The "Good Old Times" in Guiana. 139 



thumb and forefinger to his eyes,' how it makes one's eyes run ! William, 

 my boy,' turning to me, ' fetch that pocket handkerchief off the 

 sofa.' 



" I immediately obeyed, and felt as if the cold had affected me too ; 

 for I employed my grandfather's handkerchief two or three times to wipe 

 the trickling drops from my face before I delivered it into his hands." 



Later on Daddy spoke of " da old massa what sleep in da Werk-en- 

 Eust " and a note is given stating that the name originated in Demerara 

 but might mean any burying ground. 



The stories of " The Old Sailor " showed local knowledge, but 

 Harriet Martineau's " Demerara : A Tale " is full of blunders, proving 

 that she knew nothing of the colony. The historian finds it difficult to 

 picture every-day life in the " good old times " for want of stories by 

 residents in the colony ; a few have appeared in late years but they deal 

 with present conditions. 



