324 



TiMEHRI. 



from year's end to year's end, is scarcely ever disturbed 

 by man (the Indians never penetrating so far), as it had 

 been lower down — almost barren. But a single maroodie 

 (Penelope cristata) was seen ; though in a deep bay we 

 had perceived the characteristically strong musky smell 

 of a caiman or some other large alligator. 



The next day (25th) the bateau started for Coomacka 

 in order to bring up the stores which had been left 

 behind; and Capt. Arnot and Surgeon Fallon, who 

 had accompanied me so far, were unfortunately obliged 

 to return to town owing to expiration of leave. Mean- 

 time I was left at the camp with the taxidermist and one 

 of the hands, one of four black men whom I had 

 taken with me from Mahaicony, and whose worth, as 

 they had previously travelled with me up the Mahaicony 

 creek and along the Upper Demerara river, was well 

 known to, and appreciated by, me. By means of the 

 small corial which alone I had been able to secure at 

 Coomacka, we were able to get about for colle6ling, 

 and the various lines cut by the gold prospe6tors who 

 were then examining the river, enabled us to range the 

 country in many directions without risk of losing ourselves. 

 Of these gold-hunting expeditions, there were at the 

 time several different parties at work, a determined 

 attempt being made to explore the mineral resources of 

 this part of the colony. Several of these prospered the 

 entire neighbourhood of Itabru and the distrifts imme- 

 diately below, where the granite and trap rocks are 

 found, while others carried their investigations, later on, 

 even to beyond the Christmas catara6ts ; but though 

 several likely-looking spots were met with, there were 

 but traces of gold — " eyes" or " colour" as it is termed— 



