A Few Memories Extending over 4 1 Years in British Guiana. CP 



of them, who really do work hard and conscientiously, and with a trifle 

 longer hours, the Civil List could be easily reduced. Many Public 

 Officers have really so little to do that they find time hanging heavy on 

 their hands, lack of sufficient work making them so ill — that they go on 

 long leave. Some years ago in the eighties I think, I tried hard to get 

 the early closing movement started, but could not get my fellow clerks 

 interested, each seeming to be afraid of his own shadow. I am thankful 

 to see that the seed then sown has at last taken firm root.. 



During my forty-one years I have seen a vast army pass on before, 

 some have crossed the borders, to the great unknown (the larger number) 

 some have gone away, perhaps for their own good, but in some cases for 

 the Colony's good. Who can tell ? By the way the latter class 

 unwittingly often give the Colony a bad name as naturally, if wrecked 

 in heal tli and they were asked, " Oh where have you come from " 

 they would reply "Oh that horrid hole British Uuiana." carefully omitting 

 to mention why to them it was horrid. A healthy man is never 

 asked where he comes from and so poor Guiana finds it difficult to make 

 it believed that it is by no means as bad as it is painted, making it 

 imperative that we should in season and out of season judiciously and 

 profusely advertise ourselves. 



Amongst the great army of those who had passed away in New 

 Amsterdam are : The Rev. Duff (father of our late Immigration Agent 

 General) a fine old stately typical Scotsman ; the Rev. Thos. Dalgleish, 

 of the London Missionary Society, who was honoured and revered by all 

 classes and denominations. Amongst those whom he trained and left 

 behind and who is still with us is Dr. London. Old Britton, proprietor 

 of the Strand Hotel, as fine a type of a black gentleman as one could 

 wish to know, whom to see on his great white horse and with his wide 

 Panama Hat was to make one think he was some great General. Drs. 

 Hackett, Crammer (father-in-law of the late Dr. Wallbridge). Altham and 

 Alexander were of the good old types of doctors. The last is said to 

 have had a Pepper Pot that had been kept going for over 30 years ; its 

 wire mesh cover being fastened with a Padlock, the key of which the 

 good old doctor kept in his pocket. Then there was Henry Katz 

 Davson, the first native of British Guiana to be honoured by being 

 knighted, the worthy son of a worthy father, whose sons (sons of the 

 soil) must feel proud that their father was so honoured and in remem- 

 bering how their grandfather built up such a large business. 



I must not forget Mrs. Burns, familiarly known as "Maggie Burns " 

 as good hearted and as kind a lady as one could wish to know, who by 

 her shrewd business ability, built up a large business and became in her 

 day the largest property owner in New Amsterdam. As an illustration 

 of her large heartedness, when at one time the butchers raised the price 

 of beef, she, having a cattle farm up the Corentyne Coast, opened a 

 butcher's stall in the market and undersold, only withdrawing when they 

 gave way. She had none of that false pride too much seen to-day. 1 have 



