SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 167 



The principal articles on which the revenues of the colony 

 are levied, are a capitation tax on the white and black inhabi- 

 tants, an excise on every fifty pounds of sugar made, a weigh- 

 age toll of about two per cent, on all imports and exports, and 

 a tonnage duty of three florins per last on the burden of ships. 

 The directors have undertaken to erect fortifications on the 

 Isle of Crabs; and have ordered, that to every fifteen negroes 

 there should be one white. They grant passports to such in- 

 habitants of Holland as desire to trade to Berbice, with the 

 condition that for thirty florins a-head any passenger-colonists, 

 recommended by the directors, shall be received on board, 

 and if under twelve years of age, for half price. 



From the land adjacent to the sea being so very low and 

 marshy, the first settlers of this colony went fifty miles up the 

 river, where they built a town and fortress, which they called 

 Zealandica. As population began to increase, and cultivation 

 extended itself, the inconvenience of being so far from the 

 river's mouth, presented itself in various forms ; large vessels 

 found a difficulty in working up the crooked course of the 

 river ; the projecting points of mud from the irregularity of 

 the stream, occasioned vessels to ground, where they some- 

 times were obliged to lay until the rising of the spring tides 

 floated them off. Thus situated, and with a view of inducing 

 vessels from Europe, with cargoes for Berbice, to anchor di- 



