330 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Creek Town, July 1, 1863. 



I am hard, at work exploring one of tlie finest rivers on the west coast 

 of Africa. As you ascend this noble river, the banks and surrounding- 

 country are one vast amphitheatre of everlasting green. I am delighted 

 with the appearance of the country and its vegetable products. I have got 

 an extensive field before me, and undoubtedly, if all goes well, I will find 

 many a novelty. This great continent is teeming with animal and vege- 

 table life. Even in my room I have got use for an insect net. It is a 

 great pity that the climate is so unhealthy. Fevers are very prevalent. 

 I have had three attacks of fever since I landed- upon the African coast. 

 Fortunately I am blessed with a strong constitution, and I get easy over 

 it ; but such is not the case with everybody. The bones of many a 

 blooming youth are bleaching beneath the sun at Calabar. 



The natives are not such a murderous class, except amongst themselves. 

 For instance, there is not a day passes but they are killing their twin 

 children instantly after birth, and banishing the unfortunate women to 

 what they call twin villages, where they are left to languish out a life of 

 silent sorrow, and are denied all intercourse with the rest of the world. 

 Mrs Goldie, about seven weeks ago, saved two of those little unfortunates. 

 She remained by the poor woman until she was confined, and then at the 

 dead hour of midnight she entered the mission-house with a little boy and 

 a girl rolled in her lap. The mother followed about six o'clock in the 

 morning. They are all under the protection of the Rev. Mr Goldie. 

 About a month ago the King of Creek Town had a sister whose daughter 

 died of consumption. She sent for a number of her slaves, to give them 

 poison bean. Three women died, three more escaped by vomiting, and 

 one girl took refuge in the mission-house, under Mr Goldie, where she is 

 now attending the school. These poor people were to be servants to her 

 daughter in the future world. As soon as the rainy season is over, 1 am 

 going to the Qua Mountains, and that will be the time for plants of all 

 kinds. My collections will be upon a grand scale by-and-by. Only the 

 other day I found a splendid climbing lily ; it is a true turn-cap lily, and 

 will form a grand show upon the rafters of any stove. 



TV. Extract from Letter from Dr Meredith, Georgetown, Deinerara^ 

 dated ^Ist November ]863, to Professor Balfour. 



Dr Meredith says : — I daresay you know the topography of the large 

 streams in this neighbourhood. The Essequibo is the largest, and lies 

 nearly north and south. The Euyuni, nearly east and west, and the 

 Massaruni, lies between the two, and runs nearly north-west. The two 

 last meet about four miles above the penal settlement, and their joint 

 current unites with the Essequibo about five miles below the penal set- 

 tlement. The penal settlement is on the west or left bank of the river. 

 The country is nearly a dead level, and at irregular intervals creeks 

 open into the rivers on both sides, and are often navigable for boats. 

 Their mouths are usually entirely hid by foliage. But the Indians know 

 the right gaps as perfectly as did the old smugglers know the caves and 

 holes on the Scotch coasts. I have often been in these creeks for miles, 

 going with two or three hands in a small canoe — dodging under branches, 

 hauling over a prostrate log, and charging through leafy shrubs, lying 

 down nearly flat in the canoe all the time. It was very seldom we came 

 to a place we could see the sky above — such is the dense nature of the 

 bush. In many parts there is never more than dim twilight, and in the 

 rainy season when the sky is dark or cloudy it is a perfect midnight even 

 at mid day. Never is there a breeze experienced. We have only a 



