SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE RIVER BERBICE HISTORY OP THE SETTLEMENTS 



THERE NEW AMSTERDAM ITS BUILDINGS — TAVERNS 



FORTIFICATIONS — ROADS AND WATER ROADS CANJE 



CREEK VISIT TO A COFFEE-PLANTER DECLENSION OF 



SEVERAL WEST INDIA ISLANDS WISDOM OF DESERTING 



THEM FOR CONTINENTAL PROPERTY. 



BeRBICE river lies in N. latitude 6 deg. 20 m. and 57 deg. 

 20 m. west longitude from London. Its stream at the 

 mouth is a mile and a half broad, and in the centre is an 

 island called Crab Island. 



A bar of sand five miles without the river, running from 

 east to west, prevents vessels drawing more than fourteen feet 

 from entering the river ; this navigation is more dangerous 

 than that of the Demerary, from the obstructions to it being 

 of sand. On this account few vessels rendezvous here, but 

 make the port of Demerary their anchorage, whence the 

 supplies from the mother country are transported in co- 



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