The "Good Old Times" in Guiana. 135 



indulge their indolence by doing their task, in the laziest and con- 

 sequently, in the worst manner ; but they are all proud, and each would 

 like to see his comrade doing the work properly, although he will not, 

 because he wishes, in speaking to a friend on a neighbouring estate, to 

 be able to crow over him, and to tell that his cultivation looks better, and 

 his crops are larger than those of his neighbour. It has often struck me 

 that the negro is the proudest of mankind, and the most sensitive in 

 regard to aggression on his self-esteem." 



The Rev. Robert Duff, a presbyterian, wrote " British Guiana, being 

 Notes on a few Natural Productions, etc.," 1866. There is a great deal of 

 undigested information in the book and it is hard to find a characteristic 

 paragraph, but the following will be useful tc compare with the accounts 

 of missionary books where much is made of dangers that do not really 

 exist : — 



" Much has been written on the hardships of a missionary life, and it 

 is true there is sometimes a good deal of fatigue to be borne which many 

 do not like. But so far as my experience goes the weeks spent in visiting 

 the Indiana, Christianburgh, Camoeny and Baracara missions have always 

 been looked forward to as holidays, and enjoyed with pleasure and delight. 

 Irrespective of the benefit and pleasure conferred on the people, and their 

 consequent gratitude and anxiety to show it in every way they can, by 

 watching to learn one's wishes and ministering to their gratification, so 

 far as is in their power, there is a variety and excitement, which in the 

 somewhat monotonous life of a minister, gives a charm to missionary 

 operations which no other ministerial work possesses." 



The Rev. W. H. Brett wrote several works on Indians and Missions ; 

 they are very useful but hardly scientific. Here is an extract from " The 

 Indian Tribes of Guiana " : — 



" Notwithstanding the indolence and apathy with which the Indians 

 are charged, they are keen observers of natural objects though utterly 

 unacquainted with scientific rules, their knowledge of medicinal and 

 poisonous plants shows that their race must have studied the properties of 

 the vegetable kingdom. They are also perfectly acquainted with the 

 habits of the animals, birds, reptiles and insects which inhabit their 

 country, and will sometimes point out facts connected with them 

 which are little known save to professed naturalists." 



" An accurate knowledge of the nature and habits of wild animals is 

 indispensable to men whose subsistence is in a great measure derived 

 from the chase. The Indian hunter possesses it in perfection. He will 

 exactly imitate the cry of various birds and animals, and shoot them 

 when he has thus brought them within reach of his gun, arrow or blow- 

 pipe." 



Another missionary was the Rev. C. D. Dance whose " Log-Book " 

 is full of first-hand observations, but unfortunately without arrangement. 

 It is a great loss to science that a good observer should not hare made 



