SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 131 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE ESSEQUEBO ITS ISLANDS FORTIFICATIONS — CREEKS, 



OR TRIBUTARY STREAMS CULTIVATION OF ITS BANKS 



EXPORTATION OF SOIL TO EARBADOES POLITICAL CON- 

 DITION OF THE PLANTERS HISTORICAL PARTICULARS 



OF THE PROGRESS OF THE ORIGINAL COLONISTS AD- 

 VANTAGES DERIVED FROM THE ACCESSION OF BRITISH 

 SETTLERS. v 



jN"iNE miles west of the Demerary is the river Essequebo, 

 which at its mouth, commencing from Borasierri, and extend- 

 ing to Kapoeja creek, is twenty-one miles broad; the former 

 serves as a boundary to the two colonies. The navigation here 

 is very dangerous and difficult, even for small craft, which 

 arises from banks of sand running in different directions across 

 the entrance. At the mouth of the river are three islands, 

 which are very valuable for their size, and the high state of 

 their cultivation, principally of sugar and coffee; the easter- 

 most is Leguan, that in the centre, Walkenaam, and the other 

 Tiger island ; then comes the west coast of the Essequebo ; so 

 that there are four entrances into the river, the best and safest 



S 2 



