30 TiMEHRI. 



have been a Maroon camp, like that of Surinam, have 

 been used, and then negle6ted and abused, till scarcely a 

 hand remains to pull a trigger in defer ::e of his Bacra 

 friend. They •will be wanted^ but they can no longer 

 come, when you do call for them." 



In another letter he said that of 35,0 Indians who 

 assembled in Georgetown in 1823, not half were in exis- 

 tence ; they had been cut off in \ih€\x^tva\Q\iy patronised 

 debauchery and drunkenness. He believed there was an 

 amiable disposition in a high quarter to apply a remedy, 

 but why was it delayed when delay meant death ? 



Ultimately, on the i6th of February 1838, in view of 

 the Emancipation, the system was altered by passing an 

 ' Ordinance to provide for Superintendents of rivers and 

 creeks. The preamble stated that the existing establish- 

 ment of Prote6lors of Indians and Postholders was in- 

 adequate to the efficient performance of those duties 

 which were required from those entrusted with the 

 superintendence of the water communications of the 

 interior, and that therefore all laws and regulations re- 

 lating to such officials were abolished. There were to be 

 Superintendents for each county who were to visit the 

 posts at least four times a year and se^ that the Post- 

 holders performed their duties and kept everything in 

 good order. Whenever money should b( granted to en- 

 courage industry and the location of I idians near the 

 estates, the amount was to be spent in agricultural imple- 

 ments to be distributed to them free, b'lt no plantains, 

 s. \ fish, or spiritu )us liquor? were to be ^iven. Neither 

 Superintendent ni»r Postho'der could h wfully carry on 

 any trade with the Indians and new rej^ulations for the 

 posts were formulated. These regulations were rather 



