340 TiMEHRI. 



on a hill having a very steep approach from the river. 

 The Revd. F. W. B. DORSET is the resident parson, and 

 he deserves all praise for the energetic manner in which 

 he has laboured to get the Church built and in trying to 

 bring the Indians together. It seems to us a great shame 

 that he and his young wife should be forced to exile 

 themselves in such an out of the way place in the vain 

 endeavour of civilising the Indians.* The hope of teach- 

 ing a Guiana Indian to be of any use to himself and his 

 fellow brothers of the forest, through the present regime 

 adopted by the Church, is about as baseless as anything 

 can be. As far as my observations lead me, the only 

 benefit the Indian has as yet derived from the effort to 

 christianize him, is that he has learnt to steal, indulge in 

 strong drink and wear ill-fitting clothes, which last, if of 

 any use at all,certainly render him a most ridiculous obje6l 

 to behold ; in fa6l the poor fellow is simply spoiled. Truly 

 the breath of civilization is poison to the Aborigine ! If 

 some one must be sent among the Indians to civilize 

 them — but I almost think they are better left to 

 themselves — what they require is a pra6lical man accus- 

 tomed to roughing it, who would first of all teach them 

 to live in settled communities, to build proper houses 

 and to cultivate their provision fields systematically, 

 so that they may grow more cassava, &c. than they can 

 consume, and be able to dispose of the surplus profi- 

 tably. Let him teach them some trade, such as boat- 

 building, carpenter's or joiner's work, and then find 

 them employment. Such a man would do more good 



• I have since learnt that the Revd. Dorset has accepted an appoint* 

 ment in the Grenadines. 



