Charles Waterton in Demerara. 263 



when he brought the Nondescript for exhibition and gave the story of its 

 capture. He cared nothing for their jeers, for he undoubtedly was right 

 in his contention that his system of preparing specimens was an advance 

 on everything that had gone before. His treatment of fever by bleeding 

 was perhaps risky, especially as he always did it himself. If, however 

 we may judge by results nothing happened to prevent his living to a good 

 old age. His doses of calomel, jalap and Peruvian bark were in accord- 

 ance with the custom of his time. There can hardly be a doubt that his 

 loose clothing and bare feet helped to prevent trouble ; a splinter in one 

 foot showed, however, that there was a risk. Still the difficulties 

 of keeping boots or shoes in good and serviceable condition on a journey 

 are so great that it was probably the best thing he could do. His total 

 abstinence from spirits was very important, especially when we consider 

 the habits of the time. We cannot doubt for one moment that many of 

 the pioneers died from excessive drinking ; Dr. Bonyun showed this 

 plainly, by statistics, in the 'forties. 



It is not necessary to survey Watertons grand work in Demerara ; 

 its value has been acknowledged by naturalists all over the world and Sir 

 Robert Schomburgk was indebted to the account of his travels for many 

 a wrinkle. He was not very kindly treated by the reviews, but he could 

 afford to laugh when they dubbed him another Munchausen. 



Waterton left Demerara in 1825 never to return, and four years later 

 he married Anne Mary Edmonstone, a girl of seventeen. We cannot do 

 better than quote his statement of the result from the Autobiography : — 



i; In 1829 I became the happiest man in the world; but it pleased 

 Heaven to convince me that all felicity here below is no more than a 

 mere illusive transitory dream, and I bow submissive to its adorable 

 decrees. I am left with one fine little boy who looks up to me for light ; 

 and I trust that I shall succeed in imparting it to him ; for my sister, 

 Mrs. Carr, and her invaluable husband, together with his aunts, Miss 

 Edmonstone and Miss Helen Edmonstone, know no bounds in their 

 affection for him, and in their good offices to myself, who stand so much 

 in need of them.'" 



The man of fortj^-eight was married to the school-girl at Bruges. 

 Both father and mother were dead and the three Demerara girls were 

 under Waterton's care. Poor Anne died soon after the birth of Edmund, 

 but her sisters, who remained single, acted as mothers to the child. There 

 was always much good feeling towards his dear Eliza and Helen, and the 

 few letters to them which have been published express the genial 

 character of the naturalist. We wonder whether they ever longed to be 

 back in the old home and among' their Indian friends. 



The timber grant in the Hobabo appears to have fallen into the 

 hands of Dr. Hugh Rodie, whose name is commemorated in the name of 

 the greenheart, and who suggested the bark of that tree as a fever 

 specific. T -e whole of the area once covered by the grant is now occupied 

 by the Canals Polder and the Hobabo is practically gone. Forty yearp 



