30 TiMEHRI. 



Post-Holder who went up the Essequebo to see and 

 report on the great Carib nation found the usual 

 colle6tion of Indian benabs ; the only riches being the 

 presents which the party had succeeded in procuring from 

 the colony. The system of annual presents became so 

 burdensome to the colony, that Governor Carmichael 

 in 1813 was obliged to put a check on the demands of 

 the Indians, after which time the expense was gradually 

 reduced. The following extra6l from one of Car- 

 MICHAEL's speeches will show his opinion on the 

 matter : — 



" I have also much gratification in acquainting you 

 with an extra6l from His Lordship's (Secretary of the 

 Colonies) letters relative to the Indians and the presents 

 heretofore granted them by the colony. The tone of 

 demand held by some of those people as I understood it 

 on former occasions, as well as on their last visit, made 

 me think it my duty to state the matter to His Majesty's 

 Government, as I did not consider it justifiable in an 

 afting Governor, — without special orders or actual 

 treaties, properly ratified by authority — to admit the 

 principle, or consent to any part of His Britannic Majesty's 

 possessions in my charge submitting to pay tribute or an 

 annual stipend to any nation or body of people whatever ; 

 either to deprecate their animosity or purchase their 

 friendship ; particularly as from the language of the last 

 five Chiefs who came down with 300 followers, on being 

 toldthattherewerenopresentsforthem replied, they could 

 wait no longer, they had waited long enough, and if they 

 got nothing they would make prisoners and sell them. 

 I told them that if they talked that way they must go 

 back immediately and that it was the orders of the 



