70 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



scarcely know or care or hear what they buy. A drunken 

 man, it is said, sees double; and I believe it is frequently the 

 case with them, after too great an indulgence in gin, and 

 smoaking, which is quite common at all these sales, that they 

 often purchase bargains for twice as much as they are worth. 

 Therefore it answers at all times, and especially at the even- 

 ing auctions, to provide plenty of drams and segars. The 

 ven due-masters of Demerary are only deputies themselves, 

 yet they employ another deputy to transact their business in 

 the neighbouring colony of Essequebo, who pays them one 

 thousand pounds per annum as a fee rent of the office. 



The paper money which is in circulation in Essequebo and 

 Demerary amounts to about one hundred thousand guilders. 

 The smallest amount is 5d. sterling, or one bit, and the largest 

 5s. viz. three guilders. The notes are curiously denominated 

 with little figures, that the negroes may know the amount, with- 

 out being subjected to impositions from not being able to read. 

 They are current all over the colonies, and were made to ob- 

 viate the difficulty of obtaining small change ; when a person 

 has got a quantity of them, he may turn them into gold by 

 applying at the receiver's office for colonial taxes, whence 

 they are issued again. The colonial currency is hke that 

 of Holland, and consists of pennings, stivers, and guilders, 

 though the coin in circulation is various. Guineas are worth 

 twenty-five per cent more here than in England. 



