SOUTH AMERICA. 203 



vices, by freeing his property from all taxes, and THIUD 



. . ' ' JOURNEY. 



presenting him a handsome sword, and a silver - 

 urn, bearing the following inscription : 



" Presented to CHARLES EDMONSTONK, Esq. by the Go- 

 vernor and Court of Policy of the Colony of Demerara, as a 

 token of their esteem, and the deep sense they entertain of 

 the very great activity and spirit, manifested by him, on 

 various occasions, in his successful exertions for the internal 

 security of the Colony. January 1st, 1809." 



I do not believe that there is a single Indian in General 



7 T\ i n t remarks. 



cidevant Dutch Guiana who can read or write, 

 nor am I aware that any white man has reduced 

 their language to the rules of grammar ; some 

 may have made a short manuscript vocabulary of 

 the few necessary words, but that is all. Here 

 and there a white man, and some few people of 

 colour, talk the language well. The temper of the 

 Indian of Guiana is mild and gentle, and he is 

 very fond of his children. 



Some ignorant travellers and colonists call these 

 Indians a lazy race. Man in general will not be 

 active without an object. Now when the Indian 

 has caught plenty of fish, and killed game enough 

 to last liim for a week, what need has he to 

 range the forest ? He has no idea of making 

 pleasure-grounds. Money is of no use to him, 

 for in these wilds there are no markets for him 

 to frequent, nor milliners' shops for his wife and 

 daughters ; he has no taxes to pay, no highways 

 to keep up, no poor to maintain, nor army nor 



