26 TiMEHRI. 



Mr. HiLHOUSE, who was looked upon as an Indian 

 chieftain, and who seems to have known more of them 

 than any other white man in the colony in the first 

 quarter of this century, had strong obje6lions to the Pro- 

 teflors and Post-holders, whom he painted in the blackest 

 colours. It will be interesting to note in this connection 

 what took place in Moruca about 1822. On the decla- 

 ration of the independence of Venezuela, or rather 

 Columbia, about three hundred Indians, lately belonging 

 to Spanish Missions, refused to remain under Republican 

 Government, and therefore fled to British territory and 

 claimed prote6lion. They were said to have been civi- 

 lized, clothed, and acquainted with agriculture as well as 

 several mechanica larts, and therefore a valuable acquis- 

 ition to the colony. A deputation from them came to 

 Georgetown soon after their arrival and asked for a 

 priest, but the Roman Catholics appear to have been 

 unable to supply one at that time. The postholder at 

 Pomeroon seems to have said nothing of this immigra- 

 tion, but according to HiLHOUSE set the Indians to work 

 for himself, which treatment drove many of them to 

 wander about the colony and acquire dissolute habits. 

 What these Indians wanted was something like the 

 Spanish Mission system, but the Governor could not see 

 his way to give them anything of the sort. Their Cap- 

 tain was however granted a Commission formally recog- 

 nising him as a British official, but the Governor declined 

 to go further. The reasons for not going farther as given by 

 Mr. HiLHOUSE were : first, that granting a Mission was cre- 

 ating a new colony ; second, that giving a Catholic clergy- 

 man magisterial authority was a dangerous precedent ; 

 and third, that making an exclusive grant was impolitic. 



