244 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



entered the body ; one was extracted, tlie rest remained 

 there till the year 1824, when another was cut out by a 

 professional gentleman of Port Glasgow. The other two 

 still remain in the body ; and it is supposed that either 

 one or both have touched a nerve, as they cause almost 

 continual pain. Mr. Edmonstone has commanded fifteen 

 different expeditions in the forest in quest of the Maroons. 

 The Colonial Government has requited his services, by 

 freeing his property from all taxes, and presenting him a 

 handsome sword, and a silver urn, bearing the following 

 inscription : 



" Presented to Charles Edmonstone, Esq. by the Governor and 

 Court of Policy of the Colony of Demerara, as a token of their 

 esteem, and the deep sense tliey 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 tliere is a single Indian in ci-devant 

 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 him 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 mil- 

 liners' shops for his wife and daughters : he has no taxes to 



