SETTLEMENT'S ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 185 



cipitately to York redoubt, on the opposite side of the river, 

 whence dispatches were sent to Demerary and Surinam, with 

 an account of their situation. The soldiery at Demerary were 

 little better inclined, from their horrid treatment, than the 

 mutineers; however, a hundred men, all that could be trusted, 

 were sent to Berbice, under the command of Major Van 

 Hamers, to co-operate with those at York redoubt. The mu- 

 tineers were headed by one of their own captains, who impru- 

 dently, rather than wisely, joined them, with a view of ob- 

 taining by force, a redress of their grievances ; they behaved 

 uncommonly well to all the colonists, especially the English ; 

 the provisional governors were put under an arrest, and the 

 centinel who was placed over them, having allowed them to 

 escape, was immediately shot by the mutineers. They hoisted 

 an English jack at the fort, with a piece of beef placed on 

 the head of the flag staff, and sent a deputation to a respectable^ 

 English planter, to request he would take the government of 

 the colony on himself, and that the troops would enter into 

 the British service, and defend the colony, until forces could 

 arrive from Barbadoes to take possession ; these offers were of 

 course mildly rejected, they however received the thanks of 

 many individuals for their conduct to the inhabitants, which 

 was uniformly good. 



Important business called me to Berbice at this time, and ; 

 on the 7th May, 1803, having provided myself with a pass-: 



B b 



