I6S STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



rectly in the river, instead of going to Demerary, the seat of 

 government was removed within a mile of the mouth of the 

 river. 



New Amsterdam, the name of the town, as built on the 

 south side of Canje river, running in that direction up the 

 banks of the Berbice a mile and a half, with the houses facing 

 the water. The Dutch in laying out this town, paid every at- 

 tention to health and convenience; each allotment appears an 

 island within itself; the ditches, or trenches, round the houses 

 fill and empty themselves every tide, by which means all the 

 filth and dirt is carried off before it has time to stagnate, or oc- 

 casion unhealthy sensations. Each lot is a quarter of an acre 

 of land, separated as before-mentioned from the adjoining 

 one ; which not only leaves a free circulation of air, but al- 

 lows to every house a kitchen-garden, which produces vegeta- 

 bles sufficient for the family. The houses are different from 

 those of Stabroek, in this respect, they are not more than a 

 story and a half high, very long and narrow, with galleries 

 on either side for the purpose of walking and smoaking in the 

 shade : they are mostly covered with troolie and plantain 

 leaves, a species of thatch, in preference to shingles, as being 

 considered so much cooler; but the quantity of vermin and 

 insects which they harbour does away every other consideration 

 with Englishmen, whose houses in New Amsterdam may be 

 distinguished by being shingled. 



