112 
The i^oR'i is Destböyeü. 
beast tbau a maU^ he rushed into oui- lioiise to demand his run-aWay bride, 
but only to learn our cool and fixed determination that if he dared 
follow her Ave would have him either strung up or shot down. Our calm 
demeanour and at the same time unexpected threat wliicli lie did not for 
a moment doubt would be carried out, because Ave had hitherto always 
kept our Avord, made him instantly l)ury his Avratli and also promise that 
he would give up tlie girl. Gloomily he left our house, only returiung to 
the village to otter his services on the day prior to our departure for 
Roraima. 
UT5. The evening l»efore the officers were to leave saw us once more 
together at a jolly supper table Avhere, joking and laughing, Ave remained 
until morning, neA'er dreaming Avhen Ave said good-bye that it Avould be 
the last occasion we should shake Dr. Bolby's hand : shortly after his 
safe arrival in Demerara he was transferred to St. Lucia and fell a victim 
to yelloAv fever. On getting back to Georgetown we also learnt of tbe 
death of Lieutenant Bush Avho, on his return from Pirara to Georgetown 
in Marcli had taken ship to Europe and died on board. Thus in the short 
course of idne months fonr of the Europeans avIio had foregathered in 
Pirara so lat<^ as IMarch had gone to their last rest. 
27G. Daybreak saw the Fort in brilliant llame, the early morning sun 
lighted up like magic the thick columns of smoke Avindiug up in spirals, 
and Avithin the course of an hour Ave Avere confronted Avith a Idack space 
Avhere the conflagration had taken x>lace and from Avhich a few isolated 
smoke clouds were still rising. The military joyfully withdrew, while 
the few inhaliitants gazed in deep sorrow at the spectacle andf at the 
soldiers gradually fading away in the distance, for they recognised only 
too well that with them there disappeared the security hitherto enjoyed, 
l)ut which Pirara could no longer offer them. The three Vaqueiro 
deserters had joined the military from tbe same conviction : Renter had 
to folloAv. forced by necessity. For tlie first few days our houses lost 
their cheeriness and it was only the strained activities entailed in pre- 
paring for our journey that lightened to a certain extent the depression 
consequent on tlie departure of our friends. 
277. Tbe tropical winter had ceased raging, the bright cloudless sky 
glittered down anew upon us night and day, while the steady East North 
East wind ruffled the extensive water flats into little ripples and blew 
away the mists so dangerous to one's health : the latter are generated 
after the rainy season from out of the masses of water collected and, 
particularly on the coast, give rise to deadly fever. Wherever the eye 
turned, it met a nowly-aAvakened healthy growth of vegetation — tbe 
whole of Xature had become one vast hot-house. According to the 
observations recorded with the Phiviometer the rainfall from the end of 
May to the end of August amounted to 72 inches. On the Coast AA'here. 
to be sure, two rainy seasons prcA^ail. this fluctuates during these periods 
beween 80 and 100 inches. 
278. Before taking our departure for Roraima. an interesting dis- 
coveiy led me once more to the Canuku Ranges, with Avliose inhabitants 
our communications had been interrupted for a long time past owing to 
the completely overflooded savannahs. !A party came from Nappi to-day 
