British Guiana Gold Diggings. 65 



there are many men, and I am bound to say as 

 often black as white, who faithfully try to carry 

 on the work entrusted to them, and do not shirk 

 their share of it. Of course a certain amount 

 of gold is stolen and generally by the manager 

 himself, but this is kept within bounds by the necessity 

 for clearing expenses or clearing out. Most placers find 

 employment for a clerk whose day's work can generally 

 be done in half an hour, unless, as I once saw, the 

 manager can induce the man to cook, and then I suppose 

 he may be said to work for his living. 



We come now to the sinews of the camp, the labourer. 

 He is never so happy as when he is grumbling, and that 

 he is always ready to do. In the morning, the clock is 

 fast; at night he accuses you of shifting the hands 

 and declares that it is slow. He frequently assures you 

 thac he is devoted to your service. All he needs is a 

 little encouragement, liberally interpreted, "grog." He 

 is continually assuring you that if you can treat him well, 

 that is, give him more than his allowance of food, he will 

 indeed work for you. He abounds in honied words, 

 commonly known as "sweet mouth" or "rattle,'' and at 

 such times, beware ! he is fooling you. 



These remarks are intended to apply only to the 

 Creole labourer, who, after all, is the only one suited to 

 this work. As to the others, the coolie and " Bill" are 

 too liable to sickness, and the Chinaman is too smart. 

 " country," i.e., the Barbadian, is too delicate, and the 

 Portuguese and Mulatto population are physically unable 

 to do the work. Above all, in engaging labourers, 

 beware of the "boots man!" On no consideration 

 engage a man who seems at home in his boots, and, 



I 



