'3^0 TimeHri. 



the Demerary at Georgetown. Being the lowest dire6l 

 communication with the Spanish Provinces it was the old 

 route of smugglers, and the Company of soldiers at 

 Cateeyu were as much for the prevention of smuggling 

 as for the prote6lion of the Missions, as it cut off all com- 

 munication with the lower river, which I find from the 

 old Indians was prohibited I have no doubt that from 

 this point upwards the Spanish have good authorities, 

 but there is every reason to believe that the lower part is 

 yet undelineated and as I took no observations must 

 remain so for the present. The course is however un- 

 doubtedly W. by N. on the average, and my distances are 

 far from overrated, oars and sails being frequently used 

 and the descent occupying nearly as much time as the 

 ascent 



The Corooma Creek is also famous or infamous as 

 being the scene of the cool blooded murder of the Mis- 

 sionaries of the Carooney who were hunted down and 

 shot by the ruffians employed in this service with relent- 

 less cruelty. All the older inhabitants, both Accaway 

 and Caribisce^ above this, were converts of these Mis- 

 sions, and they all agree as to the fa6l of the Mission- 

 aries being shot in their attempt to escape through the 

 Corooma to Demerary, Such is civil war! 



The creek was dry and stagnant, the communication 

 being only open during the rains. At lo^ Amacaynia 

 where was a great Accaway dance of about 300 people. 

 This being the second day (of the feast) the Piworry was 

 beginning to operate, and when our large square sail — 

 the first seen on these waters — rode right up to the land- 

 ing, they gave a yell of astonishment. As soon as they 

 Jound however that we were not Spaniards everything in 



