the 
 secular arm. 
 
 The Indians, instead of following their peaceful 
 occupation, were encouraged by the officers to pro¬ 
 secute the arts of war, and from morning to night 
 there would he seen groups here and there shooting 
 at a target. It was with great difficulty that supplies 
 could he obtained, and the Missionary had to exert 
 every influence to save the soldiers from starving. 
 This state of things lasted upwards of seven months, 
 when on a sudden the detachment was recalled, a 
 
126 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 report having been circulated that three thousand 
 Brazilians had been ordered to displace the British. 
 The fort was speedily blown up, the soldiers retired, 
 and the Indians dispersed into the forests. The 
 Missionary retired to Waraputa, not without painful 
 reflections on what had passed; and he was after¬ 
 wards heard to say, “that if he had to begin 
 anew, he certainly would take care not to have 
 anything to do with questions of a political nature 
 and tendency.” 
 
 It was agreed on by both governments that Pinara 
 should he considered neutral ground till the boundary 
 line could he definitely settled by a commission from 
 either side to he appointed for that purpose. But up 
 to this time things have remained in statu quo , and 
 probably will remain so, there being no immediate 
 interests at stake. The interior is too far distant, and 
 the country so extensive, that hundreds of thousands 
 may go and settle without at all interfering with the 
 Brazils. The Indians alone will he the losers; hut, 
 taught by the past, we may hope that the fear of being 
 carried into slavery will influence them to retire into 
 the British territory, where they will he easier of 
 access for the Missionaries. And although it has 
 been asserted, that the Indians brought up in the 
 savannahs of the interior, cannot live in the lower 
 regions, the fact remains to he proved, there being no 
 precedent to justify such a conclusion. 
 
 The padre, not regarding the stipulations, has 
 resumed his post, and there is little doubt that most 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 127 
 
 of the Indians thereabout have been made nominal 
 Christians. Their zeal assuredly is worthy of a 
 better cause,—let hut Protestants consider their re¬ 
 sponsibility. 
 
 On Mr. Youd’s return to Waraputa, he found the 
 place almost forsaken, the fields robbed by strangers, 
 while his declining health imperatively demanded a 
 change. Ever since his leaving Urwa rapids, he had 
 been suffering from fever in consequence of poison 
 administered to him, as there are reasons for suspect¬ 
 ing, by one of the Indians. When there, it happened 
 that two- lads came to him for instruction, and one of 
 them caused great joy to the Missionary, as he seemed 
 to he a subject of grace. On a certain day, the hoys 
 having been with the Missionary upwards of ten 
 months, the father came to summon them to attend a 
 dance. He told the Missionary of his intention, who 
 very properly replied, that if the hoys chose to go, he 
 could not have any objection to their doing so. The 
 hoys, however, refused their father’s request, pointing 
 out the dire consequences attending such revels. The 
 father, believing the Missionary had influenced them, 
 swore that he should pay for it with his life. On the 
 next day he sent a leg of deer, which, there is too 
 much reason to fear, he had poisoned; for Mr. and 
 Mrs. Youd, having partaken of it, were soon afterwards 
 taken ill. Mrs. Y. being near her confinement, refused 
 to have recourse to an emetic, and died in the course of 
 the same night; whilst himself, having taken one, by 
 that means saved his life. But when an Indian has once 
 
128 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 determined the death of a person, he will not rest till he 
 has accomplished his design. Accordingly, not many 
 days after, it would appear that he must have adminis¬ 
 tered a second dose through a second hand to avoid 
 suspicion. Mr. Youd saved himself hy means of an¬ 
 other emetic, hut became seriously indisposed, a low 
 fever seldom leaving him from that time. Just then it 
 happened that he was directed to quit that settlement 
 and form another at Waraputa. Although much weak¬ 
 ened, the change at first seemed to do him good, and 
 the Indian probably lost sight of him for a considerable 
 time. After his return from Pinara, however, the same 
 person made his appearance also at the latter place, 
 and must, somehow or other, have administered a third 
 dose, in which he fully succeeded. Mr. Youd having 
 fallen asleep at his meal for the space of an hour, on 
 his awaking, occasioned hy acute pain, he had recourse 
 to an emetic again ; hut it was too late, and the poison 
 took its full effects. He then tried other remedies 
 which lengthened his life, hut so weakened him, that, 
 after a fortnight’s time, he died on his passage home. 
 
 On hearing of his death, I mentioned the fact to the 
 Indians at Bartica Grove, and great was their sorrow 
 and emotion at the time, he having been respected 
 and loved hy them all. The mournful intelligence 
 soon spread and reached Waraputa, where the old 
 Indian was still living. On his hearing of it he said, 
 “ Now it is all wellwent and discharged his gun, 
 which is with them a token of joy, and loaded it a 
 second time, when, behold, it hurst, and in a few 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 129 
 
 minutes lie was a corpse, the artery of the left arm 
 having been torn asunder. 
 
 When I heard of the strange behaviour of this 
 Indian, I thought it my duty to make inquiries, and 
 found that there were too good grounds for suspecting 
 the cook was aware of all that had passed, hut, fearing 
 her life would be required for that of the Missionary’s, 
 she did not reveal it to him. Mr. Youd was a zealous 
 and most indefatigable Missionary, and the last day will 
 testify that his labour has not been in vain. It must 
 he said of him that he served the Lord with a devoted 
 heart, and that, in his lonely travels in those wilds, he 
 bore with submission the many trials and privations 
 incident to a missionary life. The Lord has given 
 him rest from his labours, and his works follow him. 
 
 Mr. Dayce, the catechist, having been dismissed 
 from the mission, I placed William Simmons, a native 
 teacher, there till another Missionary should arrive. 
 This well-meaning young man, I grieve to relate, soon 
 became incapacitated for the charge in consequence of 
 sustaining a coup de soleil, from the effects of which 
 he is never likely fully to recover. It was, therefore, 
 with heartfelt pleasure that I welcomed the Eev. Mr. 
 Pollitt, who formerly had been labouring as a cate¬ 
 chist in the island of Jamaica, and who was sent to 
 supply the place of Mr. Youd. It gave me great plea¬ 
 sure to accompany Mr. Pollitt to his allotted sphere of 
 labour, and the delightful trip will not soon he for¬ 
 gotten. Great as was my joy when, after six days’ 
 hard labour, we arrived at Waraputa, the disappoint- 
 G 3 
 
130 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 ment, on seeing the place, was no less keenly felt. 
 
 “ Is this the place ! ” I exclaimed; “ all overgrown 
 with grass, and hut a handful of people ! ” But who 
 will wonder when it is remembered that, after Mr. 
 Youd’s return from Pinara, he found Waraputa no 
 more what it had been before ? Most of those Indians 
 who accompanied him there did not return again, hut 
 dispersed into the forests. Mr. Pollitt, however, was 
 soon reconciled to the idea of being banished from all 
 civilised society and intercourse with Christian bre¬ 
 thren ; and in the hope that within a short period 
 things would assume another and more promising 
 aspect, he returned to the Grove. Having completed 
 his preparations, himself, Mrs. Pollitt, and two children 
 proceeded on their way with a crew from the latter 
 place. Mrs. P., from not being accustomed to travel 
 in a canoe, became seriously ill; hut, after some delay 
 in consequence of her indisposition, all arrived safely 
 at the station. While there, Mr. Pollitt made prepa¬ 
 ration for building another dwelling-house, as the one 
 they occupied was found to he in a very dilapidated 
 state. He also set the Indians to work at squaring 
 stones for a new chapel, to the building of which 
 Government had given the munificent sum of £500. 
 His hopes revived when he saw the work progress 
 ing, and he began to feel reconciled to his solitary 
 situation. After some months had passed he returned 
 to the Grove, and thence to town to lay in a supply of 
 needful articles, hut on his return he met with an 
 accident which would have proved fatal to himself and 
 
IN BKITISH GUIANA. 
 
 131 
 
 others of his crew, hut for the kind providence of his 
 heavenly Father. Having been absent from home for 
 more than three weeks, it was natural enough that he 
 should wish to see his family; and as the morrow was 
 the day of rest, his desire of reaching the place ere 
 that day should dawn upon him was heightened by the 
 prospect of joining his people in the house of prayer. 
 Accordingly, he charged the Indians to proceed on their 
 way as soon as the moon was up. They did so while 
 he took some repose under his little tent affixed to the 
 canoe. It was about two o’clock in the morning when 
 they arrived at one of the rapids. They endeavoured 
 to ascend, hut being weak-handed, and not able to see 
 their way clearly, they failed in the attempt. At this 
 moment Mr. Pollitt was providentially roused out of 
 his sleep; he heard the thundering noise of the waters, 
 arose from his couch, and had just time enough to 
 grasp one of the hushes which grow on the rocks. 
 At the same time the canoe upset, and all the people, 
 together with what it contained, drifted down the river. 
 As to the Indians, not one was lost, for they saved 
 themselves by means of their paddles, and by clinging 
 to the canoe, although it was filled with water. As 
 soon as they found it practicable they succeeded in 
 emptying the canoe, which they do by pushing it to 
 and fro ; and having accomplished this, they proceeded 
 to look for the Dominie. Mr. Pollitt was all the time 
 in imminent danger of being drowned; the torrent 
 causing him to move incessantly from one side to the 
 other, had tired him; he wished to let go his hand, 
 
132 - 
 
 MISS10NARY LABOURS 
 
 but found it so cramped that he was not able. At 
 this moment his sufferings were so great, that death 
 itself appeared desirable to him, for on that very hush 
 a species of stinging ants had made their nest, and 
 these assailed him all over his body when it was 
 above water. In this perilous situation he remained 
 for several hours praying that the Lord might speedily 
 deliver him by some means or other, either for life or 
 by death. At last he heard the stroke of the paddles 
 upon the canoe, and not many minutes had passed 
 before the Indians came up and delivered him from 
 the imminent danger he was in. Of the articles he 
 had brought with him there remained nothing but one 
 gun. Having no change, he travelled on with his wet 
 clothes upon him, which brought on fever, from which 
 he did not recover till his return to England. 
 
 It may be considered with what surprise and feelings 
 of gratitude to Almighty God those at home, to whom 
 he had been spared, listened to the account given by 
 him of his adventure. And, although now so far 
 removed from each other, he having gone to New 
 South Wales to sow there the seeds of the everlasting 
 word, the writer cannot close this mention of his friend 
 without wishing him good luck in the name of the Lord. 
 
 Mr. Pollitt having returned to England, it was 
 resolved by the Committee that Mr. Edmund Christian, 
 a catechist, should occupy this station. He accepted 
 the call with pleasure, but soon found that his health 
 and strength were not equal to the task; and he was 
 compelled likewise to return home for the restoration 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 133 
 
 of his health. The station has since been occupied by 
 William Simmons, mentioned above, hut is in a 
 languishing state, there being hut few Indians at the 
 place. It is melancholy to reflect, that, after so much 
 strength and labour spent, so little should have been 
 accomplished. But brighter days may yet he in store 
 for those benighted people; and the time may not he 
 far distant when there, even, “ instead of the thorn shall 
 come up the fir-tree, and instead of the briar shall 
 spring up the myrtle-tree.” 
 
 Although hut a slight impression has been made 
 upon the Indians in general, by the successive la¬ 
 bourers in the interior, the seed sown by the Mission¬ 
 aries has in some instances sprung up, and brought 
 forth its fruit. Among others, I may mention Erie, 
 the son of a chieftain, who is now employed as a 
 teacher at Bartica Grove, and of whom more hereafter. 
 “ There are,” writes Mr. Youd, in his journal, when at 
 Waraputa, “some who appear to he not far from the 
 kingdom of God. Erie and Alfred, a Macusie youth, 
 brought up at the Grove, have finished their houses, 
 and use every exertion to induce their countrymen to 
 come and hear the word of God. Erie talks to his 
 people by night, as they lie in their hammocks, 
 smoking cigars, not far from a blazing fire. This is 
 the time for thought among the Indians, when they 
 weigh leisurely whatever they may have to think about. 
 The chief began himself to feel the depravity of the 
 human heart, and to weigh the things of time in the 
 balances of the sanctuary. He said to his people, ‘ I 
 
134 MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUTANA. 
 
 have tried sin, and done evil enough in my day; but 
 it brings sorrow to the mind;—that I can tell from 
 experience . 5 ” 
 
 When an Indian begins to pay attention to the 
 word of God, the change wrought in him is astonish¬ 
 ing; his manner and actions are quite altered, and he 
 says, “I am coming out of ignorance.” 
 
 Mr. Youd asked a Macusie Indian, “ What he 
 thought would become of us when we died ? 55 He 
 replied, that “he thought our bodies would remain in 
 the earth, and decay; hut that the man in our eyes 
 would not die, hut wander about.” 
 
 When taking a retrospect of his work, Mr. Youd 
 observes, that “of all his labours among the Indians, 
 he looked hack with most pleasure on the work 
 God had enabled him to commence among the Macu¬ 
 sie and other tribes, in the interior; and he fully 
 believed that they were prepared to receive the Gospel. 
 He rejoiced that he had ever attempted to labour 
 among them, although he had suffered severely from 
 illness, and domestic trials.” 
 
 Mr. Youd, as has been stated, died on his passage 
 home, and his body, consigned to a watery grave, is 
 awaiting that glorious day, when the sea also shall 
 give up its dead; and having sown in tears, he shall 
 reap in joy. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, hear¬ 
 ing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with 
 rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 BLESSING ATTENDING MISSIONARY LABOURS AT THE GROVE- 
 
 FRANZEN AND HIS CHILDREN—METHOD OE TRAINING AND 
 EDUCATING THE CHILDREN—DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOL AND 
 CHURCH. 
 
 'J'HE writer has stated, elsewhere, his mode of pro¬ 
 ceeding in order to overcome the prejudices of the 
 Indians, and to induce them to listen to the message 
 of the Gospel. He succeeded beyond expectation, 
 and, sooner than he could himself have believed, they 
 gave heed to the word that was spoken. The preach¬ 
 ing of Christ crucified attracted their attention; and, 
 overwhelmed by the love he has shown to us, they 
 became convinced of their awful state, and the need of 
 such a Saviour. Of one and another, it might have 
 been said, “Behold, he prayeth!” nor did they ask in 
 vain of that God “ who is no respecter of persons, hut 
 giveth liberally and uphraideth not.” Those of their 
 number whom I found most intelligent, and able to 
 communicate their ideas with some degree of facility 
 and perspicuity, I began to instruct daily, with a view of 
 training them up as teachers. These were instructed 
 
136 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 for the space of eighteen months, and being furnished 
 with some knowledge of Scripture, and ripened by 
 experience, they were admitted into the visible church 
 of God, by the ordinance of baptism. One of 
 this number, named Franzen, who had become im¬ 
 pressed by the word under Mr. Youd’s ministry, hut 
 had never been able to overcome his prejudices en¬ 
 tirely, now came and built his house at the Grove. 
 In his younger years, he had lived a dissipated life, 
 and was renowned among his people as a great pei- 
 man. It pleased the Lord to call him to the know¬ 
 ledge of his truth, and by it, to break through all that 
 would hinder him from serving him with a devoted 
 heart. Most cheerfully did he dedicate himself to the 
 work of teaching, and became very humble, the more 
 he learnt to understand the glorious truths of our 
 holy faith. It was his only grief, that he could not 
 serve the Lord as he wished to do, and this because of 
 his ignorance and weakness. The seventh chapter of 
 the Epistle to the Romans was of great service to him 
 in this his mental struggle; and although he was con¬ 
 scious of his own infirmity, he learnt to depend on 
 that grace which is made perfect in our weakness. 
 Often have I heard him speak, with a glowing heart, 
 of the love of Jesus, earnestly inviting and entreating, 
 with tears, the people of his tribe to turn to the living 
 God. Being one night out fishing, he caught a 
 severe cold; and from that time his health began 
 rapidly to decline. I saw him almost daily; and 
 when telling him, one day, that this trial was likely to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 187 
 
 be his last, his eyes brightened, and, taking me by the 
 hand, he said, “Then.yon think I am so near heaven? 
 now, then, I will begin to settle my affairs, and only think 
 on Jesus; for, since I have known aright what He has 
 done, I have ever wished to be with him.” On my 
 reading some verses of Romans viii., he remarked, 
 “That is a lovely word, blessed Lord! and I thank 
 thee that I feel persuaded, that nothing in heaven or 
 earth shall ever separate me from thee.” The day 
 previous to his departure, he sent for the Dominie, 
 saying, “I have called you to settle all about my wife 
 and children. I feel persuaded that you will be their 
 father.” Then, calling in his three children, he said, 
 “My dear children, you have no father; but the 
 Dominie will be all to you: follow him, love him, 
 learn well, and soon we shall see each other again. 
 I am going to your mother”—she being dead. “Oh! 
 my dear children ! love your Saviour; for you know 
 that he died for us. Will not you love him ? ” He 
 then gave each a blessing; and j oining their hands with 
 mine, said, “Go now with your father. Why do you 
 weep ? I know he will care for you.” After a little 
 pause, he said, “ Pray, oh pray ! ”—He was asked, 
 “Do you feel happy?” “Very happy; but some¬ 
 times I seem to be alone, as if walking in the bush: 
 at other times, it is dark all about me. But here,” 
 laying his hand upon his hreast, “here is light—here 
 is rest! I am very happy ! ” On leaving, I observed, 
 “Franzen, look to Jesus. He will guide you till”— 
 “ Yes. Farewell, Dominie; soon we shall meet again! ” 
 
138 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 I called on him the following morning, hnt he seemed 
 not to notice anything around him; his lips were 
 moving, as if he were engaged in prayer. We all 
 knelt at his bedside, commending his soul to the good 
 Shepherd; and after a few hours, he entered into his 
 rest. “Look ye and see, and mark the death of the 
 righteous, for his end is peace.” 
 
 The next who followed his immortal spirit into 
 glory everlasting, was his favourite daughter Amelia. 
 The death of her father seemed to make a deep 
 impression upon her, and her sickly body soon began 
 to show that she would not he much longer in this 
 lower world. Tor some weeks she lived with us; hut 
 when she became unable to leave her hammock, she 
 desired to he carried to her late father’s cottage. 
 Here the Missionary visited her often; and though hut 
 seven years old, she was prepared to enter into her 
 rest. Many happy hours did I spend by her side. 
 One day, when I was praying with the dear child, she 
 pressed my hand, saying, “Thank you, sir! thank 
 you! ” At another time, having read to her about the 
 new Jerusalem, she sat up in her hammock, and 
 cheerfully discoursed on the subject: “Oh, yes!” she 
 said, “soon I shall he there.” On being asked, what 
 made her believe that she should go there? she said, 
 “Did not Jesus die for me also?”—“But you are a 
 child: do you think you are so great a sinner as many 
 others?” “Yes, sir, I am a child; hut you have often 
 told us, that even children need to pray for pardon, 
 and for grace to change their hearts. I have thought 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 139 
 
 on these words, and prayed, and oh!”—here she 
 sighed deeply, and wept—“I have felt my heart to he 
 very sinful; hut I know that Jesus has forgiven; 
 Jesus has adopted me as one of his.” “But you are 
 yet young; would you not wish to live a little 
 longer?” “Yes, I might wish it; hut I am afraid I 
 should he unthankful to my Saviour. I remember, you 
 have told us”—meaning in school—“that in heaven 
 there is no more sin, nor grief, nor death: thither I 
 wish to go; and”—pausing a little—“soon I shall he 
 there.” She was hastening to her rest faster than I 
 anticipated; and not having paid her a visit for 
 several days, she sent to inform me, that she was 
 going away, and wished to see me. I went, and con¬ 
 versed with her on the joys of heaven; hut, being 
 very weak, she appeared to take little notice of 
 what was said. Having read, and prayed that the 
 Lord in mercy might shorten her trial, and receive her 
 into the joys of heaven, she raised herself, and uttered 
 a loud and hearty Amen. Being asked, “ Are you in 
 great pain ? ” she replied, “ Yes, sir, it is very great, 
 hut—” “Do you wish for anything I can do for 
 you?” “No, sir; hut”—with a faltering voice, she 
 said, “ will you please send a little coffee, sugar, and 
 some candles, for I should like my brother and sister 
 to watch over me?” “Well, do you wish for any¬ 
 thing else?” “No, sir, I shall want nothing at all; 
 for my friends I ask it: to-night I shall he in 
 heaven.” She then called, “John! where are you, 
 my brother?” John drawing near to the side of her 
 
140 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 hammock, she said, “Please watch over me this 
 night, also my sister Leonora: and mind yon love 
 Jesus—see, I am very happy; I die.” Her feelings 
 overpowering her, she reclined in her hammock, and 
 after a few hours breathed her last. 
 
 She was certainly a very remarkable child. When¬ 
 ever she was at leisure, at home or in school, she 
 would sit in some corner, with her little Testament or 
 hymn-hook open, and, though often urged to join the 
 other children in their amusements, she constantly 
 refused. She read and spoke English well, and com¬ 
 mitted a great portion of Scripture and many hymns 
 to memory, apparently much pleased when she could 
 say her tasks well. 
 
 Her elder sister did not long survive her; and she, 
 also, died the death of the righteous, having sought 
 and found pardon, through faith in the Saviour. She 
 was about twelve years of age, and, having lived for 
 some considerable time under our roof, she had made 
 much progress, both in learning and domestic con¬ 
 cerns. When she was taken seriously ill, I often 
 conversed with her, but found her more reserved than 
 her sister had been. She seemed, however, perfectly 
 resigned to Gods holy will and pleasure, and I never 
 heard her utter a complaint, though she must have 
 been a great sufferer. When opening to her the con¬ 
 dition she was in, she replied—“I thank the blessed 
 Jesus, for his mercy bestowed on me.” I asked, “Do 
 you, can you trust your soul to him? ” “Yes, of this 
 I never doubted! ” “Are you persuaded,” I continued, 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 141 
 
 “that your sins are forgiven yon?” “I hope they 
 will he forgiven me.” “What makes you hope so?” 
 “Why, sir, I have often read the verse, ‘the blood of 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us from all 
 sin.’ Then I thought. How can this he? till one 
 sabbath, some time back, you made me understand 
 it.” “And how do you think your soul is made 
 clean ? ” She then related the illustrations I had made 
 use of, and added, “It is also said, ‘purifying their 
 hearts by faith.’ ” “ And do you believe on the Son of 
 
 God, Leonora?” “Yes, from that very day I felt 
 something working in me, I know not what; but I 
 think the Holy Spirit—which you say we all must 
 pray for—he it is. I am ready: 0 blessed Jesus, 
 receive me, for thou hast died for me.” “Is the word 
 of God sweet to your soul?” “Yes, indeed, but I 
 beg you to give me one with larger print, for my eyes, 
 I don’t know why, are getting dark.” This being 
 done, she used to read for hours together, and it was 
 truly edifying to see and converse with this dear 
 child. 
 
 Being told one morning that she had spent a very 
 'restless night, I called on her in the course of the 
 day, saying, “Well, Leonora, how are you to-day?” 
 “ This day I am to 'be quite well, for this I am sure 
 will be my happiest day!” “ Do you feel great pain?” 
 “ None whatever, but my feet are stiff and cold.” 
 “ Are you at peace in your heart, and persuaded you 
 shall go to heaven ?” “ Yes; and please tell my 
 
 brother John that I wish to see him before I die. 
 
142 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Oh, sir, do take care of him; Jesus will bless you.” 
 John being called, and standing near her, she said, 
 “ John, my brother, you are left alone of our family ; 
 oh, do come to Jesus, for he is good. I am going”— 
 her voice failing, she continued, after a considerable 
 pause —'“ I am—to the angels in heaven; and this 
 evening I shall he there.” John seemed to be very 
 much affected, and began to weep; but she looking 
 in his face, said, “ Brother, weep not, I shall soon be 
 very happy. You learn, love.” Fatigued with the 
 exertion, she sank into her hammock. Some of her 
 friends being present, we commended her in prayer to 
 the Almighty Saviour, and when we rose she beckoned 
 with her hand, but could not speak. At four p.m. 
 she entered into her rest, sensible and happy to her 
 last moment. 
 
 I feel persuaded that the first seeds of godliness 
 were sown in the hearts of these children by their 
 sainted father, when about to depart from this world 
 of vanity and woe. He gave a simple but forcible 
 testimony of the love and faithfulness of his Saviour, 
 beseeching them with tears to make him their friend; 
 and his entreaties were not in vain. The words of 
 their dying father were not forgotten, and his testi¬ 
 mony was owned and blessed of G-od. Would that all 
 Christians, when about to enter the waters of Jordan, 
 and to bid farewell to all they have enjoyed and loved 
 here on earth, were equally faithful in leaving their 
 testimony behind as those who have not served a hard 
 master, but a gracious and merciful Saviour, whose 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 143 
 
 yoke is easy and whose burden is light! I am 
 thankful to have this opportunity of recording the 
 triumphs of God’s sovereign grace; and bearing my 
 humble testimony that whether we be parents, or 
 engaged as teachers, no more is required of stewards 
 than that they he found faithful. It is encouraging 
 to witness the first dawnings of grace; and although 
 the winter may intervene, and we he called upon to 
 exercise patient waiting, we know that our labour 
 shall not he in vain in the Lord. “ In the morning 
 sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine 
 hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, 
 either this or that, or whether they shall both alike 
 be good.” 
 
 Another of our little girls, about ten years of age, 
 had been lingering for some time, and the doctor 
 informed me that, humanly speaking, there was no 
 hope of her recovery. When conversing with her on 
 the joys of a better world, she said, “Yes, I long 
 to he with Christ.” At this I was agreeably surprised, 
 having never heard her speak of Christ and her need 
 of him. I therefore directed my questions more 
 immediately to her heart, and was truly astonished 
 at the knowledge of Scripture which she displayed. 
 “ My hope, my only hope is, Jesus died for me. 
 I love him; I love Jesus ever since. I always liked 
 to hear you talk of him.” “ Well, my dear Joanna,” 
 I replied, “ you ought to thank him for his love, and 
 he willing to give up yourself to him for life and 
 death.” “ Yes, sir; he knows that I did so long ago.” 
 
144 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Some of her relatives, hoping that a change might do 
 her good, took her to the Massaroony river; hut 
 finding that she grew weaker every day, she desired 
 them to bring her hack again. On her return, she 
 sent her grandmother to inform the Dominie of it. 
 I went to see her, and found her suffering severely 
 from pains in her knees; hut she soon composed 
 herself when I told her how much the Saviour suffered 
 for us. Her state of mind was truly enviable; and 
 ever afterward, when asked how she did, no complaint 
 escaped her lips; hut she always said, “Very well, 
 sir.” One evening, late, she called for the Dominie, 
 and, on his arrival, said, “ I am not baptized: will 
 you not baptize me before I die ?” I read to her how 
 Jesus said. He that helieveth and is baptized shall he 
 saved. “ I believe that his blood will wash me,” she 
 said. “ I wished to ask you ever since. O sir, baptize 
 me.” After having spoken to her a few words of com¬ 
 fort, I baptized her. The scene was a truly solemn one, 
 the room being filled with friends. A few days after¬ 
 ward, she departed this life in peace, having given 
 charge that her corpse should be conveyed to the 
 girls’ school, and from thence to the grave, the 
 children accompanying and singing a hymn. 
 
 This latter school will be seen in the sketch at the 
 right-hand side of the Missionary’s house. It stands 
 in the midst of a garden, which is cultivated by the 
 girls. Their number amounted to thirty-five in the 
 year 1845, when I was obliged to leave in consequence 
 of the failure of my health. There were at that time 
 
BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 145 
 
 ninety-three children in both schools, whom I deemed 
 it a great privilege to instruct. The hours spent 
 there I looked upon not as hours of labour hut of 
 recreation, although I soon found that the continued 
 speaking for hours together, and day after day, in a 
 tropical climate, began to undermine my health. 
 
 The Indian children are very fond of singing, and 
 their voices are sweet and melodious; and the hearts 
 of the labourers have often been cheered when they 
 heard them sing at the hours of rising and going to 
 rest. They have been taught between forty and fifty 
 English tunes, and began to sing in parts. They are 
 instructed in the English language, which, at the same 
 time, is the medium of communicating and imparting 
 knowledge to them. To this mode of proceeding I 
 reluctantly consented; hut what could I do, having 
 children of seven different tribes, who either speak a 
 distinct language, or in dialects differing as much 
 as the German from the Dutch ? In this I have 
 succeeded beyond my expectation; and whilst they 
 acquire the English, care is taken that their own 
 language is not neglected. It may not he unin*- 
 teresting to the reader to learn the plan which is 
 pursued to Christianise as well as civilise these 
 children; for, be it remembered that, in their natural 
 state, they differ hut little from the brute creation. 
 On entering the school, the little stranger is allowed 
 to look on for the space of a whole month, both at 
 school and when at work in the garden. At last, a 
 desire is called forth to learn the letters, and becoming 
 
 H 
 
146 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 ashamed of standing idle when all are at work, he or 
 she begins to join the other children. Such treatment 
 is necessary, or else their parents and friends would 
 soon remove them from school; and if once they 
 conceive a dislike, no alteration of circumstances will 
 modify their opinions, and they will never again come 
 within the reach of the Missionary. At dawn of day 
 a bell is rung to rouse them from their sleep; they 
 then have their private devotions for half an hour, and 
 afterwards proceed to the river, which flows hard by, 
 to bathe. At six o’clock, they go to their work in the 
 garden, under the superintendence of the schoolmaster, 
 and labour, till the bugle calls them, at half-past 
 seven, to prepare for prayer, which commences at a 
 quarter to eight and lasts till half-past eight. This 
 prayer-meeting is attended by the respective teachers 
 of both schools with all the children; and any of the 
 adults in the village are allowed to join. A portion of 
 the Old Testament is read, explained, and applied; 
 and when prayers are over, the children are expected 
 to get up their tasks for school. At a quarter-past 
 nine a bell is rung to call them to breakfast in the 
 girls’ school, at which the teachers are present, that 
 they may superintend their behaviour and teach them 
 to take their meals with propriety. At ten the bugle 
 sounds, and they prepare to appear in school neat and 
 clean in their attire. A hymn and prayer having 
 opened the school, the master inspects their dress, 
 hands, &c., and finding all right, proceeds to give them 
 a drilling, which consists in marching to and fro and 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 147 
 
 keeping proper attitudes. The first lesson is dedi¬ 
 cated to holy Scripture; and it is with much satis¬ 
 faction that I am enabled to state they manifest a 
 love for the word of God, and feel pleasure in com¬ 
 mitting large portions of it to memory. There have 
 been a few who knew some of the epistles and a great 
 number of psalms by heart; and they have found it 
 sweet food for their souls in times of sickness, or 
 when in distress. They receive a plain education, hut 
 what they are taught we have been most anxious that 
 they should know thoroughly. Some of the hoys have 
 advanced as far in arithmetic as the rule of three; it 
 has not been attempted to lead them further, it being 
 deemed sufficient for their sphere of life. They are 
 kept in school till one, when they are allowed to 
 amuse themselves till two. The bugle sounds again, 
 and they take their seats till four; the school hours 
 being over, they go to work again in the garden till 
 five. After this they take their dinner and have the 
 rest of the evening for play, or preparing their lessons. 
 At seven o’clock, they meet for prayers as in the 
 morning, when singing, reading, and a short exposi¬ 
 tion of a portion from the New Testament, conclude 
 the day. 
 
 With respect to the administering of discipline, 
 much prudence and caution is required, for they 
 must he made to feel that, whenever punishment is 
 called for, it is for their good. The Indians very 
 seldom, if at all, can overcome their feelings so as 
 to correct their children, nor do they like to see it 
 h 2 
 
148 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 done by any one else. Whenever, therefore, a cas£ 
 did occur which required chastisement, I was accuse 
 tomed to call the parents or friends to witness the 
 trial. This was conducted with all justice to the 
 accused party, One witness was not considered suffi¬ 
 cient, hut where there were two and more, the offender 
 was placed in sight of the school children; the offence 
 was stated, and the hoy or girl asked whether he or 
 she was “ guilty or not guilty.” If he pleaded not 
 guilty,” the witnesses were called up, their different 
 statements taken, and the accused was allowed to 
 cross-examine them, and, if need required, to enter 
 upon his defence. If he pleaded “ guilty,” the case 
 was stated, the consequences dwelt upon, and the 
 whole school were asked, each in turn, what punish¬ 
 ment they thought the offender had merited. This 
 afforded me an excellent opportunity of becoming 
 acquainted with the dispositions of the children. One 
 would say, Give him forty stripes save one; another, 
 twenty; and again, a third, six. I usually took the 
 medium, acting thus as a moderator, hut in no case 
 administered the punishment unless the parent ac¬ 
 quiesced in the fairness of the trial, and the child 
 in the justice of it. One of the hoys was then called 
 on to administer the punishment; and I am happy 
 to say that this mode of proceeding has tended to 
 convince both old and young, that their children are 
 not punished in anger, or when they have not de¬ 
 served it. I remember instances when parents and 
 friends have heartily thanked me, and gone away 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 149 
 
 tmder the impression that all was right and fair. 
 Nay, they have at other times brought their children 
 to me to correct them for misconduct. Such a course 
 of proceeding has been found necessary, lest we should 
 provoke the resentment of either the parents or the 
 children, and that we may overcome the vindictive 
 feelings common to the Indians. 
 
 One day an Indian hoy was accused of having 
 stolen some bread and fish from another; he had not 
 been seen taking them, hut they were found upon him. 
 The witnesses did not succeed in identifying the 
 bread and fish; and as these are given to them all 
 alike, as part of their breakfast, I was willing to let 
 him escape, although his deportment betrayed that he 
 was really an offender. I made him take his place, 
 and after a solemn and long pause, I exclaimed, 
 Behold the hoy who has been guilty of the deed! 
 What is that on his brow ? All looked at each other, 
 whilst he lifted up his hand to feel what it was that 
 had been noticed. He was called forth again, and 
 frankly acknowledged his fault, and because he did 
 so, the whole school adjudged that he should not 
 undergo corporal punishment, and only required 
 fourfold restoration. 
 
 At another time a dollar was stolen from the closet 
 of one of the boys. The thief was not known; I therefore 
 earnestly and affectionately admonished the children, 
 that if the thief were among their number, he would 
 restore the money to its place, inasmuch as there had 
 been an Eye Upon him when he took it. This had 
 
150 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 the desired effect; the money was restored; and the 
 hoy who took it said that, when he heard me speak 
 as I did, the thrilling thought had passed through his 
 mind, Whose eye can this he hut that of the Almighty? 
 He asked for pardon, and obtained peace of con¬ 
 science. 
 
 The same mode of proceeding is adopted respecting 
 the members of the church, hut I am thankful to say, 
 that occasion for having recourse to it has only 
 occurred three or four times. If any one he accused 
 of sin, our plan of proceeding is as follows :—We 
 call upon the offending member, and confront him 
 with his accuser, taking care that the party accused 
 should feel that the report has been brought to the 
 minister from a sense of duty and love. This cir¬ 
 cumstance has often had the desired effect of leading 
 the offender to repentance or reconciliation, as the 
 case might he. But in case he is not willing to 
 acknowledge his fault, he is accused before all the 
 members of the church; the case is then fully de¬ 
 bated, and they give their judgment as to the length 
 of time during which he shall not he permitted to 
 join the holy communion, and he is accordingly 
 excluded, and the offence noted down in a hook. Such 
 a mode of proceeding has this advantage, that if a 
 minister is removed, and another succeeds him, the 
 latter has the opportunity of knowing his flock pretty 
 correctly, by referring to that hook. In the mean 
 time, the excluded member is visited and spoken to, 
 and prayed with; and when the time of his exclusion 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 151 
 
 from partaking of the Lord’s supper has expired, it is 
 expected of him that he should make an open avowal 
 before the church, and express his sorrow for the 
 past, and his desire to live hereafter a life of holiness 
 and righteousness. He is then again received to the 
 full enjoyment of all the Christian privileges, and 
 welcomed hack to the fold of Christ. 
 
 I can hear testimony to the blessed effect which 
 this mode of proceeding has had upon the character 
 of the Indians, while at the same time the offender 
 was constrained to feel the justice of the sentence, 
 pronounced not by any single individual, even though 
 that individual should he the minister, hut after his 
 case had been fairly tried and judged by his own 
 people. It has also made the Christians watchful 
 over their own and each other’s conduct; and led 
 them to sorrow after a godly sort; it has wrought 
 “ carefulness, clearing of themselves, yea, indignation, 
 yea, vehement desire, yea, zeal, yea, revenge ! in all 
 things they have approved themselves to he clear in 
 the matter.” 
 
 The girls are instructed in plain needlework, cook¬ 
 ing, washing, and other household matters. In their 
 turn, the older ones have to assist in the kitchen, in 
 nursing the sick, in cleaning the house, and washing 
 their clothes. On Fridays I have found it necessary 
 to instruct them in general knowledge, to which I 
 have dedicated two hours. This was found needful, 
 as I was asked by the children such questions as 
 these —“ Dominie, is the moon broken ? how is it that 
 
152 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 sometimes we see her whole, and then again only a 
 small piece ? How is it that the river at certain times 
 runs backward, and that every fortnight the water 
 rises higher than at other times ?” 
 
 There is perhaps no lesson, excepting their Scrip¬ 
 tural one, which they look forward to with so much 
 pleasure, as that on general knowledge; and I cannot 
 forbear to relate a circumstance which I never re¬ 
 member without a smile. A new schoolmaster having 
 arrived from Georgetown, was present at one of these 
 lessons. It was my custom to recapitulate what had 
 been taught in a former lesson, that I might see 
 whether the children had comprehended and retained 
 the subject in question. I had been speaking to them 
 on electricity, and explaining the phenomena of thunder 
 and lightning. Among other questions, I asked, “ Is 
 there such a thing as a thunderbolt ?” The answer was, 
 “ No.” Upon this, the master in his wisdom cried 
 out, “ To he sure there is, for I have seen it with my 
 own eyes.” The children hurst out laughing, at which 
 he became very angry; he protested that his mother 
 had scraped the stone, and given it to him, and he 
 had been cured by it from fits. I called both the 
 children and the master to order, observing that, if he 
 wished to learn more on the subject, he should wait 
 on me when at leisure. Meanwhile, I called on one 
 of the hoys to disprove the existence of the thunder¬ 
 bolt. “Why, Dominie,” he said, “you told us that men 
 and beasts have been found struqk by lightning, and 
 that part of their bodies had been found to exhibit 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA, 
 
 153 
 
 blue specks, or a singed appearance; if they had 
 been killed by a stone there would have been found 
 wounds. Again, you told us that the sword has been 
 melted in the sheath, and the gold in the purse, and 
 that neither sheath nor purse was found hurt; it 
 could not, therefore, have been a stone which struck 
 them.” After a few days, the master came and bitterly 
 complained of the boys, requesting me to punish 
 them; and when I inquired for what, he said, “Why, 
 sir, they find everywhere a thunderbolt, and try to 
 make a fool of me.” I observed that I was sorry for 
 their naughty behaviour; but thought it best to part 
 with him, as I feared he would never gain their 
 confidence and respect. 
 
 The Indian, as has been observed elsewhere, is 
 idle in his habits, and nothing hut hunger will stir 
 him up to exertion. In order to wean the children 
 from their natural indolence, and rouse them to exer¬ 
 tion, I have introduced among them various kinds of 
 games, and the result has shown that both their 
 bodily health and morals have improved in the 
 exercise of them. They have also been encouraged 
 in the' manufacturing of various articles, and he who 
 succeeded best carried off the prize. The children 
 assisted me in the construction of a wharf, and of a 
 fish-pond, and take pleasure in being called on to 
 exercise their ingenuity. Their attention having been 
 called in school to the principle of levers, they applied 
 them to the raising up of heavy pieces of timber, 
 stones, &c., and astonished their friends and parents. 
 h 3 
 
154 MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 Instances have come to my knowledge, where children 
 have been made a blessing to their parents by simply 
 relating to them what they had been taught at school. 
 
 It is to he- hoped that the rising generation will 
 advance to a better state of things, in dependence on 
 the Divine word, that wherever godliness is promoted, 
 it will he found “ profitable unto all things, having 
 the promise of the life that now is, and of that which 
 is to come.” 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 TRAINING OF NATIVE TEACHERS—MODE OF ANSWERING OBJEC¬ 
 TIONS RELATING TO THE DOCTRINES OF THE RESURRECTION OF 
 
 THE BODY, AND THE HOLY TRINITY-EXTRACTS FROM THE 
 
 writer’s JOURNAL-TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR, AND DANGERS 
 
 ATTENDING THEM-THE INDIANS* INGENUITY IN CATCHING 
 
 TURTLE—DANGERS FROM REPTILES-CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 
 
 BUILDING OF THE CHAPEL—DIFFICULTY IN PROCURING A 
 
 LIVELIHOOD—^PURCHASE OF COMMUNION PLATE AND BELL- 
 
 PROPOSED PLAN OF GOVERNMENT TO CIVILISE THE INDIANS, 
 AND PROBABLE RESULTS. 
 
 soon as some of the Indians were deemed fitted 
 and prepared for the work of evangelising others, 
 I sent them in all directions, that they might tell 
 their countrymen of the great and wonderful works of 
 God. The effect produced hy their preaching was 
 truly astonishing, for then the Indians came flocking 
 from all quarters to hear more from the Dominie 
 himself. They invited me, in return, to come and 
 see them, and I gladly availed myself of this open 
 door, in order that our mutual friendship might he 
 strengthened, and prepare them for the preaching of 
 
150 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 the Gospel. Mr. Edmund Christian having been sent 
 from England to assist me in my labours, I was 
 enabled to spend a considerable time in travelling 
 from place to place, preaching to them Jesus and the 
 resurrection from the dead. No statement captivated 
 their attention so much as that of the resurrection of 
 the dead; and, like the Athenians of old, some wished 
 to hear more of it, whilst others were heard saying, 
 “That is a very strange thing.” The Indians, in 
 common with others, were in the habit of putting 
 niany curious questions relating to this subject, as 
 to the identity of the bodies with which they would 
 rise; and whether they would he sustained then by 
 meat and drink, as they are now? To the first 
 question I was accustomed to reply, that the Bible 
 teaches us plainly that we must all appear before the 
 judgment seat of Christ; and then would illustrate 
 the identity of our bodies from the well-known change 
 which takes place in the caterpillar, first assuming the 
 form of a chrysalis, and afterwards that of the 
 butterfly, of which they see amongst them such 
 brilliant and beautiful varieties. To the latter, I 
 answered, that we are taught by the Apostle, that 
 when the Lord shall appear, “he shall change our 
 vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his 
 glorious body, according to the working whereby 
 he is able even to subdue all things to himself.” 
 In the Gospel, Luke xxi. 42, 43, we are told, I 
 continued, that - the Saviour after his resurrection 
 from the dead, partook of a broiled fish, and of 
 
‘IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 157 
 
 an honeycomb; the inference to be drawn, therefore, 
 is easy enough. This seemed to satisfy their 
 curiosity; hut if any asked any further questions, 
 I was not ashamed to say, that I did not know 
 how to answer them, as the Bible did not tell us 
 any more. I then usually preached unto them Jesus, 
 and told them that, if they wished to have an interest 
 in the resurrection of the blessed, they must first, 
 even now, come unto him for pardon, and for the 
 sanctification of the Spirit, and thus he made fit 
 for the inheritance of the saints in light. The doc¬ 
 trine of the Holy Trinity was not less wonderful to 
 them; and I did not shrink from stating that this is 
 a mystery, which no mortal man was ever yet able 
 to comprehend; hut that it is revealed to us for 
 practical purposes, and is the main-spring in the plan 
 of our redemption. The Father so loved the world 
 that he gave his only begotten Son; the Son being 
 both God and man in the person of Jesus Christ, 
 reconciled us by the blood of his cross; and the 
 Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son, 
 applies this great work to the individual sinner by 
 convincing him of sin, of righteousness, and of judg¬ 
 ment; and in doing so, makes him fit for the 
 kingdom of God--the kingdom of grace here on 
 earth—the kingdom of glory in the world to come. 
 In order to accommodate myself to their under¬ 
 standing, I told them that, although each of them had 
 a spirit, a soul, and a body, yet was the individual 
 not three, hut one man. But, continued I, if ye do 
 
158 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 not comprehend yourself, a man who once was not, 
 how will you comprehend Him who is eternal ? Their 
 simple faith frequently triumphed in spite of all that 
 unbelief can urge against mysteries in religion; and 
 being taught to bring into subjection every thought 
 that exalteth itself against the knowledge of Christ, 
 there are found among these Indians those who, when 
 asked, are able to give a reason of the hope that is 
 in them. 
 
 I may he allowed here to narrate a few incidents 
 which occurred to me in my journeyings among that 
 interesting people, so as to elucidate their readiness 
 to he instructed, and the difficulties to he encountered 
 by the way. In referring to my journal of the year 
 1842, I find the following narrative:—* October 12th. 
 We set out to-day, accompanied by Erie, the con¬ 
 verted chief of the Carabeese tribe, and Frederic, my 
 Arrawak interpreter. On the following day we halted 
 at an Arrawak settlement. Some of the people, who 
 occasionally visit the Grove, gave us a hearty welcome: 
 others had absented themselves, having previously 
 heard of our coming. With those whom we met we 
 spent a few hours in reading, prayer, and conversation; 
 and departed with their blessings on us and on our 
 journey. After some hours’ sail we entered a creek, 
 difficult of access on account of the overhanging trees 
 which had, here and there, fallen across. As we had 
 to cut our way through them, we necessarily lost much 
 time; so that it was sunset before we arrived at the 
 settlement, which otherwise we might have reached in 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 159 
 
 two hours. The harking of the dogs announced to 
 the inmates the arrival of strangers; and before long 
 we were surrounded by some twenty people and 
 children, all in a perfect state of nudity, and painted 
 all over. When they had lighted a large fire, at some 
 distance from the huts, we were welcomed, and hidden 
 to he seated. After a considerable pause, Erie arose 
 to address them on the object of our visiting them; 
 and in a lively and pleasing manner he explained to 
 them the end for which Christ Jesus came into the 
 world. It was a lovely scene, and a peculiarly fine 
 evening : the richly-studded tropical firmament seemed 
 to smile: nothing hut the monotonous sound of the 
 toad interrupted the death-like silence with which both 
 young and old listened to the stranger. 
 
 “ Erie having ended his discourse, a woman stepped 
 forward and said, f Dominie, we are anxious to learn, 
 hut are hindered by the men; and you live so far 
 away that we cannot go and see you.’ One of the 
 men replied, e I some time hack asked a minister to 
 baptize me, hut he told me that then I must not get 
 drunk, that I must no more dance, and must he 
 married to one wife; and that I would not promise 
 him, so he refused to baptize me, and I went away, 
 being angry with him.’ I then took up the conver¬ 
 sation, beseeching them to come to Jesus and he 
 reconciled to God. It was late when we retired to 
 rest in one of the huts they had pointed out to us; 
 hut the myriads of vermin of all kinds did not permit 
 us to enjoy a wink of sleep. The filthiness of this 
 
160 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 people’s habits will hardly be credited, by the reader, 
 but it is a fact that the little children could scarcely 
 be distinguished from negro children, and their cry 
 grieved my heart, when, on examination, I found them 
 tormented by all kinds of vermin. 
 
 “ October 15th.—dn the course of the afternoon we 
 reached a creek, which led us into a kind of savannah. 
 No sooner did the people hear of our arrival, than 
 upwards of eighty collected in one of the houses ; and 
 I read to them, for hours together, in their own 
 language, the history of our Lord’s sufferings and 
 death. Upon coming to the betrayal of Jesus by 
 Judas, several heaved a deep sigh, as if to condemn 
 such base ingratitude; and when I read the accouut 
 of Peter’s denial, tears started in the eyes of many 
 who were listening. Pearing lest I should weary 
 them, I began to explain what they had heard; but 
 upon laying the book aside, they asked, ‘ Are you 
 going to stop reading ? ’ I replied, ‘ If you are. 
 anxious to hear more, I will proceed.’ Whereupon 
 they answered, 4 We are not yet tired, for this we have 
 never heard before.’ It was near eleven at night 
 when I left off reading and speaking; and during the 
 whole of the night I overheard parties conversing with 
 each other on what they had heard. This was indeed 
 a joyful day. 
 
 “ October 16th.—It was not yet seven a.m. when 
 the Indians came and seated themselves around me, 
 I read to them the parable of the ten virgins, and 
 required Frederic to explain it to them. They seemed. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 161 
 
 to be very attentive, and I regret that these poor 
 people live at such a distance from me; nearly a 
 hundred miles; otherwise I might see them oftener. 
 They begged hard that I would send them a teacher, 
 and promised to do all in their power to make him 
 comfortable and happy. But where is the man to be 
 sent ? I promised, however, to do what I could to 
 fulfil their desire. 
 
 “ October 20th.—We reached an encampment in 
 the Pomeroon, and gave timely notice to the people of 
 our intention of meeting them on a convenient spot. 
 We proceeded thither the following morning ; and, to 
 our joy, about eighty Oarabeese collected during the 
 day. Toward evening, Erie began addressing them 
 on the object of our visit; and never have I wit¬ 
 nessed a people more attentive than these were. They 
 seemed to hang upon the lips of the preacher, who, in 
 a glowing and simple manner, stated the love of God 
 in having given his Son for them, that through him 
 they might be saved. c We have never heard this 
 before,’ replied the chief: ‘ we could wish you lived 
 among us, then we and our children might learn more 
 of that good word; hut there is none that careth for us.’ 
 Erie, who was sometimes interrupted hy the remarks 
 which they made as he went on, proceeded, reasoning 
 with them on their lost condition, and reproving them 
 for their backwardness in availing themselves of the 
 offer of the Almighty now made unto them. Seeing that 
 it was getting late, I dismissed them, saying, ‘ I hope,, 
 dear friends, what you have heard to-day yon will 
 
162 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 never forget.’ ‘ No/ replied one of the old people, 
 c we shall remember; hut why do you not come and 
 stop with us ? ’ Being informed that I was living 
 on the Essequibo, and that there were many who 
 loved God, he said, f Well, we shall go and see you 
 there.’ After I had retired to rest, they invited Erie 
 to come into the house in which they had slung their 
 hammocks, and tell them something more. He con¬ 
 sented ; and, seating himself with them around the 
 fire, engaged their attention till four o’clock in the 
 morning. At last they began to ask questions, till 
 the conversation became so loud that I awoke, and 
 found that the sun was already risen upon us. As 
 soon as the Indians perceived that I was stirring, 
 they came up-stairs, and, seating themselves around, 
 desired once more to hear of God. My sympathies 
 were awakened when I beheld this interesting people ; 
 hut how to help them I knew not. c Will you not leave 
 this man with us ? ’ meaning Erie, they inquired. f You 
 have only told us so much as to make us wish for more.’ 
 £ Ask him yourselves,’ I replied; c hut I know there 
 are Caraheese at Waraputa also whom he would not 
 like to leave: if you are in earnest to know more 
 about God, you had better go to him.’ ‘ That cannot 
 be: we will not, and must not, leave the place where 
 our fathers lie buried,’ was their answer. f But the 
 whole earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,’ 
 I said: f when death comes, you will have to quit it, 
 and then what is to become of your souls ? ’ At this 
 they seemed much cast down, and had a good deal to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 168 
 
 say. The day advancing, we prepared for leaving; 
 and having sung a hymn, and commended them to 
 the God of all mercies, we hade them farewell, and 
 returned to the Grove.” 
 
 I am thankful to state that there is at present a 
 mission among this interesting people, which is carried 
 on under the auspices of the Society for the Propa¬ 
 gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The Rev. Mr. 
 Brett, the Missionary, has met with much that is 
 encouraging; and I earnestly pray that his life may 
 he long preserved, and his labours abundantly blessed 
 by Almighty God. 
 
 The Indians in the interior live scattered over a 
 large tract of country along the banks of the rivers 
 and their tributaries. They wander from place to 
 place; and a family which the Missionary has visited 
 to-day, he will not find on the same spot within the 
 space of a few months. This circumstance occasions 
 him many disappointments in his travels ; and it may 
 happen that, after having travelled for weeks together, 
 he will have to return without having found one family 
 at home. The dry season is the time for travelling, 
 and it is at this very time that they are engaged in 
 expeditions for hunting and fishing, or else in pre¬ 
 paring their fields; and the latter being sometimes at 
 a considerable distance from their dwellings, they do 
 not return home till they have finished the task. But 
 notwithstanding all this, the Missionary ought to 
 rejoice in being the Lord’s messenger; and if but one 
 soul should he given him for his hire, there is no 
 
164 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 reason why he should he cast down, as, even then, he 
 has been made the instrument of performing a great 
 and glorious work. When thus disappointed, I have 
 often endeavoured to realise the unspeakable worth of 
 a single soul, and this has at all times tended to 
 silence every murmuring thought, as well as to stir up 
 to greater diligence to work while it is day, for the 
 night soon cometh when no man can work. The 
 Missionary who does not feel happy in being made the 
 instrument of saving ten when preaching to a hundred, 
 will never he honoured with hundreds when preaching 
 to thousands. 
 
 In these my lonely travels in the interior, when I 
 have justly considered myself as being buried alive as 
 respects society, I have felt as happy as every Chris¬ 
 tian may be when realising his heavenly calling; and 
 believing that where he is, there he is placed by the 
 providence of God, and has a work to do. This power 
 of realising my call to accomplish the work given 
 me to do, has often kept my mind at perfect peace in 
 times of imminent danger and in the midst of necessi¬ 
 ties. I should he wanting in my duty to my Lord and 
 Master were I to he forgetful of the many preservations 
 of my life from threatening danger by men and beasts. 
 And although at times I broke the last bread to my 
 crew, the evening did not arrive but an abundant 
 ■ supply of fish and game was procured by the use of 
 means. I have never received any harm from any of the 
 Indians, although it may he easily conceived I might 
 have given them offence when least I thought it. It 
 

IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 165 
 
 is true, the Indian is very suspicious of the white man; 
 and who can wonder when it is remembered what 
 treatment in most cases his countrymen have received 
 from Europeans ? But it is also true that when an 
 Indian is once made a friend, he will go through fire 
 and water, and give life itself, to prove his friendship 
 sincere and lasting. I remember a circumstance which 
 forcibly illustrates the truth of what I have said re¬ 
 specting the attachment of the Indians. 
 
 Having encamped one evening, when travelling in 
 the interior, at a place called Onissaro, where alligators 
 abound, the Indians, in cleaning the game, left the 
 entrails of the animals on the sand beach. The scent of 
 them attracted an unusual number of alligators to the 
 spot. The moon shone brightly, and they were seen 
 moving under water by the waves occasioned on the 
 surface. The people having retired to rest, I was read¬ 
 ing under my tent in the canoe, and was soon convinced 
 that these voracious creatures were assembled in great 
 numbers, from the strong musk smell that was given 
 out from beneath the water. Presently one came up 
 close to my canoe drawing his breath, which, in the 
 stillness of the night, sounded terrific. I started on 
 my couch, and wishing to get a peep at the creature, 
 drew aside the little curtain ; but he had sunk. A few 
 minutes after, I felt the canoe moving, and thinking 
 that one of the alligators had got into it, I grasped 
 a cutlass which was near me, and, seeing my curtain 
 move, I was just about to give a violent blow, when 
 the thought flashed across my mind. Perhaps it is one 
 
166 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 of the people; I therefore asked, “Who is there?” 
 “ John,” was the answer. “ What do you want ? ” “I 
 see,” said he, “that there are ‘juhuru caimanu, that 
 is, many alligators, “ around you, and I am come to 
 take care of you.” Most thankful was I for not having 
 struck the blow; and after recovering myself a little, 
 I tried to persuade the Indian to go and lie down in 
 his hammock, which he had slung high under some 
 trees; hut he positively refused. He sat down on a 
 bench before the tent with a spear between his legs, 
 and there he remained till break of day. After the 
 excitement was over, I fell sound asleep, and when I 
 awoke, found the Indian still sitting there. 
 
 Alligators abound in the Upper Essequiho, and 
 more especially in the creeks. I have seen as many 
 as ten at one time basking themselves in the sun and 
 swimming on the water like logs of wood. They are 
 afraid of men and quite harmless, provided they are 
 left unmolested: hut when bereaved of their young 
 they are very ferocious. Erie, who accompanied me, 
 told me that there he lost one of his people. The 
 Indians, in order to see the fish more distinctly in the 
 dark waters of the creeks, are accustomed to climb on 
 the trees which’ line their hanks, from which they 
 shoot them when passing by. One of his people, 
 when drawing the how, slipped off the branch and fell 
 into the water, when an alligator hit off his leg. He 
 bled to death in a few minutes. At another place 
 higher up the river, Erie called my attention to 
 an amusing incident which occurred to one of his 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 167 
 
 people. Falling off the tree in the manner just de¬ 
 scribed, he fell upon an alligator’s hack. The Indian no 
 sooner perceived what had happened, and felt that the 
 creature was moving under him, than he placed him¬ 
 self in a riding position and clasped his hands round 
 the alligator’s body. He was now dragged through 
 the water across the creek, where the creature climbed 
 up through the hush, by which the Indian’s hack was 
 much lacerated; he returned to the creek, and drag¬ 
 ging him through, tried to climb upon the opposite 
 hank. This being rather steep, he was slow in 
 effecting it, and the Indian observing this to he a 
 favourable moment to make his escape, threw himself 
 backward, and, swimming across, saved his life. It 
 may he easily conceived, that both the rider and his 
 horse were equally glad of getting rid one of the 
 other. 
 
 Although wild beasts are heard prowling about in 
 the night, and have frequently approached near my 
 encampment, I have never been molested by them. 
 A large fire having been kindled as a means of keep¬ 
 ing off the tigers, we have laid ourselves down and 
 slept in peace. The mode in which the Indians catch 
 the water-turtle, and the sagacity with which they spy 
 out the eggs laid in the sand, are very amusing. The 
 turtle lays its eggs during the night, and all at the 
 same time, to the number of twenty-five or thirty, of 
 the size of a pigeon’s egg. Having burrowed a hole 
 of six or eight inches in depth and completed its 
 work, it covers the eggs over with sand and makes the 
 
168 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 surface perfectly smooth. And lest they should be 
 traced in the sand, it walks round and round in large 1 
 circles crossing each other, so as to baffle any one 
 except the Indians in the attempt to find out its nest. 
 If the Indians wish to catch the creature itself, they 
 bury themselves in the sand at a considerable distance 
 from the water, and when it is nearest, they suddenly 
 arise and give it chase. When they have overtaken it, 
 they turn it up, and fastening two sticks in the aper¬ 
 tures of the head and hind parts, leave it there till the 
 morning; repeating the same stratagem again and 
 again. They catch often a considerable number during 
 one night. The turtles, when stewed, are very good 
 eating, and the eggs are very nutritious. 
 
 The larger kind, of which some are found to weigh 
 above a hundred weight, and are by the Indians consi¬ 
 dered a great delicacy, are shot with an arrow, around 
 which is wound a long string. They shoot the arrow 
 so as to cause it to fall upon the creature’s hack; and 
 coming with great force, and from a considerable 
 height, it pierces the shell, which is not very hard. 
 As soon as the creature takes, to the water, the shaft of 
 the arrow disengages itself from the point, the latter 
 being fastened into it slightly. The string now 
 unravels, the shaft swimming on the top of the water, 
 shows the direction where the turtle has sunk down. 
 The Indians then take their canoes and make for the 
 place where the arrow is seen. One of them lays 
 hold on the string, and very softly pulls the creature 
 to the surface of the water. As soon as the turtle is 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 169 
 
 seen, two or three large arrows, with barbs, are shot at 
 it, fastened to stronger strings. They aim, if possible, 
 at the apertures of its extremities; and if they succeed 
 in sending an arrow into one of them, they are sure of 
 their game. But even if they fail in effecting this, 
 the arrows, being shot with great force, frequently 
 penetrate the shell, and the turtle being drawn a 
 second time to the surface, one or two of the Indians 
 then get hold of it, and try to turn it into the canoe, 
 which they generally succeed in accomplishing, though 
 not without some difficulty, as these creatures struggle 
 very hard. They display considerable skill in shooting 
 their arrows, and practise patiently till they attain to 
 some degree of dexterity. A flat piece of wood, or of 
 the bark of a tree, is placed on the sand; they measure 
 a certain distance, say forty yards, and try again and 
 again till they have found the proper angle of eleva¬ 
 tion ; and having once hit the mark, they very seldom 
 miss it afterwards. They then change the distance to 
 more or less, till at last they become quite expert in 
 the game. I have been astonished at the correctness 
 with which the Indians will measure a given distance 
 with the eye, though they are perfectly ignorant of 
 trigonometrical measuring. They display the same 
 shrewdness in measuring heights; and they can tell 
 beforehand whether the arrow will fetch down a bird, 
 or not. They prefer our fire-arms in shooting game, 
 and the arrow when shooting fish. 
 
 On my expressing a wish to possess the skin of an 
 alligator, a huntsman went in search of one. He 
 
 i 
 
170 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 succeeded in finding one close to the place where our 
 company halted to take their breakfast. Fifteen shots 
 having been fired at the creature, I guessed what he 
 was about, and proceeded to the spot in my canoe. 
 The animal was seen in six feet water, and although 
 his jaws were perforated by several halls, he was lying 
 perfectly quiet. The Indians having been sent to 
 fetch a strong rope, I made a loop, and hanging it 
 over a forked stick, succeeded in slipping it over his 
 head. The loop was drawn, and the rope having been 
 fastened to the canoe, the Indians were told to proceed. 
 When arriving at our rendezvous, we tried to drag 
 him upon the land, hut such was the strength of the 
 creature, that fourteen people pulled with all their 
 might, and were not able to bring him up, he having 
 fixed his fore feet against some roots of a fallen tree. 
 Being at length exhausted, he allowed himself to he 
 dragged to land; and to try the strength of his jaws, 
 I took a stick of hard wood and put it into his mouth. 
 After some time he gave a bite, and on withdrawing 
 the stick, the bite was found to be an inch deep. 
 He was killed by the Indians, and skinned, and 
 measured nine feet and a half; but being so far from 
 home, the flesh was spoiled before the men succeeded 
 in curing it.* 
 
 The rapids in the interior present a great obstacle 
 to the traveller, and the ascending as well as the 
 
 * The largest ever seen have never been known to exceed 
 fourteen feet. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 171 
 
 shooting them is often attended with danger and loss 
 of life. Whenever occasion made it necessary to shoot 
 the rapids, I used to assemble my people for prayer; 
 and having read a suitable passage from Scripture and 
 delivered a short address, they were encouraged to 
 behave valiantly, and trust to him who is the Lord of 
 life and death. On one of these occasions I was 
 nearly swamped, a wave striking into the canoe from 
 the side of a sunken rock. On another the Indians 
 would not allow me to remain in the canoe, as they 
 perceived the descent would he attended with danger. 
 The canoe was therefore unloaded, and the baggage 
 carried oyerland to the foot of the rapids, which 
 necessarily takes up much time. I then proceeded, 
 and placing myself on one of the rocks, watched the 
 boat with great anxiety. It is an exciting moment 
 when once the canoe is in the current, shooting along 
 with the swiftness of an arrow; she arrives at the edge 
 of the fall, and, balancing for a second, plunges into 
 the surf, where, for a moment, she seems to he buried. 
 She is seen emerging again, and, obeying the helm of 
 the steersman, surmounts the waves caused by the 
 Conflicting currents. A mistake on the part of the 
 foreman, or the pilot, at the helm, would cause her 
 either to split by coming in contact with rocks, or 
 to sink, being swamped by the waves. At this time 
 the canoe ran upon a sunken rock; in a moment the 
 Indians were seen in the water; this caused her to get 
 afloat, and in another moment every Indian was again 
 seen in his seat, I feel persuaded that none but 
 
172 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Indians are able to escape the danger attending such 
 adventures, and even amongst them it frequently 
 happens that whole families are lost in the attempt. 
 
 The Indian’s sight is very keen, his hearing most 
 acute, and his sense of smelling equally so. This 
 circumstance enables him to detect at once whenever 
 a serpent is near, there being always a scent of musk, 
 more or less powerful. It would not he safe for a 
 European to travel through the dense forest without 
 being armed with a cutlass, and having an Indian 
 before and behind him. It nevertheless happens that 
 Indians are bitten by serpents, and I remember several 
 cases which proved fatal. One of my communicants 
 being in search of armadilloes, happened to he bitten 
 by a snake, which was lying at the mouth of the hole 
 of the armadillo. He perceived the scent, but supposed 
 it to emanate from the animal he was in pursuit of. 
 On urging the dog to creep into the hole, the sagacious 
 animal refused to do so, upon which he came near to 
 clear away some leaves that had accumulated at the 
 mouth of it. In doing this he trod upon the snake, 
 which, lifting himself up, happened to creep into one 
 of the legs of his trousers, and gave him several bites. 
 He succeeded in killing him; but the quantity of 
 poison injected into the wounds, caused his leg to 
 swell to an enormous size. On finding his companion, 
 he sent him to the Dominie to inform him of what had 
 happened. I went and took him to the Grove, hut all 
 the means I applied proved ineffectual; he died of 
 mortification, having for eleven days endured the most 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 173 
 
 excruciating pain. This circumstance happened when 
 the late Bishop of Barbadoes, Dr. Coleridge, was on a 
 visit to the mission. The process of absorption being 
 so rapid, the amputation of the limb could not have 
 saved him. He departed in the faith of Christ. If an 
 Indian is bitten in his finger, which, however, occurs 
 very rarely, he chops it off with one stroke of his 
 knife. But when bitten in the heel, which happens 
 oftener, or in any other part of the body, he kills the 
 snake, chops off the head, and cuts it up, till it is 
 something like a paste, he then hinds it upon the 
 wound, and leaves it there till it becomes perfectly 
 dry. He goes in search of a plant, called in their 
 language “ boroo-boroo,” and having dug out a suffi¬ 
 cient quantity of roots, makes a decoction of them, 
 which he drinks and pours upon the wound. I have 
 known several cases of recovery by means of this 
 root; hut the individuals bitten, though healed, have 
 betrayed, at times, a painful state of aberration of mind, 
 and were affected with a trembling of all their limbs. 
 The Indians would prefer encountering a tiger to the 
 insidious attacks of a serpent. Their horror of these 
 reptiles is very great, and an Indian will never allow a 
 snake to make his escape, though, in the attempt to 
 destroy him, he should expose himself to the danger 
 of being bitten. The snakes are very fond of creeping 
 into houses, and the greatest care is required to keep 
 the place clean from grass and underwood. One day, 
 when I was absent, a snake was found in the pantry. 
 The cook, on entering it, perceived that a snake was 
 
174 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 there by the smell, and called upon Mrs. Bemau to 
 retreat. In a few seconds she succeeded in dis¬ 
 covering him coiled up between two barrels. This was, 
 indeed, a providential escape; an Indian was called, 
 and ere the creature had time to uncoil himself, the 
 Indian had fixed in him several arrows; he measured 
 near nine feet. 
 
 I feel no pleasure in relating incidents of this kind; 
 hut I do it to illustrate the kind providence of Him 
 who, when he sends his servants with the message of 
 his love to sinful man, is able also to protect them in 
 the midst of so many and great dangers. “ I will 
 mention the loving-kindness of the Lord; his praise 
 shall he always in my mouth,” ought to he my motto ; 
 and “ I believed, therefore have I spoken,” that those 
 who hear may learn to fear Him that is to he feared. 
 Finding that the school-room, where hitherto the little 
 flock had assembled for worship, became too small, 
 I determined on building a chapel. I made applica¬ 
 tion to the governor of the colony, and obtained the 
 munificent sum of £500. This sum was readily 
 granted me, as, on representation to the governor, 
 
 I had succeeded in abolishing the giving of presents 
 to the Indians, which, among other articles, consisted 
 also of a cask of rum year after year. The scene 
 which ensued, whenever the Indians received this 
 present, baffles description, and was a disgrace to a 
 Christian government. The Indians themselves were 
 not so much the gainers, as the persons in charge of 
 distributing those presents; and, without wishing to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA, 
 
 175 
 
 cast a reflection upon any one, I have no scruple in 
 stating the fact. But charity requires us to bury in 
 oblivion all that is past, and to rejoice that better 
 times have arrived, although, I fear, too late for the 
 salvation of the Indian race. 
 
 I succeeded in raising £250 by subscriptions from 
 Christian friends in the colony. When I happened 
 to mention the circumstance to the Indians, and called 
 upon them to come forward to help the work, they 
 showed the greatest willingness to do what lay in their 
 power; yea, they have done beyond their power, for 
 their liberality did indeed abound in their poverty. 
 “ What shall we do, what can we do ?” was the ques¬ 
 tion asked by them. “ Those of you,” I replied, " who 
 have learnt to square timber, will go to work in the 
 neighbouring wood-cutting establishments; others 
 will sell game and fish to me for the benefit of the 
 children, and others may manufacture curiosities and 
 lay by some money, which they may realise from the 
 sale of them.” Others again offered to prepare timber 
 for the intended church, and were willing to labour in 
 any other capacity. This I refused, as I intended to 
 build by contract, and by this means hoped to afford 
 them an opportunity of working for wages with the 
 contractor. The women also came, inquiring what 
 they could do to help in so desirable an object. To 
 these I replied, “ I know that you keep fowls; set 
 a hen apart, and call it ‘ the mission hen;’ sell the 
 eggs she lays, rear some young, and I feel persuaded 
 you will have some money to give.” Some of the 
 
176 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 women brought their ornaments to be disposed of for 
 the same object. The children also asked, “ And what 
 can we do ?” “ You that have parents,” I answered, 
 
 “ ask your parents to give you a hen, and I will give 
 you the food for her; sell the eggs and rear chickens, 
 and bring them for sale to me.” All rejoiced at the 
 proposed plan, and did accordingly. Those of the 
 people, however, who went to labour at the wood¬ 
 cutters’, soon returned, saying, " Dominie, we will not 
 go again to that place.” “ Why not ?” I inquired. 
 “ Because that man is cursing and swearing from 
 morning to night.” I was truly sorry at this untoward 
 circumstance, as I had hoped that by this means the 
 Indians might be induced to earn their livelihood in 
 future. They also advanced another reason why 
 they intended not to return again to that place, which 
 was, that, instead of receiving their wages on Saturday 
 afternoon, they were not paid off till Sunday morning, 
 which circumstance hindered them from attending 
 Divine worship. I have been sometimes accused by 
 men of that description of having prevented the 
 Indians from going to work; but accusations of such 
 a nature carry their own refutation with them. 
 Although, therefore, I could not but grieve, I never 
 took the trouble to refute, or gainsay, misrepresenta¬ 
 tions of this kind. It now became necessary to think 
 of some plan to enable these people to procure a 
 livelihood. The calls for work became more urgent, 
 and I obtained leave to purchase a large boat, which 
 carried the firewood the Indians were cutting to town, 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 177 
 
 or to some of the estates. Sometimes she was 
 freighted with gravel and rock-stone, to he sold in 
 Georgetown. I have been asked, why I did not 
 encourage my Indians to go and work on the sugar 
 plantations ? To this I must reply, that there are 
 several reasons why the Indian himself does not 
 choose to do this. The distance is too great, the 
 nearest plantation being about fifty miles from the 
 Grove. The Indian does not like to work in company 
 with the negroes, though he should earn double the 
 wages by doing so. And, lastly, the Indian does not 
 understand anything about agriculture of any kind ; 
 and having in times past seen the work performed by 
 slaves only, he cannot associate the idea of free 
 labour with the performance of it. The change of 
 condition for both the Indian and the negro is too 
 recent for them to he able to divest themselves of all 
 prejudices. This must he the work of time, reflection, 
 and observation. I am sorry to state, that the boat, 
 which hitherto procured a livelihood for the Indians, 
 and at the same time supplied the wants of the 
 mission, has become a total wreck since my return 
 to England. 
 
 The chapel being now in progress of building, 
 rejoiced the people very much. After ten months’ 
 time, I called upon them to bring in their collections 
 and contributions; and I was as much astonished as 
 rejoiced, to find that the whole amounted to £150. 
 This large sum was contributed by about four hundred 
 individuals, both Christians and heathens. It may 
 
178 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 be necessary to remark, that both labour of every 
 kind, and provisions, are dear. Thus a labouring 
 man will earn one shilling and six-pence per day, 
 or two shillings and three-pence without food; a 
 mechanic, a dollar, of one dollar and a half: the 
 dollar may be reckoned at four shillings and twopence. 
 The common price of a fowl is from three to four 
 shillings; and I paid the people the same price which 
 they might have got anywhere else for their labour or 
 their provisions. This I did to cut off all occasion 
 of evil-speaking, both among the Indians, and the 
 enemies of the mission, and to show them that our 
 desire was to seek not theirs, but them. When the 
 chapel was completed, I made arrangements to have 
 it consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Guiana. On 
 referring to my journal, I find the following noted 
 down on the occasion:—“At the opening of our new 
 ehapel, which took place some time before its conse¬ 
 cration, I had the joy of baptizing twenty-six adult 
 Indians, who had been under instruction and proba¬ 
 tion for more than eighteen months. Of some I 
 can confidently say, ‘ They were as sheep going astray; 
 but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop 
 of their souls.’ Of others I am less confident, though 
 by no means suspicious. On new-year’s day, I bap¬ 
 tized John Henry Sing, a Hindoo, who has since 
 returned to India, and of whom, I hope that he may 
 become a blessing to his countrymen. With him 
 were baptized three Accaway youths, one Arrawak, 
 and one Carabeese, all of whom had been well 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 179 
 
 instructed in the truths of Christianity, and were 
 orphans. On the 5th January, 1843, we had the 
 pleasure of seeing the Bishop, the Governor, the 
 Archdeacon, and several members of the council, 
 arrive at the Grove. On the day following the 
 Bishop and Archdeacon examined the schools, and 
 expressed themselves gratified with the appearance 
 and progress of the children. The Bishop preached 
 an appropriate sermon on Isaiah xxxv. 1, 2 . The 
 chapel was named St. Johns the Baptist. The ideas 
 associated with that name are pleasing, and applicable 
 to the surrounding wilderness. His Lordship was 
 greatly pleased with what he saw, and appeared to 
 he very anxious that on all the rivers of the colony 
 there should he similar institutions. He also held a 
 confirmation of those who had been previously bap¬ 
 tized, and expressed their desire of becoming partakers 
 of the holy communion. 
 
 “In taking a retrospect of our labours during the 
 past year,” the journal proceeds, “we are thankful 
 to acknowledge that the blessing of God has crowned 
 them with success in bringing some of these wan¬ 
 derers into the fold of Christ. They are, it is true, 
 yet weak in faith, and, in some instances, behind in 
 knowledge; but, so far as I know, desirous to c walk 
 worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called.’ 
 We do humbly trust that our labours are blessed of 
 the Lord. There is indeed nothing in the features 
 of this mission to strike the eye of the observer at 
 first sight; hut a work of grace, we hope, is being 
 
180 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 carried on in many souls, a rooting and grounding in 
 the knowledge of Christ, and eventually the fruits 
 will appear.” 
 
 A short time after this, I called the attention of 
 the communicants to the custom of Christians in 
 other countries, respecting the vessels used on the 
 occasion of administering the Lord’s Supper. Having 
 spoken to them on the words of the apostle, “ Let all 
 things he done decently and in order,” I directed 
 their attention to the propriety of procuring com¬ 
 munion plate, observing, that I intended to get it as 
 cheap as possible. After some conversation on the 
 subject among themselves, they inquired, of what 
 metal it was the custom to make the vessels ? Having 
 answered their questions, I observed that I thought 
 of having them of pewter, as the cheapest material they 
 could he made of. “No, Dominie,” they exclaimed 
 with one voice, “ let us have them of silver, and show 
 our children that we have not received the c erato 
 ladiani,’ that is, his good word, in vain !” “ But this 
 
 will he a great expence to you, as I do not wish any 
 to contribute towards this object, hut those who are 
 members.” “ How much do you think it will cost ?” 
 “At least £ 25 .” “ Well; let us have them of silver.” 
 
 Within a fortnight’s time the members collected the 
 money among themselves, and Frederic brought the 
 sum, and laid it on the table. There were at that 
 time forty-eight communicants. My heart has often 
 been cheered when I looked round the communion 
 rail, as they presented themselves to receive the 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 181 
 
 1 
 
 emblems of Christ’s dying love, and observed a silent 
 tear steal over the cheeks of one and the other of 
 these once stoical and apparently unfeeling people. 
 What a striking change is the word of God able to 
 bring about, when it is mixed with faith in them that 
 hear it! The words which the great apostle addressed 
 to his converts at Ephesus, may be applied to them 
 with much truth—Eph. ii. 11—13, “Wherefore re¬ 
 member, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the 
 flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is 
 called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 
 that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens 
 from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from 
 the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without 
 God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who some¬ 
 times were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” 
 
 The Carabeese, the Arrawak, and the Accaway, who 
 in their natural state are inflated with a supercilious 
 contempt towards each other, are there seen to meet 
 around the table of their common Saviour, showing 
 forth their Lord’s death till he come. The collections 
 made at the holy communion amount on the average 
 to five dollars, which are given to sick and needy 
 members, or applied towards the purchase of medicines 
 and little comforts required by them. Observing that 
 some of the people came too late to chapel, I inquired 
 into the reason of it, when they said, that “they 
 were both sorry and ashamed, but as the heavens 
 were dark, they did not know what time it was.” 
 “ Well, then,” said I, “ we must have a bell to tell 
 
2 82 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 you when it is time to come to worship.” “How 
 much will it cost?” they inquired. “I think about £ 7 .” 
 They made up the stated sum, and they have now a 
 hell; and I must say that they are as punctual as 
 they are regular in their attendance. 
 
 It has been one great object with me to awaken a 
 missionary spirit among that interesting people; and 
 in this, also, I have not been disappointed. Whenever 
 any have felt the value of their own souls, and fled 
 for refuge from the wrath to come, to lay hold on 
 the hope set before us; whenever any have tasted that 
 the Lord is gracious, such happy souls must and do 
 feel themselves constrained by the love of Christ to 
 bring others also to the knowledge of the truth as it 
 is in Jesus. Of those who themselves are strangers 
 to Christ, this would be expecting too much, although 
 every individual Christian is called to be a fellow- 
 worker together with God. I have been anxious to 
 inculcate this upon the converted Indians, as their 
 duty as well as privilege; and as a means of accom¬ 
 plishing so desirable an end, I established monthly 
 missionary prayer-meetings, to be held on every first 
 Monday after the communion. On these occasions I 
 read to them the reports of missions, and in going 
 along made use of such remarks and illustrations as 
 might both profit and instruct them. To excite a 
 lively interest in the countries and the inhabitants, I 
 have pointed them out on the map, explaining the 
 different habits and customs to which they are 
 strangers. This being done, one or two are per- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 183 
 
 mitted to pour out their hearts in prayer before that 
 God whose will it is that all should come to the 
 knowledge of the truth. The people have great 
 enjoyment in these meetings, and my own heart has 
 been greatly cheered, when I have heard them pray 
 occasionally, both with the understanding and the 
 heart, acknowledging and confessing their sins unto 
 God, and giving thanks unto the Father through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. How quickly is the film cleared 
 away from men’s understanding, and the scales seen 
 to drop off their vision, when the Holy Spirit 
 becomes the teacher, and the work of conversion 
 begins from within, and not merely from without! 
 ‘■'First make the tree good, and its fruit will he good; 
 or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit will 
 he corrupt.” They make quarterly collections; and 
 being taught to act on the principle which the 
 apostle recommends, “ to lay by every Sabbath as 
 God has prospered them,” there is no need of 
 looking here and there for a mite whenever the time 
 for giving comes round, for they are prepared to 
 return unto the Lord what first he gave them. I 
 hear them witness that their liberality abounds in 
 their poverty, for I am by their means enabled to 
 place to the credit of the Church Missionary Society 
 from twenty to thirty pounds yearly. The day of 
 reckoning is coming, when it will appear to all the 
 world, that what they did, they did from a sense of 
 duty to their God and Saviour; and because they felt 
 constrained by his love. 
 
184 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 The government of British Guiana, in the hope of 
 civilizing the Indians, and rendering their labours 
 available to the colonists, in the year 1844 voted the 
 munificent sum of 10,000 dollars, towards accom¬ 
 plishing so desirable an object. A plan, apparently 
 feasible, was suggested, according to which it was the 
 intention of the gentlemen charged with the execution 
 of it, to proceed. The plan proposed was as follows : 
 to build houses, forming a little village, on one of the 
 rivers near the coast, supplying the natives with a 
 teacher for themselves and children; to assist them, 
 in the first instance, with provisions till they were able 
 to earn wages by field labour; to persuade them to 
 adopt the arts of civilised life, &c. I was made 
 acquainted with this plan of government, by a gen¬ 
 tleman who had come to the Grove, for the purpose 
 of inquiring into the state of the mission. On being 
 asked my opinion as to the probability of success in 
 carrying out the proposed plan, I frankly expressed 
 my doubts upon the subject, and gave my reasons for 
 those doubts. Government, however, still determined 
 to carry out their purpose, and the plan was soon 
 after made known; but up to the time of my leaving, 
 no individual had been found who was willing to take 
 upon himself the responsibility of carrying it out. 
 Such a plan, and the mode of carrying it into effect, 
 betrays great ignorance of the Indian’s character and 
 habits; and with all deference to the opinions of those 
 who may happen to differ, I cannot but fear that it 
 will be found a moral impossibility that it should 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 185 
 
 succeed. We may as well expect to “ gather grapes 
 from thorns, or figs from thistles.” In spite of the 
 taunts and sneers of men, who, being themselves 
 strangers to the transforming influence of the glorious 
 Gospel, suppose that such results can he accomplished 
 without it, I must still maintain my humble opinion 
 that, if they are to he brought about at all, it must 
 he in a way and by means which Scripture and 
 reason alike recommend. Christianize them first, and 
 civilization, really deserving the name, is sure to 
 follow. 
 
CHAPTEB XIII. 
 
 CONVERSION OF A CONJURER—REVOLTING INSTANCE OF INFAN 
 
 TICIDE—CONVERSION OF A CHIEF AND HIS PEOPLE-THE 
 
 KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY SURSERVIENT TO 
 
 OBTAIN THEIR CONFIDENCE-FORCE OF CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE 
 
 ILLUSTRATED—INTERPOSITION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE—FAIL¬ 
 URE OF THE WRITER’S HEALTH-VISIT TO AND RETURN FROM 
 
 THE WEST INDIA ISLES—HIS RETURN TO THE MISSION AND 
 DISAPPOINTMENT ATTENDING IT — MRS. BERNAU’s DEATH— 
 THE WRITER’S RETURN TO ENGLAND. 
 
 JJAVING- thus given an outline of my work among 
 the Indians, I may he permitted to enter into 
 some of its particulars, to illustrate as well as magnify 
 the Gospel, as the power of God unto salvation. 
 God has promised to honour and hless his word, for 
 it is written, Isa. lv. 10, 11, “As the rain cometh 
 down, and the snow from heaven, and retumeth not 
 thither, hut watereth the earth, and maketh it bring 
 forth and hud, that it may give seed to the sower, 
 and bread to the eater: so shall my word he that 
 goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return 
 unto me void, hut it shall accomplish that which I 
 please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I 
 sent it.” 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 187 
 
 Pi-pa, a conjurer, showed, from the commencement 
 of the mission, a decided enmity both to the Mission¬ 
 aries and the G-ospel. He was father-in-law to 
 Franzen, whom the reader will remember as dying in 
 the Lord. No remonstrances of that good man were 
 heeded, nor would he attend the house of God upon 
 the invitations of the Missionary. When I came to 
 visit him, he would remain in his hammock till I 
 came up to it, and then suddenly arise, and make 
 into the adjoining hushes. Being a hard drinker and 
 always unwilling to listen to the Dominie, I gave him 
 up as a reprobate, and passed by the place of his 
 abode in silence. It happened that one Sunday he 
 came to church, and, unobserved by the preacher, 
 listened to a discourse delivered on the words of the 
 Psalmist, “ The wicked shall be turned into hell, and 
 all the nations that forget God.” Some weeks after 
 I saw him sitting near a fire at one of the cottages 
 at the Grove, conversing with its inmates. I went to 
 meet him, and on coming near, asked how he did? 
 For a few seconds he remained silent, and then poured 
 forth a torrent of abuse, saying among other things, 
 that “he did not care to go to hell, where their worm 
 dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” I could not 
 at the time call to mind the sermon I had recently 
 preached on the subject, and felt greatly embarrassed 
 what answer to make him. 
 
 Having at last exhausted his vocabulary of abusive 
 words and epithets, I laid hold on his finger, and held 
 it, together with my own hand, in the fire which was 
 
188 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 burning before him. He endured the pain for a few 
 seconds, and on a sudden exclaimed, “Oh, you had 
 man, you have burnt my hand in the fire!” I re¬ 
 marked quietly, “Pi-pa, if you cannot endure the 
 burning of your little finger, how will you dwell 
 with everlasting burnings?” Upon this he arose in 
 great anger, shouting while going along, “The Dominie 
 has burnt my hand in the fire!” Several of the 
 people came and asked whether such was the fact, 
 and the reason why I had done so. “ I wished,” I 
 replied, “to make him feel what fire is, since he said 
 he would not care for going to hell; behold my own 
 hand, how it is burned.” Many shook their heads, 
 implying that I had made a hazardous venture; and I 
 myself confess that I apprehended very serious conse¬ 
 quences, as it is unsafe, under any circumstances, to 
 offend a conjurer; these men have such vast influence 
 among the Indians, that their word is obeyed without 
 remonstrance or contradiction, by all alike. Up to 
 this very hour, I cannot assign to myself a satisfactory- 
 reason why I should have acted thus, and it might 
 prove a dangerous precedent if followed by any other 
 Missionary. The story of what I had done to Pi-pa 
 was in every Indian’s mouth, till at last I determined 
 to make a friend of him at all hazards. Six weeks 
 had passed when I came to this determination, and it 
 may be easily conceived with what feelings I ascended 
 the hill where Pi-pa was living. On drawing near 
 his hut, I perceived him lying in his hammock; and 
 when come to it he remained quietly in it. “ How 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 189 
 
 do you do?” I inquired. “Very bad,” was bis reply. 
 “Are you sick?” “No.” “Well, wbat is the 
 matter?” “Why, Dominie,” he replied, “since you 
 burnt my finger in the fire, I have had no rest; fire 
 around, fire below, fire above. When I sleep, I 
 dream of it; when I walk in the bush, I look round, 
 thinking the bush is on fire; when on the water, the 
 thought occurs, Suppose you should be swamped and 
 drowned, where will you be? In the fire, my heart 
 answers. Oh, what a wretch I am! what shall I do?” 
 I was greatly astonished at seeing this strong one 
 bent down; but, lest I should mar the impression 
 the word had made, or heal the wound slightly, I put 
 into it the probe, as surgeons are wont to do, to 
 ascertain its depth and extent. I therefore remarked, 
 “ Pi-pa, you are aware that you have lived a life of 
 forgetfulness of your God and Maker; you have 
 slighted the offer of mercy by your continuance in 
 sin; you have done all you could in exerting your 
 influence to deter others from living godly; you are, 
 indeed, worthy to be sent to that place where hope 
 never cometh.” “ Oh, Dominie,” he replied, “ you 
 have said right, I am indeed a very bad man; but 
 you have not spoken of the secret sins of my heart,— 
 there lies the burden!” Seeing him much affected, I 
 said, “ Pi-pa, it is a faithful saying, that Jesus 
 Christ came into the world, to save sinners;” and 
 withdrew. A few weeks after, I was told that he was 
 seriously ill, having broken a blood vessel. I imme¬ 
 diately went to pay him a visit, and on my arrival 
 
190 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 found him in a very precarious state. I, therefore, at 
 once addressed myself to him as a dying man; and 
 great was my astonishment when I heard him say, 
 “ I am at perfect peace.” “ You at perfect peace!” I 
 inquired; “ you, who have lived up to this time in 
 forgetfulness of your God and Saviour! tell me, how 
 have you come to peace ?” “ True, I have been a 
 
 great sinner, and deserve the fire,” he answered; ‘‘but 
 did not you say that Jesus Christ came into the world 
 to save sinners; I believe that word, I have prayed 
 to him to forgive and help me, and I feel he will 
 take me,” meaning, accept me. From this time I 
 spent as many hours with this interesting man as' I 
 could spare from my other avocations. How soon is 
 a man brought to understand the plan of salvation, 
 when the Holy Ghost is his teacher, and renders the 
 word effectual upon the understanding and the 
 affections! He lingered for some weeks longer, and 
 employed the time thus given him in preparing to 
 meet his God. He departed in peace, and I entertain 
 no doubt, that he was as “a brand plucked out of 
 the burning.” 
 
 The truth of.our Lord’s saying in Matt. x. 34—36, 
 was never more forcibly presented to my mind than 
 by a circumstance which occurred in one of the 
 Carabeese families. Some time ago a father, who 
 had been impressed by hearing the word of God, 
 brought his daughter to school: the mother tried her 
 utmost to induce her to return, but the father peremp¬ 
 torily forbade it. After some time he determined to 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 191 
 
 come himself, with the rest of his family, to reside 
 with ns : and from that time the mother did not give 
 him any rest. She remonstrated, she quarrelled, hut 
 to no avail; and at last, seeing that she could not 
 dissuade him from his purpose, she annoyed him in 
 every possible way. The father bore the ill treatment 
 for more than a year, when, seeing that she was not 
 inclined to follow him thither, he left it to her choice, 
 either to accompany him, or to go and live with her 
 friends in the hush. She was confined shortly after 
 she left him; and when, after some time, the father 
 went to welcome the little stranger, he was informed 
 that she had buried the child alive soon after its birth. 
 After her delivery, she left the helpless hahe, and, 
 notwithstanding the remonstrances and entreaties of 
 her mother and friends, who at the time surrounded 
 her hammock, would not he prevailed on to take him 
 up. No sooner, however, had she recovered sufficient 
 strength, than she dug a hole and threw the helpless 
 infant into it; which was heard to cry faintly as the 
 earth covered it over. This circumstance the father 
 himself related to me; and the truth of the sad story 
 has been proved again and again by others, whom I 
 have questioned upon it. The father asked, with 
 grief and tears, whether I had ever heard of such a 
 thing being done by a mother, “ for,” said he, “ do not 
 even beasts love their young?” I should hope, 
 indeed, that the circumstance is unparalleled; for 
 although infanticide is not altogether unknown, yet 
 it is extremely rare. On asking him, the other day, 
 
192 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 whether he thought he could he reconciled again to 
 the woman, he solemnly declared that, in this instance, 
 I asked too much: “ as soon as I shall have found 
 one worthy of a man,” he replied, “I will he married to 
 her: how could you suppose I could live with one 
 who has proved herself worse than a beast ?” Cer¬ 
 tainly the dark places of the earth are full of the 
 habitations of cruelty. 
 
 John, an old chieftain of the Arrawak nation, was 
 heard by me to say that he would never set his foot 
 within the settlement at the Grove; he kept his word, 
 till affliction made him seek for those consolations 
 which the Gospel alone can afford when the hand of 
 the Almighty lies heavy upon the sinner. I used to 
 visit him often for the space of nearly five years, when, 
 as usual, I read to him and prayed that God would 
 make him and his people see the things which belong 
 to their peace. To all the questions which I put to 
 him he would answer neither more nor less than yes 
 and no. On one occasion I put my questions so as 
 to draw out his feelings, when he observed, “ I have 
 often wondered why you should trouble yourself about 
 us, and molest us by your visits. We do not want 
 anything from you; if we have enough to eat and 
 to drink, what more do we want?” To this I 
 observed, c£ John, if you and your people had only 
 this body, and no souls to he saved, then you may 
 believe me, I should never have left my country and 
 friends to come to you.” “ I never called you to 
 come,” he replied. “I know that you did not call me. 
 
IN BRITISH GUTANA. 
 
 193 
 
 and yet I have come to tell yon of the love of God, 
 because the love of Christ constrained me to tell you 
 how to become happy.” “ Well, well, we do not want 
 that; when you come you only trouble us. You had 
 better come no more, and—I now tell you, he off at 
 once.” It would not he prudent to remain when an 
 Indian speaks thus. I therefore arose, and, having 
 taken up my hat, intended to depart. On turning 
 round, however, I observed a dog asleep near the 
 fire, and asked, “ Whose dog is that ?” “ That is my 
 
 dog,” replied John. “ He seems to he a very lazy 
 dog,” I said. “ No,” he answered, “ he is a very good 
 hunter.” “ Suppose he were lazy,” Iasked, “what would 
 you do to him ?” “I would give him a flogging.” 
 “And suppose,” I replied, “ you did not cure him of his 
 laziness, what next ?” “ Then I would shoot him.” 
 “ Ah, John, take care,” I said, “ lest you get such a 
 flogging.” Upon this, I stepped into my canoe, and 
 departed. 
 
 About that time the small-pox made its appearance 
 in the colony, and committed great ravages among 
 the negroes. Not many weeks passed and cases were 
 reported to have occurred in the Essequibo. I now 
 endeavoured to procure the vaccine matter, and, 
 through the kindness of the colonial surgeon, I 
 obtained a small supply. I tried it upon the children, 
 and was thankful to see it take effect. I next pre¬ 
 vailed upon the adult Indians at the settlement to 
 consent to he vaccinated, and succeeded beyond my 
 expectation. All the people at the Grove, without an 
 
194 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 exception, submitted to vaccination; and although 
 strangers, affected by the malady, mixed with the 
 people, not even a single case occurred among them. 
 Some weeks after the vaccination, however, the 
 children generally were affected by the chicken-pox, 
 but in a very mild form, and this I looked upon as 
 affording a proof that the plan had been effectual. 
 As soon as the Indians were restored, I sent them 
 abroad to tell their people of the remedy and the 
 effects it had produced upon them; and to invite 
 them generally to avail themselves of it as a pre¬ 
 servative from that dire disease. Many had already 
 fallen victims to it, and a still greater number were 
 just at this time suffering from it. This had the 
 effect of causing them to come from a great distance, 
 and from places which I had never known of before. 
 Some of these Indians looked upon my mode of pro¬ 
 ceeding, when vaccinating them, as a kind of charm; 
 and others submitted to it with suspicion. On other 
 occasions I invariably administered a little medicine 
 so as to prepare the system for a more favourable 
 reception of the vaccine matter; but with these 
 savages this was altogether out of the question. 
 When the arm became inflamed, attended with con¬ 
 siderable fever, they used either to go up to their 
 necks into the water, or annihilate the pustule that 
 was forming, and walk off to be seen no more. 
 Others, again, would come to me, and addressing me 
 with indignation, inquire what I had been doing 
 to their arm, seeing it was so inflamed and caused 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 195 
 
 them fever! It was no easy matter to quiet them 
 and persuade them that within a few days they would 
 he well again; hut on inquiry they were told hy 
 others that this very circumstance of seeing their 
 arms thus inflamed, was a proof that they would not 
 catch the small-pox, as others had who were not 
 vaccinated. By degrees they felt confidence in the 
 doings of the Dominie ; and those who had destroyed 
 the pustule, and others who had run away from me, 
 returned and submitted themselves to a second 
 vaccination. 
 
 It may he conceived that this circumstance of show¬ 
 ing them kindness mightily operated upon their hearts; 
 and when addressing them on the state of their souls, 
 describing their real condition, and pointing out the 
 only remedy for our spiritual diseases, I was always 
 listened to hy them with great attention. As in former 
 days, they betrayed great fear, lest, in touching the 
 Dominie, or being touched hy him, they should die, 
 so now they crowded around me to shake hands, or 
 have a little chat with me. 
 
 One of our people came, at this time, to John, the 
 captain just spoken of. He found the place deserted 
 of its inhabitants, and was about to quit it again, when 
 he thought it advisable to give a shout, loud enough 
 to he heard all around. A faint answer proceeded 
 from one of the huts, which was observed to be sur¬ 
 rounded hy palm-leaves. He went and found the 
 captain, his wife, and two children, in a deplorable 
 condition, covered all over with small-pox. “ Where 
 * K 2 
 
] 96 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 are your people ?” inquired Simmon. “They have all 
 run away, and left me here; this is the third day that 
 we have had no bread to eat, and we are all so sick.”. 
 “ I will go at once, and call the Dominie,” replied the 
 Indian. “ The Dominie !” he said, “ I am sure he will 
 never come again, for it is not long ago that I sent 
 him out of the place.” “ Oh,” said Simmon, “ hut I 
 know that he will come;” and away he went to call 
 me. On being informed of the captain’s condition, 
 I set off, without loss of time, carrying with me 
 some medicine, and a large supply of provisions. 
 “ I am very sick,” said John, on my entering the 
 small hut; “ and my people have left me to myself; 
 there is my wife, hut she cannot go to the field to 
 fetch cassava, and look at the poor children.” I ad¬ 
 vised him what medicine to take himself, and what 
 quantity to give to the others of his family; and 
 having ordered the provisions to he brought and 
 placed before him, I departed. A few days after, I 
 again went, and was thankful to see that all were 
 much better. The captain said, “ Ah, Dominie, I have 
 got a flogging.” “Have you?” asked I; “see, God 
 loves you yet, and let me hope this affliction will bring 
 you to him.” “ Yes, Dominie, you are my friend; here 
 is my son, take him.” “ I have been all along your 
 friend, John; and when the hoy is better, I will take 
 him.” I then set before him the long-suffering and 
 forbearance of God towards sinners; and magnified 
 the love of Him who “ willeth not the death of the 
 sinner, hut rather that he should he converted and 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 197 
 
 live.” John promised that, if he and his family should 
 he spared, he would give himself up to his God and 
 Saviour. It pleased God to restore him again by the 
 use of means; and no sooner was he able to move 
 about, than he paid a visit to the house of God, in 
 which he previously had never set his foot. When his 
 people, who had fled to a distance of several miles to 
 the hills, returned, he forgave them most freely, and 
 encouraged them to go up with him to the house of 
 God. They followed him; and having been fully 
 instructed in the truths of our holy religion for the 
 space of eighteen months, they have all been admitted 
 into the fellowship of Christ’s Church. And being 
 made conformable to his death, I hope that they will 
 he found also in the likeness of Christ’s resurrection. 
 They are, without exception, communicants, and their 
 children are instructed in the schools at the Grove. 
 They still live at a distance of five miles from the 
 station, but are most regular in their attendance on 
 the means of grace. 
 
 I can never forget the remarks the old man made 
 about his friends; as they so aptly illustrate the na¬ 
 ture of the friendship of the world; nay, and even that 
 of worldly friends in the days of adversity. “ Ah, 
 Dominie, you came to see me; a stranger to me, as I 
 am to you. My own people have forsaken me in my 
 distress, hut you bring me provisions and medicine. 
 Yes, you are my friend.” ' “ Cease ye from man, whose 
 breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to he 
 accounted of?” 
 
198 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 Blessed and happy are those, who, like this Indian, 
 having neglected and slighted the gracious invitations 
 of a long-suffering God, shall he brought, in their 
 affliction, to seek him who has said, “ Call upon me in 
 the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt 
 glorify me.” 
 
 As John had been last, so he is now first in his 
 attendance on the means of grace; and I have been 
 often pleased to see him take his seat in chapel, as 
 soon as the doors of it had been thrown open. The 
 words of St. Paul to the Corinthians may be applied 
 to bim and his people, 1 Cor. vi. 11: “And such were 
 some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, 
 but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and 
 by the Spirit of our God.” 
 
 To illustrate the force of Christian principle, and 
 how the rude Indian even is enabled thereby to 
 overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh, and 
 the devil, I will only mention one instance which has 
 come to my knowledge. It frequently happens, that, 
 during the dry season, parties from Georgetown and 
 the coast ascend the respective rivers in the colony, 
 for the purpose of enjoying a pleasure trip at the falls. 
 This, however, cannot be accomplished without the aid 
 of Indians. On one of these occasions, a party arrived 
 at the Grove, and hired the requisite number of hands. 
 These were all members of our congregation, as there 
 are no heathens permitted to live at the place. The 
 gentlemen tried to persuade them to drink rum, and 
 one of their number was made drunk in consequence. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 199 
 
 As soon as they returned, he was accused of this, and, 
 by sentence of his own people, excluded from the 
 holy communion for the space of three months. He 
 was truly sorry for what had happened, and, in con¬ 
 sequence, was again admitted to the enjoyment of the 
 Christian's privilege of coming to the Lord’s table. 
 The year following, the same party arrived, wishing to 
 engage the services of the people for the occasion; hut 
 not a single Indian was willing to go. One of the 
 gentlemen came to me, and expressed his surprise at 
 the refusal of the Indians; but, when he was told the 
 reason, he promised that he would take care that such 
 a thing should never happen again. Upon this, I 
 conferred with some of them, and, at last, succeeded 
 in persuading them to accept the offer, depending on 
 the promise, that, instead of rum, as usual, sugar or 
 molasses should be dealt out to them. When on their 
 way to the rapids, the same gentleman tried to per¬ 
 suade the same Indian to drink hut one glass of rum. 
 “ Did not you promise that you would give us sugar 
 instead of rum ?” he asked; “why do you tempt me to 
 get drunk ?” The gentleman replied, “ Oh, you refuse 
 because you know the Dominie does not like your 
 drinking rum; hut you see that I, and all the rest of 
 our company, take a glass of brandy; why should not 
 you ? Come, drink hut one glass, and don't he 
 afraid of the Dominie, he does not see you now.” “ I 
 am not at all afraid of the Dominie,” replied the Indian, 
 “why should I ? He does not see me, I know;—hut,” 
 pointing with his finger towards heaven, he added, 
 
200 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 “ there is one that seeth me and yon; and him do I 
 fear, hut not the Dominie.” The gentleman in question 
 was silenced,, and was much disconcerted at the remark 
 the Indian had made. He had no pleasure in the 
 trip, and the whole company returned sooner than 
 had been expected. Although I have no reason to 
 believe that the party, and more especially the indi¬ 
 vidual to whom the answer was made, did profit by 
 the circumstance, yet, of this 1 am sure, that they 
 shall know that the word of that Indian was a message 
 from the Lord to them. 
 
 I should, probably, have never heard of this noble 
 resistance of temptation, had not the same gentleman 
 related it to me. It must be borne in mind, that 
 drunkenness is the besetting sin of an Indian; and it 
 may be surely inferred, therefore, that whenever he 
 has strength to overcome it, it is by grace he is 
 enabled to obtain the victory. 
 
 The following anecdote strikingly illustrates the 
 special care of God’s providence over his people; and 
 .that whenever he sees good to permit wicked men to 
 carry their mischievous designs into execution, good 
 must result from it, both to his praise and glory, and 
 the salvation of all who put their trust in him. Oh, 
 how sweet is the assurance in the day of trial and 
 affliction, “We know, that all things work together 
 for good to them that love God!” And again, “If 
 God be for us, who shall he against us ?” 
 
 Mr. S-was carrying on business in Georgetown, 
 
 selling dry goods, but after some time he failed. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 201 
 
 Previously to his giving up the business, he obtained 
 credit for one hundred pounds upon hills, which he 
 himself had forged. With this sum he purchased a 
 canoe, and various other articles, such as he knew the 
 Indians liked ; and, having obtained a few hands, he 
 absconded and proceeded up the Essequibo. At the 
 last settlement, below the first set of rapids, he fell in 
 with some Indians, whose services he engaged, upon 
 which he dismissed the blacks whom he had brought 
 with him. He went as far as the second set of rapids, 
 and there remained at a small settlement of Indians 
 of the Accaway tribe. It has been observed elsewhere 
 that this tribe is the least civilised, the most cruel and 
 treacherous, and on that account feared by all others. 
 On his arrival among them, he told them that he had 
 been dead, and was alive again; that he had seen their 
 friends, and could tell all about them. This assertion 
 of a stranger coming among them, naturally enough, 
 excited much inquiry, and the questions were many 
 which he was called upon to answer. The captain, or 
 chief, however, was not so easily imposed upon; 
 “ How is it,” he observed, “ that no one of our own 
 people ever came hack to tell us of this ? True, you 
 look as if you had been dead; hut it seems a strange 
 thing, I know not what to think of it.” The stranger 
 observed, “ To-morrow you shall see the proof that 
 what I tell you, is true.” The whole night was spent 
 in talking of the stranger, and all were in expectation 
 as to what kind of proof he would give, so as to 
 convince them that he had been dead indeed, and was 
 k. 3 
 
202 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 alive again. When the morning arrived, he made 
 them march in single file, forbidding them to speak, 
 himself walking at the head of the procession. When 
 they arrived at the side of a hill, he began to mutter 
 indistinct words—as is done by the Indians in their 
 incantations;—and after having walked to and fro for 
 a considerable time, he at last touched the ground 
 with a rod he carried in his hand. “ There dig,” he 
 said, “ and you shall find a treasure in proof that 
 I have been dead, and am alive again.” The reader 
 may imagine the scramble which ensued; for when 
 they had taken away a little earth, behold, there were 
 found knives, scissors, pieces of calico, reels of cotton, 
 powder, shot, fish-hooks, and other articles, considered 
 valuable among the Indians. On seeing what was 
 coming forth, all made a rush to get the greatest share 
 of the spoil, upon which he told them that every 
 article should be brought and laid upon a heap. This, 
 no doubt, the adventurer did to prevent quarrels and 
 jealousies. When they had succeeded in emptying 
 the whole, he made them again stand in a line, and 
 equally distributed the articles among them. The 
 Indians firmly believed that he had been dead, and 
 was alive again; and, as a token of their respect 
 towards him, they put the captains cap upon his 
 head, intimating that they would yield obedience to 
 him. From this time he put off his clothing, and 
 painted and dressed himself like an Indian. He 
 assumed the command, and all did what he bade 
 them to do. This latter circumstance provoked the 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 203 
 
 jealousy of the captain; but seeing that all his people 
 were so devoted to the usurper, he patiently waited 
 till his turn should come. The stranger then told 
 them many marvellous stories, and pictured to them 
 the world to come, as Mohammed has done in his 
 Koran. When he perceived that he had sufficiently 
 gained upon their credulity, he observed, that their 
 relations had told him, that there was no need of 
 learning and listening to those Dominies, meaning 
 the writer at the Grove, as well as Mr. Youd, at 
 Waraputa; and that if they remained as their 
 ancestors had died, they would surely go to the same 
 place. Seeing that the Indians listened with great 
 pleasure and satisfaction, he proceeded, Why should 
 he he allowed to trouble your people, knowing that 
 you will go to that place without him ? You had 
 better burn the settlement; he will then leave off 
 troubling you. To this the Indians readily assented, 
 hut the captain was doubtful on the subject. Krom 
 this time, however, an expedition to the Grove was 
 talked of, and at last resolved on; and the captain 
 soon convinced himself that he must yield to the 
 necessity. The adventurer had at this time been three 
 months at the place; and all being ready, they were 
 to start at break of day the next morning. The fleet 
 consisted of nine canoes, or more, and all were tied 
 one to the other, and the first was fastened by one of 
 those strong lines which are used to haul the canoes 
 over the rocks, or up the stream, when ascending the 
 rapids. Only one canoe was left for the use of the 
 
204 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 few who should remain behind to watch the place. It 
 so happened that the lines broke, and the whole fleet 
 of canoes drifted down the river during the night. 
 On perceiving the circumstance in the morning, the 
 captain despatched as many as the canoe, left behind, 
 would carry, in search of the rest. They did not find 
 them so near as they were led to expect, for they had 
 drifted down the river for near ten miles. As soon as 
 they fell in with them, they pulled them to shore, and 
 fastened them to the hushes, and returned. As the 
 settlement furnished hut one canoe, the rest of the 
 people had to walk through the hushes, which they 
 accomplished not without difficulty; when they arrived, 
 wearied and disconcerted, they determined not to 
 proceed, hut to return. 
 
 Some months after, another expedition was deter¬ 
 mined on. But previous to their leaving the place, 
 the captain was laid up by fever; and if the captain 
 ' do not go, the Indian will not stir ; and the adven¬ 
 turer himself had, probably, not courage enough to 
 lead on the expedition. Again he succeeded in pre¬ 
 paring a third one; and, strange to say, that a day 
 previous the captain’s children became seriously ill, 
 and his designs were frustrated. He had now been 
 on the settlement for the space of nine months, and 
 the various articles, with which he had supplied the 
 Indians, had nearly come to an end; they therefore 
 resolved to ask the white man for another supply. 
 The captain, as may he supposed, supported and 
 urged them on in this their request. “ If you,” said 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 205 
 
 he, “ have been dead, and are alive again, you will, 
 to be sure, be able to give us another supply, for our 
 powder and shot are nearly spent, and the calicoes of 
 the women look old and worn.” The adventurer 
 replied, that after a month's time, they should have 
 another treasure. When the time had expired, the 
 captain presented him with a little stick, in which he 
 had cut notches for every day in the month, saying, 
 “ I hope you will remember the supply you promised 
 my people ?” “ You must wait another week, you 
 
 must wait another week,” he replied, “ and then , you 
 shall have it.” He was now seen loitering near the 
 water-side, in order to find a suitable opportunity of 
 making his escape by means of one of the canoes, for 
 he must have known that, should he try to find his 
 way through the forest, it would certainly be at the 
 risk of his life. The captain, on perceiving his 
 intention, ordered that all the canoes should be hauled 
 upon the land; and it was not in the adventurer’s 
 power himself to launch even the smallest, as three 
 or four hands are required for performing the task. 
 When the week had passed, the captain again reminded 
 him of his promise ; he answered, “ You shall have it 
 to-morrow.” The adventurer was seen by the Indians 
 to be in a state of great excitement, urging them on 
 to go and hunt, in which he offered to accompany 
 them; but the captain calmly replied, “ There is no 
 need of it, for there is plenty to eat.” The eventful 
 morning at last arrived, and when asked by the 
 captain for the supply, he, no doubt, reluctantly 
 
206 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 enough, owned that he had been imposing upon them. 
 “ I thought so, from the very beginning,” replied the 
 captain; he then ordered one of his people to give 
 him a flogging, and to put some provisions into one 
 of the smaller canoes, saying, “ Here are two paddles 
 and a canoe, with some provisions; go, and return no 
 more. If you set your foot again on this place, 
 you will he shot. I should have punished you in 
 a very different manner, hut for the Dominie, whom 
 I well know.” 
 
 I had been informed by other Indians of the 
 intentions of the white man, and of all his doings 
 there. I took, of course, the necessary precaution of 
 informing my people, and requested them not to 
 absent themselves from home oftener than was abso¬ 
 lutely necessary. I also begged of them not to. fire 
 in case an attack should be made, but to call me at 
 once to the spot. It was, as one may naturally 
 suppose, a time of some excitement, hut, relying on 
 the Lord, I at least was able to realise, in some 
 measure, the words of the prophet, Isaiah xxvi. 3, 
 “ Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is 
 stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.” 
 
 In March, 1845, I was summoned by an Indian to 
 the house where Strangers put up, and which is called 
 “ the logie.” On my arrival I found Mr. S. lying 
 in a hammock, surrounded with our people. He did 
 not deny the charge which I brought against him, of 
 having intended to destroy the place by fire, but 
 owned that he had been the instigator of such a 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 207 
 
 desire, and begged for pardon. He was in a state 
 of great excitement, and baying admonished him 
 to make his peace with God, I permitted him to 
 sleep at the place, on the condition that he must not 
 allow himself to he seen on the morrow. 
 
 The particulars of this adventurer’s course, and 
 what I have just related, were communicated to me 
 by the Indians themselves, who for a time had allowed 
 themselves to be duped by his cunning. 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1844, my health was 
 visibly declining; I felt at times languor and faint¬ 
 ness such as can be seldom experienced by persons 
 living in a colder climate. At last I became paralyzed 
 in my hands and feet, and a change of climate was 
 judged to be absolutely necessary, but I felt reluctant 
 to return to Europe without having first tried the sea 
 air, and sea-bathing. Accordingly, myself and Mrs. 
 Bernau, and my two elder children, embarked for the 
 island of Barbadoes. The mission was left under 
 the charge of Mr. Edmund Christian, the catechist, 
 who, at the time, was suffering from fever, and fre¬ 
 quently laid up for days together. Under him, acted 
 a schoolmaster and a schoolmistress. When I left, I 
 had the pleasure of seeing the field and gardens in 
 excellent condition. The former had been prepared 
 gratuitously by the Indians, for the benefit of the 
 children at school; and I spent many an hour in 
 superintending the children when it was planted with 
 two thousand bananas and plantains, cassava, yams, 
 and other vegetables. I hoped, should I be spared to 
 
208 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 return, to reap an abundant harvest, and by this 
 means lessen the expenses to the Society, as also to 
 afford such sustenance to the dear children as best 
 suited their constitutions. In order that the fields 
 might be kept clear of weeds, &c., I charged the 
 schoolmaster to take the children into it every 
 Friday in the week, and, relying on their promises, 
 I departed. 
 
 On my arrival in Barbadoes, I tried sea-bathing 
 twice every day, and, such was the benefit I derived 
 from it, that within a fortnight, I was able to walk 
 with the help of a stick. Another fortnight would, 
 with the blessing of God, have fully restored me, as 
 I did not labour under any other disease, had I not 
 been called away in consequence of a letter informing 
 me of the death of Mr. Muhlhauser, my brother-in-law, 
 and Missionary of the Church Missionary Society in 
 Trinidad. Having recovered thus far, I took frequent 
 exercise on horseback when in that beautiful and 
 charming island, and, after a residence of six weeks, I 
 was able to walk without help. I returned again to 
 Barbadoes, and remained there some time longer, in 
 consequence of my wife’s illness. Towards the end 
 of August, I was permitted to land at Bartica Grove, 
 apparently strong and fully restored, to the joy of 
 my flock. The mission-house was soon crowded by 
 visitors, from far and near, and I shall never forget 
 the tears of joy and thankfulness of both adults and 
 children. But, as usual in this world of vanity, so 
 now my joy was mingled with sorrow when I looked 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 209 
 
 into the gardens. The fences were broken down by 
 the cattle; the shrubberies rooted up by the pigs, 
 the produce of much solicitude and care; in short, 
 the labour and anxiety of many years, all gone. 
 When looking on the scene of destruction and con¬ 
 templating the gross neglect and shameful indifference 
 of those concerned in it, I could not refrain from 
 shedding bitter tears. Nor had the fruit-trees, which 
 were planted and trained with no less solicitude along 
 the road, escaped, whilst the field had been allowed 
 to he overrun with grass and underwood, which 
 completely destroyed all that had been planted in it; 
 for it must he remembered, that in a tropical climate, 
 and more especially in a newly-prepared field, the 
 ground is rank, and the production of weeds most 
 rapid. There is a kind of lianas, which, with amazing 
 rapidity, entwines itself around trees, and other plants, 
 and checks them in their growth, if it does not 
 absolutely destroy them. 
 
 When I asked the catechist how all this had 
 happened, he calmly answered, “You did not leave 
 them to my charge.” When next I turned to the 
 schoolmaster, he replied, “Why, sir, I thought you 
 would never return again to this place”—certainly a 
 very polite compliment to me, but surely no excuse 
 for his own neglect. Although the taste of indi¬ 
 viduals may differ as to these things, and men of 
 little minds think them incompatible with their high 
 and heavenly calling, the book of nature has the 
 same Author with that of revelation; and he who is 
 
210 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 taught to read them aright, will find not only sweet 
 enjoyment in the study and culture of both, but also 
 trace the Authors wisdom, love, and power in the 
 meanest worm that we crush under our feet. And 
 should not the contemplation of these objects excite 
 gratitude, love, and trust in the heart of the believer, 
 when he remembers that the same great and glorious 
 Being, who not only created, hut sustains them by 
 his Almighty power, is his God and Father in 
 Christ Jesus, willing, as well as able, to supply all 
 his need ? 
 
 Mr. Pollitt, as has been already stated, was obliged 
 to quit his station and return to England. It was 
 evident that he would never return again to Waraputa; 
 the Committee, therefore, resolved that Mr. Edmund 
 Christian should go there. His strength, however, 
 was not equal to the task; for having, since his 
 arrival in the colony, suffered from repeated attacks of 
 fever, his constitution was much undermined. He 
 also was obliged to return home in the beginning of 
 the year 1845. I was, therefore, left alone in my 
 work, and for some time I was able to go through the 
 regular routine of it with comfort to myself. The 
 burden, however, was too heavy for me; and, though 
 I struggled hard to maintain my ground, it very soon 
 became evident that my strength was declining fast. 
 I communicated the fact to the Committee of the 
 Church Missionary Society, and they very kindly 
 promised to send me help. My mind was made up 
 not to leave the place in inefficient hands again; for 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 211 
 
 though I had returned for nearly a year, the conse¬ 
 quences of so sweeping a destruction had even then 
 not been retrieved, and never will he. 
 
 It pleased God to call my beloved partner, on the 
 6 th of June, into her rest, a few hours after she had 
 given birth to a little boy. She had been in a pre¬ 
 carious state of health for some time past, suffering 
 greatly from the debilitating effects of the climate. A 
 change to a colder climate would, no doubt, have 
 acted beneficially upon her frame; but I do not like 
 expatiating on second causes. To the First Cause 
 I desire to look in all that befalls me; and direct 
 others to do the same, if they wish to exercise that 
 resignation which Scripture requires of every believer, 
 and partake of joy and peace in believing; knowing 
 that “ all things shall work together for good to them 
 that love God.” 
 
 I could not but deeply feel the bereavement I had 
 been called on to sustain in the removal of my truly 
 esteemed and beloved partner; but when reflecting 
 on the enjoyment of bliss and glory she had thus 
 early been called to become a partaker of, I felt 
 thankful to the Lord, who had enabled her to be 
 faithful unto the end. She resigned her soul into the 
 hands of Him in whom she believed, being persuaded 
 that, what she had committed to his trust, he would 
 keep. Her last words were, “Dear Lord and Saviour, 
 have mercy on my poor soul, and receive me into 
 glory 1” 
 
 I cannot forbear stating the fact that, no sooner 
 
212 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 was her departure known, than the room where she 
 died, was crowded by our dear people expressing their 
 sympathy. Some mourned and grieved, whilst others 
 to whom she had been a friend in need, and an 
 instructor, were seen bedewing her face with tears. It 
 was a scene which altogether overpowered my feelings, 
 so that I was obliged to withdraw for many hours toge¬ 
 ther. One of our communicants, whose name was 
 Simmon, found me sitting in a room by myself. He 
 addressed me in the following words, “ Dominie, I 
 think you cry too much.” I looked him in the face, 
 thinking that this remark was rather an unkind one; 
 and observed that tears were starting from his eyes. 
 “ Yes,” said he, “ you have lost a dear wife; we, a 
 dear and beloved mother. But, Dominie, why cry so 
 much ? You told me, when my mother died, I should 
 not weep as one without hope; and I believe I shall 
 . see her again. Now you teach us so, you should 
 show us a better example.” “ Simmon,” I observed, 
 “ we are permitted to weep, for Jesus wept, as you 
 will remember, at the grave of Lazarus.” “Oh, yes,” 
 he replied, “ hut not too much. Come, let us pray, 
 brother.” I accompanied him into an adjoining room, 
 and there kneeling down, this Indian offered up a 
 prayer of sympathy, thanks, and praise, which I shall 
 never forget. When her remains were committed to 
 the grave, there was an unusually large attendance 
 both of Christians and heathens; and, having myself 
 to perform the painful task of reading the service 
 over her, and being quite overpowered by my feelings. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 213 
 
 some of the people kindly conducted me to my 
 residence. 
 
 Soon after the above event had taken place, I had 
 the pleasure of welcoming the Eev. E. Woodman 
 from Trinidad. I had become acquainted with him 
 when in that island the year before, and, as he ex¬ 
 pressed his willingness to take charge of the mission 
 during my absence, I could not hut recognise the 
 providence of God in thus ordering matters for me. 
 
 The little infant I left as a pledge for my return, 
 in accordance with the request of my people, being 
 persuaded that they would cherish him with paternal 
 care and affection. He was well and prospered for 
 more than a year, hut was removed to a better world 
 by an attack of croup, after a short illness, in the 
 course of last year. This circumstance has been a 
 great grief to them, hut I believe that he has been 
 taken from the evil to come; and on this account I 
 was enabled cheerfully to resign him into the hands 
 of Him 
 
 “ Who is too wise to err, 
 
 Too good to do us harm.” 
 
 Mr. Woodman, having made himself acquainted 
 with the plans hitherto pursued by me, found no diffi¬ 
 culty in adopting them; and being convinced myself 
 that he was fully competent to carry on the work, 
 I reluctantly left those who were so endeared to me 
 under bis charge. The day of parting from a people, 
 among whom I was privileged to witness such mani¬ 
 festations of the grace of God, was very trying to my 
 
214 MISSIONARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 feelings ; and even now I cannot tell by what means 
 I got into the boat which conveyed me to Georgetown. 
 The house was crowded, and, after singing a hymn 
 and prayer, all passed one by one to shake hands 
 with me. 
 
 This trying scene most forcibly reminded me of 
 my being a pilgrim and a stranger here ; and I could 
 find consolation only in the thought that soon, very 
 soon, we shall meet to part no more in our Father’s 
 house. If the parting from earthly friends and 
 relations be at all times trying to those who are 
 related to each other by the bonds of blood or friend¬ 
 ship, the parting of a minister from his people is 
 much more keenly felt, as they are related to each 
 other by yet more sacred bonds. 
 
 I embarked in. one of the West Indian steam- 
 packets, and soon felt the invigorating effects of the 
 sea-breeze, the more we neared the northern latitudes. 
 On my arrival in England I felt myself well and 
 strong, and could have wished to return by the next 
 packet, had not the experience of bygone days taught 
 me better. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 LETTEES FKOM INDIAN BOYS DUBING THE IB APPEENTICESHIP- 
 
 LETTEBS FBOM CH1LDBEN AT SCHOOL-COMBINED CAUSES 
 
 THEEATENING THE TOTAL EXTINCTION OE THE ABOEIGINAL 
 
 EACE-APPEAL-THE LOBd’s PBAYEB IN THE ABBAWAK 
 
 LANGUAGE. 
 
 JT has been noticed above, that the Indian boys, after 
 having completed their fourteenth year, and finished 
 their education at school, were apprenticed to different 
 trades in Georgetown. I was aware of the difficulties 
 and temptations they would have to encounter in a 
 place like that; hut I hoped, by this means, to put an 
 effectual bar to their relapsing again into a savage 
 state, and to make them useful members of society. 
 In order to warn them of sin, comfort them in their 
 trials, and remind them of the sacred obligations to 
 their Divine Master, as well as to secure their affec¬ 
 tions, I used to address an epistle conjointly to them 
 all, requesting them to answer it singly, and to ac¬ 
 quaint me with their wants and trials. It may not he 
 uninteresting to produce some of them, and I crave 
 the kind indulgence of the English reader, who will 
 he pleased to hear in mind that a few years hack these 
 
216 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 children were but one step removed from the brute 
 creation. 
 
 “ Dear and Rev. Sir, 
 
 “ With the greatest pleasure we received your kind 
 and affectionate letter from Mr. Christian. It shall 
 he our study, with the help of God, to attend to your 
 advice, by making use of our spare time in reading 
 our Bibles and studying, for which purpose we often 
 meet in the evenings at Mr. B.’s cottage, who is kind 
 enough to allow us, and where we are not disturbed, 
 as we would he at our workshops, or lodgings, among 
 the other apprentices. I, John Franzen, am improving 
 a little in the knowledge of my trade, my master 
 having thought fit to put me to what is called in our 
 trade ‘ cabling bed-posts.’ Will Robinson is at present 
 employed only polishing furniture. We are both well 
 
 satisfied with Mr. H-, our master, and I trust, 
 
 that, with the blessing of God, our conduct may he 
 such as will give satisfaction to our employers, and 
 he pleasing to you, dear sir, to whom we owe the 
 deepest gratitude. I beg to know, my dear sir, if you 
 have the copy of my indentures ? if so, will you he so 
 kind as to send it me to keep it ? 
 
 “ I remain, with best wishes, 
 
 “ Your humble servant, 
 
 “ John Franzen.” 
 
 This hoy, I may he allowed to remark, is the son of 
 the individual of the same name, who departed this 
 life in peace, as has been before related. He is a very 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 217 
 
 promising lad, and I entertain the hope, that, when 
 his apprenticeship shall have come to an end, he will 
 devote his life to the service of his Saviour, as a 
 teacher among the Arrawak tribe. 
 
 “ My dear Mr. Bernau, 
 
 “ I beg to acknowledge your kind letter, and will, 
 by the help and grace of God, endeavour to follow 
 your kind advice. As we meet almost every evening 
 at Mr. B/s for reading our Bible, we would he very 
 much obliged to you, if you would send us a little ink, 
 a slate, and a few sheets of plain paper, as we cannot 
 procure those things. At the same time, we beg to 
 thank you for our copy-hooks and pens. I am very 
 
 well satisfied with my master, Mr. N-, and I trust, 
 
 with the blessing of God, to he able to give satisfac¬ 
 tion, and always to hear in mind the great kindness 
 and gratitude I owe you for my education, and all the 
 other blessings attending it. In conclusion, we three 
 beg to send our kind love and regard of our kindest 
 love and respects to you, my dear Sir, Mrs. B. and 
 all our schoolfellows. 
 
 “ I remain your humble servant, 
 
 “ Samuel Coates.” 
 
 This hoy, I have reason to believe, is truly con¬ 
 verted. He is of the Accaway tribe, about fifteen years 
 and a half of age, and has been apprenticed to a 
 gunsmith. The progress he is making in acquiring 
 knowledge in the trade he has chosen, is truly 
 gratifying. 
 
 L 
 
218 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 “ Dear Sir, 
 
 “ I am very glad to receive that letter, which you 
 sent for us with the last boat. 1 am going to tell you 
 
 that I have begun to work a little, if Mr. H-gives 
 
 me anything to do; and if I am preserved from the 
 wicked hoys. I pray God that he may keep me from 
 all sin. We do go to school on Wednesdays, and 
 attend the Sunday school; and, after school, we go to 
 church. Sometimes I want to go to the meeting on 
 Thursday evenings. When will you he in town, Sir ? 
 I have begun with my copy-hook. 
 
 “ I remain, your hoy, 
 
 “ Will Kobinson.” 
 
 This hoy was of the Accaway tribe, and has since 
 entered into his rest. When he became seriously ill, 
 he requested that his master should send him to the 
 Grove. At first he felt greatly alarmed at death, hut, 
 after a few weeks, he became perfectly resigned; and I 
 entertain the hope that he departed in the faith of 
 Jesus Christ. There are several others, who them¬ 
 selves have chosen different trades. One of them is 
 with a gunsmith, another with an engineer; and it is 
 gratifying to know that their respective employers are 
 pleased with their conduct and diligence in their work. 
 I cannot refrain from inserting two more letters, which 
 I have received from two of the hoys still at school, 
 as they are calculated to show to all who are engaged 
 in the work of faith, and labour of love, that their 
 labour is not in vain in the Lord. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 219 
 
 “Bartica Grove, March, 1846. 
 
 “ My dear Minister, 
 
 “ With pleasure I have taken this opportunity of 
 writing these few lines. I hope you are enjoying good 
 health, because, on your leaving us, you were in sick¬ 
 ness, sorrow. It was on that account you went away; 
 hut we are all anxious to see you again, and we look 
 forward to it with much gladness. We are getting on 
 very well, so that when you come, I trust you may 
 find all of us in good health, and also trying our best 
 to improve in our learning. Please to tell Master 
 Henry, and all the rest, how dye for me. I hope 
 they are quite well. May it please God to keep Henry 
 in his ways, and give him health and understanding, 
 that he may increase in every good thing! 
 
 “ I am not accustomed to writing letters, hut I must 
 tell you something about the old boat. Two or three 
 days after she came from town, she was nearly broken 
 to pieces, having been set adrift by some one in the 
 night. On that account she was sent to town to be 
 repaired, which would have cost more than what she 
 was worth. I hear you have asked for Will Brasie, 
 who was taken away from school by his father-in law, 
 while Mr. Woodman, our present minister, was in 
 town with you, because his father-in-law had left the 
 penal settlement, and had gone down the river to get 
 an employment. Edmund also is gone with his sister 
 to the interior, without making us acquainted with it, 
 whether he was going or not. He went away in the 
 night, while we were all sleeping together. Many 
 l 2 
 
220 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 boys, which left when you went, I am afraid we shall 
 never see them again. I am afraid Edmund will not 
 again make his appearance at the Grove. And I must 
 tell you that the dry season makes the ground so hard, 
 so that when you plant anything it will scarcely grow 
 from the long dry season; so that, in the garden, we 
 have nothing planted, except some plantains we our¬ 
 selves have planted, and are growing very well. I 
 must tell you, that the trees which you planted are 
 also growing very well, except those which the cows 
 have destroyed. They are sad things, they have eaten 
 off the tops of the trees. I am glad to say that our 
 present teacher has been very kind to us, and gives us 
 all attention to our learning in writing, reading, arith¬ 
 metic, geography, and grammar. I hope you will not 
 forget to pray for us, as we always prayed for you, and 
 will continue to do so, as our present teacher tells us 
 to remember you in our prayers at all times. We 
 pray God to bless and keep you and your children. 
 Having nothing more to say, 
 
 “ I remain your affectionate, 
 
 “ but dutiful scholar, 
 
 “ Henry Blumhardt.” 
 
 This boy is of the Arrawak tribe, about fourteen 
 years old, and has enjoyed the instruction at school 
 for about five years. 
 
 “Bartica Grove, March, 1846. 
 
 “ My dear Minister, 
 
 “ I have the opportunity of writing these few lines 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 22 l 
 
 to you to say, I am in earnest expectation of seeing 
 you. When you went away from us all, the people at 
 the Grove seemed to be mourning at the departure of 
 our broken-hearted teacher. But I hope now that you 
 are enjoying good health at home. May the Lord 
 restore your health, that you may return, and that we 
 may once more embrace the joy of your face ! I sup¬ 
 pose we may he, in four or five months, expecting you 
 from England, and I trust we are all getting on, by 
 degrees, in our learning. I hope that when you return 
 you will find that we have indeed improved in our 
 learning since you left. You will wonder to hear that 
 Mr. Lang has not finished the logie, nor has Mr. 
 Taylor finished Frederic’s house. I am sorry to tell 
 you that the dry season has almost burnt up every 
 thing, so that neither trees nor plants will hear fruit; 
 hut I think, in about three months’ time, we shall 
 have the rainy season. I am sorry to say, that our 
 numbers are growing fewer. Many of the hoys left 
 when you left the Grove; two of the Arrawaks, and 
 Bagot. The reason why he went away, was, a school¬ 
 master has just come from town. The first day the 
 hoys were working he was very angry, and said that 
 he had not worked enough. When all the other hoys 
 had done working, he made Abram work again. On 
 that account he went away. May the Lord keep us, 
 and so preserve us that when our schoolmaster or 
 minister tell us anything to do, or speak to us any 
 word, we may not keep it always in our mind (i.e. hear 
 them a grudge, or harbour feelings of revenge). For 
 
222 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 it says in the Scripture, “ Train up a child in the way 
 he should go, and when he is old he will not depart 
 from it.” May this he always a comfort to us through¬ 
 out our lives! My father and mother are also anxious 
 to see you; as for me, my mind is not much inclined 
 to stay until you come again; not that I have to say 
 anything against my present minister. I am thankful 
 to say he is kind and affectionate. Since you left, he 
 has not uttered a word to hurt our feelings. As before, 
 I beg you to excuse my imperfections, from my not 
 being accustomed to write letters. I wish to become 
 apprenticed to some trade, engineer, but my minister 
 tells me I must wait till you come out from home. 
 
 “ I remain your humble scholar, 
 
 “ Joseph Simmon.” 
 
 This hoy is about twelve years old, of the Arrawak 
 tribe, and has been at school for four years and a 
 half. 
 
 I have been often questioned as to the probable 
 causes of the Indians’ disappearing so fast from the 
 face of the earth. These, I conceive, are many and 
 complicated; and probably a few generations more, 
 and the aborigines of America will have ceased to 
 exist, as the Mexicans have done before them. It 
 is an incontrovertible fact, that their number is 
 diminishing every year; and that every successive 
 generation is degenerating from the preceding one. 
 The cause of the former is, so to speak, external; 
 that of the latter is to he sought for among them- 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 223 
 
 selves, and both combine together to produce the sad 
 effect. 
 
 When the Spaniards became first acquainted with 
 the new world, its inhabitants are described as con¬ 
 sisting of numerous tribes, and as a strong and 
 warlike race of people. Their mode of warfare, their 
 cruelty and treachery, are too well known to require 
 to be dwelt upon, in order to show what effects a 
 declared war of extermination must produce upon an 
 unoffending people. The page of the history of the 
 new world is stained with hlood from first to last; 
 nor are the French, Dutch, or even the English in 
 part, guiltless in this respect. Each in turn have 
 performed their part in the tragical drama; and the 
 Indians, where they have been brought in contact 
 with civilization, have not partaken of its blessings, 
 but only felt its curse. To come, however, to parti¬ 
 culars, we ask. By whom were the mines worked, by 
 which Spain enriched herself? Was it by men 
 engaged for wages ? for at least so we should have 
 expected it to have been from a highly civilised and 
 Christian nation. By no means; the poor Indians 
 were enslaved and mingled with criminals, who for 
 their crimes had been condemned to spend the rest of 
 their lives in dungeons, and work of that description. 
 It may be easily conceived how much this circum¬ 
 stance must have thinned their ranks; and a day of 
 just retribution is coming, and then shall the dark 
 places under ground also disclose their slain. Yea, 
 we may see that it has already come upon that now 
 
MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 2 24 
 
 impoverished, distracted, and unhappy land; ror as 
 political bodies will have no existence in the world to 
 come, it is hut just that the Lord should visit them 
 whilst they have an existence on this earth. 
 
 Nor has the nation which succeeded the Spaniards 
 imparted to the natives the blessings of the Christian 
 religion. What has been practised by the Brazilians 
 for generations past, is still being carried on in the con¬ 
 fines of that country, as Sir Robert Schomhurgh has 
 informed us. Indeed, the many desolated places, the 
 scattered and smoking embers, are so many witnesses > 
 that their inhabitants once sat peacefully around their 
 fire, hut that now the place knoweth them no more. 
 The trees around, under whose shades they had often 
 squatted and partaken of their frugal meals, seem to 
 mourn at the misfortune of these children of the forest. 
 And who will wonder that their number is so fast 
 decreasing, when we are told by eye-witnesses, that 
 e ‘ decementos,” as the slave expeditions are called, are 
 by no means of rare occurrence ? For these things— 
 (and who will doubt the fact, that God will by no 
 means clear the guilty)—it happens that civil wars, 
 commotion, and bloodshed, convulse the state from 
 one end to the other. Sir Robert Schomhurgh, in his 
 Illustrated Views, observes, “ A melancholy and utter 
 picture of desolation meets the eye on descending the 
 Rio Negro; houses in ruins, and without inhabitants; 
 the plants clambering over the roofs, and the high 
 hushes and grass before the door. During a journey 
 of several weeks, and over an extent of more than 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA, 
 
 225 
 
 five hundred miles on the Rio Negro, after entering 
 the Brazilian territory, we saw only one native boat, 
 with two Indians in her, who fled as soon as they got 
 sight of our canoe. This desolation, so different to 
 the cheerfulness we had observed in the Venezuelan 
 villages on the Cassiquiana and in San Carlos, is 
 caused by the oppression which the Indians receive 
 from those petty officers to whom the official duties 
 are entrusted, and who compel the Indians to work for 
 a slender subsistence. This is sufficient to ruin com¬ 
 merce and agriculture, and cause the desertion of the 
 Indians. For want of hands, the inhabitants are 
 obliged to abandon their plantations; and the canoes, 
 deprived of their crews, remain stationary for months 
 together.” To whatever causes this intelligent tra¬ 
 veller may ascribe the desolations which his own eyes 
 have witnessed, they are, at best, second causes. We 
 have to regard Him who has said, Amos iii. 6, 
 “ Shall there he evil in a city, and the Lord hath not 
 done it?” 
 
 The Dutch in their turn have not done much better 
 than the Spaniards or the Brazilians. When they 
 obtained a footing in the Essequibo, they constructed 
 a fort at Cartaho to secure themselves and their ship¬ 
 ping against the inroads of both the Indians and the 
 Spaniards, and so far well. But what course of policy 
 was pursued towards the former ? Were any attempts 
 made to Christianize and civilize them, and by this 
 means to make them useful members of society ? 
 Alas ! history does not mention even one attempt of the- 
 L 3 
 
226 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 kind. But it is not silent as to the policy which was 
 adopted and pursued in order to diminish their num¬ 
 bers as fast and effectually as possible. Presents were 
 given them of powder and shot, and rum as much as 
 they desired. The former were in many instances used 
 to destroy each other, the latter did not fail to slay its 
 thousands. It is a well-known fact, that an Indian 
 will do, and give, anything, if by this means he can 
 possess himself of rum, nor will he cease drinking till 
 he can no longer hold the vessel which contains the 
 poison. Whilst the slaves enjoyed the protection of 
 the law, at least to a certain extent, the Indians were 
 considered as being without its pale. Everybody, 
 who would hut take the trouble, was permitted to 
 impose upon and maltreat them, provided he could do 
 so without endangering his own interests or those of 
 the colony. This certainly seems to he a strong 
 assertion ; hut in making it I can have no other object 
 in view than to state the simple truth, in order to 
 solve the inquiry, why those Indians diminish so 
 fast. I may he permitted to mention one single fact, 
 which has come under my notice, and which tends to 
 illustrate and corroborate the above assertion. 
 
 Previous to my leaving Bartica Grove for Europe, 
 I was called to a sick man, in order to comfort him in 
 his trial, and to administer to his dejected soul the 
 consolations of the Gospel of Christ. I went, and 
 found him greatly distressed at the sins of his former 
 days. “ Sir,” said he, “ I am on the verge of despair 
 on account of my sins; do you think it right, that I 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 227 
 
 should unburden my mind to you, ere I die ?” “ If, 
 
 thereby, you think to ease yourself,” I replied, “ I shall 
 he most willing to listen to your confession; hut 
 please to remember, that by confessing your sins to 
 Almighty God, and believing in Jesus Christ, you can 
 alone obtain the forgiveness of them.” “ I firmly 
 believe that all my sins have been forgiven me these 
 many years past, ever since you came and preached to 
 me ‘ forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ,’ ” he 
 replied; “ but seeing what pains you have taken with 
 the Indians, my heart revolts at the crimes committed 
 when I was young; and how can I be thankful enough 
 for having been spared so long, when my companions 
 in sin were cut off in their wickedness ! Of the many 
 I once knew, I am left the only one, a monument of 
 sparing mercy, and sovereign grace. 
 
 “ Sir,” he continued, “ I am the son of parents who 
 spared no pains in bringing me up in the fear 
 and the admonition of the Lord. I was educated 
 in a minister’s family in Germany, but sinful com¬ 
 panions tempted me, and I soon fell from one sin 
 into another. Fear and shame prompted me to 
 enlist as a soldier, and I was sent abroad to Deme- 
 rara. I lived without God, and without hope in 
 the world, and though my conscience often up¬ 
 braided me, I did not heed the remonstrances of 
 that monitor. When this colony was ceded to Great 
 Britain, and all my fellow-soldiers became prisoners of 
 war, I succeeded in making my escape; and having 
 enjoyed a good education, was thenceforth employed 
 
228 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 as a book-keeper on one of the estates in the Esse- 
 quibo. Now, Sir, comes the part of my life, the sins 
 of which are a burden on my mind; and you will 
 kindly bear with me while I relate them to you. There 
 were at that time many young men employed on the 
 neighbouring estates, forgetful of God like myself. 
 Whenever the dry season came round, we took, some 
 ten or twenty in number, a pleasure trip to the falls of 
 the Essequibo. This, you well know, cannot he 
 accomplished without Indians, we therefore engaged 
 before-hand as many as were wanted. They brought 
 their women and children with them, to whom as 
 much meat and drink was given as they desired. Oh, 
 Sir, you can have no conception of the wickedness we 
 there practised. Not content with giving the Indians 
 the pure rum, some of our company poured vials of 
 laudanum into it, to make them sleep for many hours 
 together. We then committed such things as I am 
 ashamed to speak of. Sometimes it would happen, 
 that an Indian became frantic from the poisoned 
 liquor; he compelled his wife and children to enter the 
 canoe, and wishing to steer his way through the 
 rapids, upset, and every soul was drowned.” 
 
 I forbear to go into farther particulars, as the 
 subject is too revolting to any possessed of even the 
 common feelings of humanity. But mark, reader, 
 this was done by men who called themselves Chris¬ 
 tians ! Having eased his mind, I admonished him to 
 repent, and to look by faith to Him who showed mercy 
 to the dying thief, and who would not deny it to him; 
 
TN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 229 
 
 for He died the just for the unjust, the righteous for 
 sinners, that He might bring us to God. 
 
 The reader will hear in mind that scenes of this 
 description have been acted over and over again, with 
 every returning season. What wonder, then, if the 
 number of Indians diminished with every year! 
 
 From the intercourse with Europeans, other evils 
 have resulted, which may he regarded as the very 
 cancer in the vitals of the Indian races, wherever they 
 have come in contact with Europeans of that descrip¬ 
 tion. Not only has drunkenness thinned their ranks, 
 hut it has also weakened greatly the progeny of 
 parents given to that vice. The effects are too clearly 
 seen among the present generation, for their children 
 often present pitiable objects; there seems to he no 
 stamina in them to resist even the slightest attacks 
 of sickness and disease. 
 
 There are other causes at work of such a character 
 that I dare not even refer to them. I would only say 
 that “it is a shame even to speak of the things which 
 are done of them in secret.” 
 
 A race of half-caste Indians has arisen from the 
 intercourse with Europeans, who, in many instances, 
 have mingled again with the negro race, so that on 
 the rivers of British Guiana, shades of all descriptions 
 are met with. These, I am sorry to observe, gene¬ 
 rally combine in themselves the had qualities of their 
 respective parents, whilst they prove themselves to he 
 destitute of their good ones. I am thankful, however, 
 to he able to state that, even from among that number. 
 
230 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 some have become the sons and daughters of God 
 through the transforming influence of the Gospel of 
 Christ. 
 
 The introduction of various kinds of diseases among 
 them, is another reason of their dwindling away from 
 off the face of the earth. The reader will call to mind 
 that notwithstanding the unremitting efforts of Mr. 
 Youd, the Missionary, not less than seventy in num¬ 
 ber sank into a premature grave, no doubt occasioned 
 by their mode of treatment. The Indian, when 
 attacked by fever, sets himself up to the neck in water, 
 not inquiring into the cause which occasions it. Or, 
 if the sick person is unable to walk, the husband, or 
 wife, will think it a kindness, if either should pour a 
 calabash full of water over the body of the sufferer. 
 In cutaneous diseases it is not difficult to foresee the 
 consequences of such proceedings. When they were 
 attacked by the small-pox, as I observed above, many 
 died, and, in the interior, the mortality was very great, 
 no doubt occasioned through ignorance of the nature 
 of the disease, and improper treatment. Vaccination 
 has proved a great blessing to all who submitted 
 themselves to the process, but it will be remembered 
 that it was no easy matter to persuade them to do so. 
 
 It is a remarkable circumstance, that the diseases in 
 the tropics are less complicated than they are in colder 
 climes. The reason of this is obvious. A little 
 medicine, taken in time to remove obstruction of the 
 bowels, will always be attended with beneficial results 
 to the patient. This the Indians well understand, but 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 231 
 
 they fancy that no medicine will produce that effect, 
 unless the stomach be first emptied of its contents by 
 an emetic. This is given without regard to the age or 
 constitution of the patient, in such proportions that 
 many die from exhaustion ; and, if they survive it, 
 they are long in recovering their strength. The want 
 of salt of a wholesome quality, and in sufficient quan¬ 
 tity, is another reason why the Indian sinks so rapidly 
 when attacked by disease. They suffer, in conse¬ 
 quence, much from sores, the least scratch having a 
 tendency to produce them; and, I am persuaded, that 
 the want of this condiment renders them likewise 
 liable to frequent attacks from fever. Whenever salt 
 is given as a present, I have seen them eat it by hands- 
 ful. Their digestive powers are, for the want of it, 
 weak; and anything which they eat out of their com¬ 
 mon course will make them ill. 
 
 They have recourse to bleeding in cases of local 
 inflammation, effecting it by large incisions with the 
 knife, and are not ignorant of the principle of creating 
 counter-irritation. This, however, is but rarely 
 applied, and not unfrequently proves fatal to the 
 patient. The conjurers pretend to a certain degree 
 of knowledge, but, in fact, know very little. If their 
 conjurations fail to produce the desired effect, they 
 are at a loss, and submit to whatever may happen. 
 I may be allowed to relate but one instance to show 
 on what principles the Indian acts. An Indian of the 
 Accaway tribe was brought by his brother to the 
 settlement; he lodged in the kitchen. Being called 
 
232 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 for, I found that he was suffering from an attack of 
 pleurisy. “ Allow me to take a little blood from your 
 arm, and you will soon be better,” I said to the suf¬ 
 ferer. The man replied, "No; I will not allow you 
 to do so.” “ Well,” I said, “ allow me then to put on 
 a blister, and the pain will leave you.” “No,” he 
 answered. “ But will not you take a little medicine ?” 
 He again answered, “No.” “Well, why then have 
 you come here ?” To this he made no reply. Seeing 
 that he was unwilling to have anything done to him, 
 I left him and went into my house. A few hours after 
 I was called by the cook, who said, “ Sir, the man is 
 bleeding to death.” I went, and found him bleeding 
 profusely from the nose, and, on inquiry, learned that 
 this had been produced by means of a sharp grass, 
 with which he had cut the membrane of the nostrils ; 
 and I doubted not that he must have lost at least 
 eighteen ounces of blood at the time I saw him. On 
 turning round, I observed a short stick slit up, in 
 which six large ants were fastened, of the species 
 called the Muneeri ant, of which I have spoken before. 
 These stinging ants he had applied to the place 
 where he felt the pain. “ The pain has left me,” he 
 observed. “Yes,” I said, “that may he ; hut you will 
 soon feel the consequences.” “Well,” he said, “you 
 told me I must bleed, and you wished to put a blister 
 there.” “ Yes ; hut surely that is not the bleeding I 
 meant; I wished to take it from your arm. Allow me 
 to take a little more from you.” He refused. The 
 poison introduced into the system by the stinging of 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 233 
 
 the ants soon showed its effects, for he shortly after¬ 
 wards expired in a state of perfect insensibility. 
 
 Early marriage is another cause in operation among 
 the Indians, tending materially towards the diminish¬ 
 ing of their race. It is a well-known fact that the 
 age of puberty in both sexes, is much earlier in the 
 tropics than in the northern latitudes. I remember 
 instances where girls of twelve years old have become 
 mothers; and the little diminutive babe has died for 
 want of nourishment. In other cases, both mother 
 and child have sunk together into a premature grave, 
 for want of strength to sustain the trial. Whatever 
 may be the consequences of early marriages in other 
 tropical countries, and the success attending them, 
 the Indian race, as observed before, have greatly dege¬ 
 nerated under the operation of various causes, and are, 
 for this reason, not able to cope with others. I have 
 endeavoured, as far as lay in my power, to prevent 
 such direful effects, by not allowing any of the girls 
 under my tuition and care to marry till they have 
 completed their sixteenth year. And, although I have 
 had many difficulties to encounter in this respect, yet, 
 by a firm, uniform, and kind behaviour, I have suc¬ 
 ceeded in persuading them to a better course. Conse¬ 
 quently, the children now born at the Grove are much 
 stronger, and better proportioned in their members; 
 and, with the additional help of milk—abhorred by 
 the Indians in their native state—I hope to see an¬ 
 other generation arise better suited to withstand the 
 attacks of disease. It is a pleasing reflection, that 
 
234 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 whilst the Indians are decreasing in number all 
 around, there is a decided increase in the number of 
 children horn at the Grove. This circumstance I do 
 not so much ascribe to the healthiness of the place, as 
 to the proceedings which have been adopted relating 
 to marriage. 
 
 I am not aware of infanticide being practised by the 
 Indians in Guiana. The only circumstance of the 
 kind, as has been related above, arose from spite and 
 enmity to the truth, hut not from want of affection. 
 I am confident in this statement, well knowing that 
 the Indians in general are very fond and indulgent 
 parents; by far too much so. The birth of twins 
 among the Indians is a rare occurrence, and there is 
 no reason whatever to suppose that, when such an 
 event takes place, one of them is devoted to destruc¬ 
 tion. The instance which has been referred to forms 
 an exception, not the rule. 
 
 Another cause operating among the Indians in 
 diminishing their number, arises from their being 
 obliged by their customs to avenge the death of their 
 relatives, should such he required by the decision of 
 the conjurer, as has been before related. This unna¬ 
 tural custom still prevails, and more especially among 
 the Accaway tribe; hut the benign influences of the 
 Gospel of peace are fast chasing away the darkness 
 that has long brooded over those regions, and cases 
 of the kind become less frequent even where the Sun 
 of righteousness has not yet risen with healing on his 
 wings. 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 235 
 
 “ A city that is built on a hill cannot he hidand 
 such is the power of truth, that even when it is con¬ 
 veyed through a second and third hand, it possesses 
 influence enough to touch the heart of the savage, and 
 cause his feelings to vibrate. But unless Christ he 
 preached to these poor people, they must still remain 
 in ignorance, guilt, and darkness, and perish in their 
 sins. 
 
 Do you, dear reader, really believe that “ there is 
 no other name under heaven given among men whereby 
 we must he saved, than the name of Jesus Christ ? ” 
 and is the inquiry made by the great Apostle to the 
 heathen himself, “ How shall they believe in him of 
 whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear 
 without a preacher ? and how shall they preach, 
 except they he sent ?’■ Then permit the writer to ask, 
 “ What have you done for the spread of that name 
 among the nations of the earth ?”—Kemember that it 
 is your Saviour’s last command, “to go and preach the 
 gospel to every creature —or if you cannot go your¬ 
 self, to cause it to he preached far and wide. There 
 never was a time in the history of this nation so 
 favourable to the dissemination of Christ's religion, as 
 the present, when in God’s providence every land 
 seems open to the messengers of peace. 
 
 Can any enlightened Christian hear of the three 
 hundred and sixty millions in China, sunk in the 
 grossest ignorance as to the question, “How can a 
 sinner be just before God ?”— or can he remain 
 untouched when contemplating the obscene rites of 
 
236 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 idolaters in our Indian empire ; the hideous orgies of 
 the cannibal in the Pacific ; the bloody human sacri¬ 
 fices of the African; or the scattered thousands of 
 benighted Indians in North and South America?—can 
 any Christian remember all these, their miserable and 
 wretched condition in this life, their. hopeless state in 
 the world to come, and yet refuse to pray and to 
 labour ? 
 
 Shall any one, who has taken the trouble to peruse 
 this little compendium of Missionary Labours, wrapped 
 up in selfishness, refuse to do Christ service ? Will 
 you alone forego the privilege of becoming a fellow- 
 worker together with God ? 
 
 Of the various talents of which sovereign grace has 
 made you a steward, there is none more precious than 
 time, the moments of which are linked on to a blissful 
 eternity—none more important than influence. It is 
 in your power, by the preaching of the Gospel, to 
 influence others to their everlasting good, and promote 
 their best interests. Seriously reflect, therefore, that 
 you may begin and faithfully continue to turn your 
 stewardship to a good account. The success which 
 has attended the preaching of the Gospel surpasses the 
 most sanguine expectations, and is a pledge that yet 
 greater blessings are in store for the present genera¬ 
 tion. But this very circumstance requires also far 
 greater and more devoted exertions, for much yet 
 remains to he done. 
 
 Although the cause of missions is no more a new 
 and strange thing in this enlightened country, yet 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 237 ' 
 
 there are thousands, and tens of thousands, who do 
 little or nothing towards the furtherance of it; and 
 not at all in proportion to the exigencies of the case. 
 It is on this account to he feared, lest the light poured 
 in upon us should resemble the baneful flashings of 
 lightning, the arrow of the storm, rather than the 
 genial warmth of the Sun of righteousness, whereby 
 life and light and fruitfulness are promoted. Oh, yes, 
 dear Christian reader, whoever you are, you have much 
 to he thankful for. Look now from north to south, 
 from east to west, and inquire from one end of heaven 
 unto another, where there is any nation favoured like 
 this, any people blest with institutions which transfer, 
 from generation to generation, freedom so unrestrained, 
 and religion so undefiled ? Of every tree planted in 
 a soil so favoured, the Lord of the vineyard demands 
 fruit an hundred-fold. “ Moreover, it is required in 
 stewards that a man he found faithful.” The duty, 
 therefore, is ours, the events are with the Lord. How 
 solemn is the thought, that you are surrounded by 
 immortal beings, millions of whom, destined to ever¬ 
 lasting happiness or woe, are still languishing and 
 perishing for lack of knowledge! Does not the 
 redemption of Christ lay you under a most constrain¬ 
 ing obligation, not to live to yourself, hut to promote 
 the best interests of others ? Is it not hut too true, 
 that the time in which we can discharge this debt of 
 love, must he very limited, and may at any moment 
 expire; and that, consequently, every opportunity 
 should be improved as a last and only one ? What, 
 
238 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 then, do you more than others ? Let not the plea, 
 that “ charity begins at home/’ hinder you from doing 
 both what is at once your duty and your privilege. 
 Although charity begins at home, even in our own 
 bosoms, for it is said, “We love him, because he first 
 loved us,” it is no less true, that Christian love does 
 not end there, for, in obedience to her Divine Master, 
 Christian charity goes abroad, preaching and causing 
 the Gospel to be preached to every creature. 
 
 Much less should the latitudinarian notion so pre¬ 
 valent in our days, as if every man will be saved in 
 his own faith, provided he act up to the light and 
 the knowledge he possess, paralyse your efforts in 
 becoming the honoured instrument, “ if by any means 
 you may save some.” Such a notion militates against 
 the whole tenor of Scripture, and, wherever it obtains 
 a place, tends to neutralise the promises of God. As 
 well might the husbandman expect to reap from his 
 fields which he neither has prepared for the reception 
 of the seed nor sown with it. Without wishing to sit 
 in judgment upon others, you may believe it, Christian 
 reader, that such a notion cannot form an excuse for 
 indifference and the neglect of a plain duty. 
 
 It remains true, in spite of all that unbelief can urge, 
 that “ Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and 
 that none can come unto the Father but by him.” If 
 it be otherwise, then I may be permitted, in conclusion, 
 to ask the following questions :—To what purpose did 
 Jesus come into the world to save sinners, if any could 
 be saved without him ?—To what purpose did the 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 239 
 
 Father give his Son, that whosoever helieveth in him 
 should not perish, hut have everlasting life, if any 
 could obtain life everlasting without believing ?—To 
 what purpose did Jesus give himself a ransom for all, 
 if all were not in bondage to sin ?—To what purpose 
 was he delivered for our offences, and raised again for 
 our justification, if any might have been pardoned 
 without his cross, and justified without his resurrec¬ 
 tion ?—To what purpose hath Christ required that 
 repentance and remission of sins should he preached 
 in his name, if the man of every clime and belief might 
 he saved by any other name as well as his ?—To what 
 purpose hath he carried our nature into heaven to 
 appear in the presence of God, if the sinner’s salvation 
 did not depend upon his intercession, and his alone; 
 the merit and all-sufficiency of his sacrifice, once for 
 all ?—And, lastly, to what purpose is the Lord Jesus 
 Christ made the judge of quick and dead, if all were 
 not amenable to Him as to whether they have accepted, 
 neglected, or rejected so great salvation ? 
 
 Dear Christian reader, ponder the eternal truths in¬ 
 volved in the preceding queries, and may the Lord 
 himself make you willing in the day of his power 
 to spend and he spent for him! Prepare the way of 
 the Lord, make his paths straight, for He that shall 
 come will come, and will not tarry. 
 
 The harbingers of that glorious day “ when the 
 knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the 
 waters cover the sea,” announce, and the signs of the 
 times betoken, that that day is beginning to dawn; 
 
240 
 
 MISSIONARY LABOURS 
 
 for we are “looking for that blessed hope, and the 
 glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ.” Then the nations shall heat their 
 swords into ploughshares, and their spears into 
 pruning hooks. And then shall it he said “ the 
 kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of 
 our Lord and of his Christ.” 
 
IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 241 
 
 Lord’s Prayer in the Arrawak. 
 
 Watchinatchi ayunumkundi; biissadalite bui iri; 
 our father dwelling in heaven; sanctified (be) thy name 
 bui adayahiu-gaana andiabute; bansissia banikitan harare 
 thy kingdom be coming thy will be done earth 
 lake ayumbanan din; busika wamiun wakale kassaka 
 in heaven as than give us our bread day 
 buhuman; kan wawa kaiya bubalikitau, wai din, abalikiten 
 every and our bad doings forgive us we as forgive 
 nai wakaiyatchi ukunnanium; kan tetegeden ulukun massi- 
 men wicked against us and a fall into lead 
 kinniba-u, tumarrua buburatepha-u wakayahoe oria; 
 
 not us but help us evil from 
 
 adayahiu-gaana buiyan ettata okanna, galimettu birruisa. 
 
 kingdom thine power great shining around thee. 
 Kiduahein. 
 
 Truth. 
 
 Luke xv. 11. to the end. 
 
 Ikka Jesus adiaka namiin hiddaba, abba Waditi kamunika 
 biamanu laditti: laddikitti adiaka litti umiin, bussikati 
 damun dattidannikuwa damiin, biattu ke-la-kiahano, nattinatt 
 akullebetta namiinninu nannikuwa. Oa kurru laddikitti 
 laditti ahurrudukutta tumaqua lan-lakunatabbu waikille- 
 mumiru; j umiin lui arrada tumaqua lamiintu akuttakuttadahii 
 attatadahii muttu abba. Gidiatanibena harrakeben tumaqua 
 lan lunria manswattu hamassiahii anda kia hurruru ban- 
 namamutti ukunamiin lihi badja aussa kamonaikakaben, 
 lan uduma akunun abba jumiinti kabbujalti ibiti, lamiin- 
 ibiai: lirraha imekuda lugkubanimuni likittanibian porku. 
 Ikka luhurrussidakittika ballin porku a kissia abbu, kan abba 
 kurru assika lumiininu—Ikkare ! kakuburugkuakoahiddabai, 
 ladiaka lamiinikoawa: juhulli kabbujunnuatti kemekabba 
 halininu kamiinikahiiabai datti, kan dai ahudama hamussiahii 
 udumajaha; anssun kidappa dai akujunnua datti ibiti ba 
 ahakan lumiin; datti, daikewai amassikandoare. Adayahii 
 M 
 
242 MISS10 NARY LABOURS IN BRITISH GUIANA. 
 
 ame, bui ame ku mayumuntina bumiin hiddade, daditti- 
 banibia damiin kiakanna kemekebutti bia bumunrubuiin 
 bussikipade — dappa lumiin— La lukuburugkuamonnua— 
 Gidigki lui anssa, landalitti libiti hiddaban gahawai 
 koalanika litti uria, litti addika hiddai amaxnallidan lug- 
 kuburugkuamonnua lamiin addallidiin lirabuddigki lannikaka 
 luma lussunta badja lullerugku—Lumorrua laditti adiaka 
 lumiin; datti dai amassikandoaka A dayahii ame, bui ame 
 badja ne mayumuntina kiahan bumiinde daditti—banibia 
 damiin—La litti umiinkan litti adiaka liissannanutti umiin 
 handate tumaqua aditu iissan akehii abba kia assikinhuppa 
 lukuna assissan iikabbukunduhubigkabba ukuna, sappatu 
 badja lukuttiukuna: handate hikkihitu baka ussa abba ba 
 hupparriipan akuttunrewali labbu hallikebbe!—kan iramonna 
 ba. Ahuduttikuba lihi, dadittin ballin, kanliikakittoaba 
 abulledutikoba badjai kihia dautika hiddabailan, naussa 
 kiahana hallikebben luduma—Lumorrua lubukitikil anda 
 kabbiiyaria, bahiiibite kan lanika lakannaba nayintunua 
 naiikittan ladja lan uduma assimakaabba liissanti libitiwa, 
 hiddia ma lumiin hamahiikebe turraha? La ahadakuttuni 
 Liissanti adiaka lumiin, buhukitti anda ba: butti apparru- 
 kittan hikkihitu baka iissa luutikini laditti makarrihiia 
 uduma—la ussantihii adian—Ikkalui aiimattoa lumonua 
 makudunuahittin bahii lugkumiin nibiti—kiahana litti 
 apattikida akugabani — Lumorrua lui aonabaka litti adian 
 lahakaka lumiin baddika kiamamuttu juhun wyua ukunama 
 dakuba ikittanibu — kemekebbiin diarrumamassikan bame, 
 kihia marrikinkoabakuba damiin abba kabara dayuhunu urna 
 hallikebbenibrade—kan lirraha baditti arradittikuban lan- 
 nikuwa wurahii abba andinbenna bibitiba bussikibi lumiin- 
 nin hikkihitu baka kebe iissa—la adiankan litti adiaka 
 lumiinba; damuniwakoahiiaba: daditti, tumaqua daianibuiani 
 kewai badja: kiahana hallihibbekubuppa bumonua ahuduti 
 diamutti kuba liraha buhukitti ballin, kan lukakittoal 
 abulleduttikuba bai, kan antikahussia hiddabai lui—la lumiin 
 la da din Jesus. 
 
 Blackburn!; d Pardon, Printers, 6, Hatton Garden, London. 
 
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