Waterton and his Demerara Friend. 15 



time, abolition and emancipation. The reasonings of 

 such a just and benevolent chara6ler are naturally 

 worthy of note, and as they probably represent the views 

 of a good master, the following extract will be interest- 

 ing : — " Slavery can never be defended ; he whose heart 

 is not of iron can never wish to be able to defend it : 

 while he heaves a sigh for the poor negro in captivity, 

 he wishes from his soul that the traffic had been stifled in 

 its birth ; but unfortunately, the governments of Europe 

 nourished it, and now that they are exerting themselves 

 to do away with the evil and ensure liberty to the sons of 

 Africa, the situation of the plantation slaves is depi6led 

 as truly deplorable, and their condition wretched. It is 

 not so. A Briton's heart, proverbially kind and generous, 

 is not changed by climate, or its streams of compassion 

 dried up by the scorching heat of a Demerara sun ; he 

 cheers his negroes in labour, comforts them in sickness, 

 is kind to them in old age, and never forgets that they 

 are his fellow creatures/'* 



Up the Mibiri Creek lived CHARLES EdmonsTONE, 

 and here Waterton's future wife was born in 1812. 

 The concession was named Warrow's Place, and stood 

 on a slight elevation above the swamp, through which 

 meandered the tortuous creek. It was not a plantation 

 but a wood-cutting establishment, standing quite alone, 

 there being no inhabitants living nearer than the mouth 

 of the Camouni. Here Waterton spent the intervals 

 between his forest wanderings, in the pleasant company 

 of his most valued friend and that gentleman's family. 

 It has been stated that he had a liking for little Anne 

 when he saw her as a child, but however that may have 



* Wanderings Second Journey. 



