316 Timehri 
a wonderfully short time, forming a solid mass. These are trifles which 
do not trouble the Indian’s peace of mind, for his corial can creep through 
a very small space and if even this is not found, then it is easily hauled 
over or round, for he tucks up his trousers, steps into the shallow water, 
and very soon pursues his easy course on the other side, But it is a 
matter of life and death for the passengers of larger craft, a tent-boat, 
for example ; the journey would simply come to an end, for if there is no 
possibility of getting through, neither is there any of getting over or 
round, 
At the very mouth of the Moruca live the owners of two grants with 
their labourers. After leaving these behind we shall have to paddle 
for well over two hours during which we pass the Manawarima Creek 
connecting Moruca with the Pomeroon, before we come to human life 
again at Waramuri, a mission station under the care of the Church of 
England. This has rather a dismal outlook, for the little hill consists 
of a darkish sand which somehow always reminds me of ash dust. 
The Indians belonging to this mission live about this mission station 
and in the Haimoracabra Creek running just below it. 
After leaving Waramuri again we have solitude for some two hours 
until we reach Holo Point. Holo Point is the beginning of the Santa Rosa 
Mission. From here, at irregular intervals, we pass by inhabited places, 
but we see very little of them, for they are in the bush, though generally 
near the river or savannah side. Here, at last, the bush gives place at 
the river-side to savannahs which stretch their weary wastes to right and 
left for a considerable distance before the bush is reached. However, it 
is a change from the rather monotonous bush. One hour more brings us 
to Santa Rosa itself, an oasis of beauty in a desert of dismal waste and 
weary monotony. I might here mention that the Santa Rosa part 
of Moruca consists of a number of islands. When the Savannahs are 
full the different places inhabited are really islands but in the “dry” 
season many become almost if not entirely a part of the mainland. 
Santa Rosa island is the only inhabited locality on our right as we go up. 
Beyond it and, indeed, practically all this bank of the Moruca river is 
savannah, relieved from time to time by islands of bush, till the sea is 
reached. When I spoke of Santa Rosa as an oasis of beauty in a desert of 
dismal waste and weary monotony, I only meant the actual Mission 
property, for the rest of the island behind is bush like all the rest of 
Moruca. While the bush, as seen from the river, is rather monotonous 
the view from some elevation, for example from the top of Santa Rosa 
hill, is often wonderfully beautiful. 
When you come near Santa Rosa Mission the eye is relieved by and 
delighted with a forest of coconut palms. As you come opposite you are 
charmed with the sight before you: a hill of fair height, of red sand, 
