SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, kc. 09 



which is about ten miles from Stabroek, where it takes a Course 

 more westward. The river affords an excellent harbour, and 

 would, in fact, hold all the navy of Great Britain, but unfor- 

 tunately the bar will not admit vessels that draw more than 

 eighteen feet. Ships lying here are completely sheltered from 

 all squalls and tempestuous weather, nor do hurricanes ever 

 occur. The water in the mid-channel deepened as we pro- 

 ceeded from four to six fathoms. 



The cultivation along the river is confined to sugar, coffee, 

 and plantains, with a small quantity of cocoa and rice. The 

 latter was but recently introduced ; however, little doubt was 

 entertained of its being made perfectly to answer the purpose 

 of the colony; and if the cultivation was encouraged by go- 

 vernment, it would soon rival that of South Carolina, being 

 aided by a great similarity of climate. The river affords pic- 

 turesque but uniform scenery. Plantations regularly ranged 

 on either side — dwelling-houses built on the banks close to the 

 water — other buildings scattered about in different directions, 

 without respect to order — the wind, water, and cattle mills, 

 on the sugar estates, with the iogies, or barns, of three stories 

 high, on the coffee ones^ — made a pretty contrast. Every 

 plantation has a wharf, or landing-place, opposite the dwd- 

 ling-house, and a canal, or trench, with sluices, which an^ 

 swer two purposes, to drain off the superfluous water on the 



