138 Timehri. 



The mysterious rock was ascended later by Mr. im Thurn, and since 

 he found the way by a number of others. Before he did this however 

 he wrote " Among the Indians of Guiana," 1883, an important contribu- 

 tion to Guiana literature. He did not probably anticipate his future 

 achievement when he wrote : — 



" The task would take a very considerable and indefinite time." 



As a matter of fact he hit upon the slope without taking such pains 

 as Messrs. Boddam-Whetham and McTurk. As a specimen of im Thurn's 

 book I quote the following: — 



" The use of beenas is very curious. The avowed purpose is, as 

 has been said, to ensure success. But the line of thought by which 

 the hunter, mentally connects success in the acquisition of game with 

 pain previously inflicted on himself or his dogs is not obvious. For such 

 cases as those in which leavos and other parts of certain plants are 

 rubbed into wounds on the noses of the dogs, it seems at first sight 

 probable that this is done on the supposition that the power of scent in the 

 dogs is thereby amproved. ' 



I do not go farther to quote the whole paragraph because our views 

 of beenas have been much amplified by fuller knowledge, but give a little 

 about " Timehri": 



" The pictured rocks, which are certainly the most striking and 

 mysterious of the antiquities of Guiana, are — and this has apparently 

 never yet been pointed out — not all of one kind. In all cases various 

 figures are rudely depicted on larger or smaller surfaces of rocks. Some- 

 times these figures are painted, though such cases are few and, as will be 

 shown, of little moment ; more generally they are graven on the rock, and 

 these alone are of great importance. Rock sculptures may, again, be 

 distinguished into two kinds, differing in the depth of incision, the 

 apparent mode of execution, and, most important of all, the character of 

 the figures represented." 



Story-tellers have done little with Guiana, but romances dealing 

 with the West Indies are numerous. Some stories by Matthew Barker 

 (" The Old Sailor ") are useful because he was here as editor of a news- 

 paper at the time of the East Coast Insurrection. In one of these he tells 

 us of a bush expedition under Dr. McTurk. In his " Tough Yarns " he 

 gives a pathetic sketch of " Daddy Davy " who came begging in England 

 on a cold winter's night. He was recognized by his old master as one 

 who had apparently been left in Demerara free and happy. 



The following is an extract which rings true to life ; Daddy has 

 just recognized his old massa : — 



" My own massa ! what for you give Davy him life ? What for you 

 give Davy him freedom ? and now de poor nigger die for want ! But no ? " 

 checking himself, " neber see the day for go dead, now me find my 

 massa ! " ' Confound the cold ! ' said my grandfather, thrusting his 



