66 MEMOIR OF 



led to Fort San Joaquim, where our travellers again 

 found them. 



Here, it is but due to him to state, Mr. Schom- 

 burgk exerted himself to the utmost in behalf of 

 these oppressed beings ; and succeeded in obtaining 

 a promise from Senhor Ayres, that the details of 

 the atrocities attending their capture (they had been 

 literally hurnt out of their huts and driven at the 

 jpoint of the bayonet ! ) should be communicated to 

 his brother, the commandant of the civil and mili- 

 tary affairs of the comarca or district, with the hope 

 that only those who could serve in the navy would 

 be selected, while the aged, the women, and children 

 would be returned. It was his opinion that the 

 inferior officers wished to use " the pressing of In- 

 dians for the Brazilian navy " as an excuse to pro- 

 cure young and old, in order to sell to their allies 

 those who were not fit for that purpose. When the 

 boundaries of the rich and productive colony of 

 Guiana shall have been been decided by a govern- 

 ment survey, it is to be hoped that peace and hap- 

 piness will be insured to those who dwell on the 

 British side of the frontier. 



Mr. Schomburgk left Fort San Joaquim on the 

 20th September, 1838, under a salute of seven guns ; 

 and, sailing up the Takutu, and passing its conflu- 

 ence with the Zuruma and the Mahu, entered the 

 latter river, and, landing at the rivulet Pirara, 

 w^alked to the Macusi village of that name. Here, 

 with his companions, he remained some days. At 

 lengih the column was put in marching order ; the 



