THE TROPICAL ACIWtWLTORlST. 
[OCtOBER I, 1890. 
gS2 
preserved plantains (properly bananas) will agree 
with us that they are equal if not superior to 
dried figs. Those dried in the sun are probably 
superior, but artificial heat gives excellent results. 
The mode adopted in British Guiana is to provide 
a bed of heated sand, over which is placed a 
platform of laths, and on this the slices of plan- 
tains are dried in a temperature of about 150°, 
until they part with the moisture which con- 
stitutes 75 per cent of their weight. We have 
often wondered that no enterprising person 
has given a full trial to this industry in our 
colony where “plantains” are so plentiful and so 
good. The American Fruit Drier does not seem 
to have given better results with plantains in 
Demerara than it did in Ceylon, when tried at our 
suggestion a few years ago. The following extract 
will show that a full trial of the British market 
is being made from Demarara : — 
The Assistant Secretary laid over further sampleB 
of two varieties of dried bananas, as well as a specimen 
prepared with sugar. He had received an account of 
the first lot sent to England, which was very much 
liked and arrived in first-rate condition. The speci- 
mens then on the table were moister and retained 
more of the flavour of the fresh fruit than the first 
samples. He hoped to be able to prepare them in 
such a way that they would keep long enough for 
shipment and still be moist and full-flavoured. A num- 
ber of sample boxes had been sent to England by the 
previous Mail, and other samples had been distribu- 
ted to several persons in the colony, who had all ex- 
pressed satisfaction with their flavour and appearance. 
Again : — 
Mr. Rodway laid over specimens of a great improve- 
ment in dried bananas, a sample from Trinidad, and 
also a box from Messrs. Finney and Lambert, who 
were preparing to carry out banana drying as a cora- 
meroial speculation. 
Of course papers on sugar cultivation and manu- 
facture are prominent in the Journal, which opens 
with a discussion of “ Diffusion of sugar cane, 
compared Rwith double crushing in mills,” by Mr. 
Neville Lubboek. There is also a paper on defeca- 
tion by electricity. Unfortunately we in Ceylon 
ceased to take more than an abstract interest in 
sugar, long previously to the date when “ failure” 
as regarded sugar on a large scale was 
repeated in the case of coffee. With abun- 
dance of rich manures, we could probably succeed 
in growing sugar which would properly crystallize, 
but in order to live planters must grow what 
will pay. There is a most fascinating collection of 
gossip about Charles Waterton (whose “ Wander, 
ings ” are almost as interesting to young people 
as are the adventures of Robinson Orusoe) and his 
friend and father-in-law, Charles Edmonstone. 
Waterton was for six years working as the owner 
of plantations and slaves in Demerara, and Edmon- 
stone, who was one of the “ Eeyzers ” of the 
colony, earned the gratitude of his fellow colo- 
nists by a series of suoaessful expeditions against 
runaway slaves and maroons. Waterton married 
Emondstone’s daughter, who was on the mother’s side 
the grand-daughter of an American Indian, thus ; — 
The Indian chiefs were rather important personages 
in those timep, (in the early years of this century, )as 
they r' ceived the annual presents and distributed them 
to a cf in idol abb- extent by favour. It naturally followed, 
that bi iog commiohioued by tbe government and pro- 
vided wub a silver-headed stick of office, an Arrawack 
chieftain thought himself a somebody. In the latter 
hu '' Ilf tlie Ust century a daughter of one or these OwU, 
lit •. h y wi re called, who went by tbe name of “Princess 
Mioiia ” w.iH married to William lieid, a Scotchman, and 
one 01 tin ir < liildren became Mrs. Ohar'.es EJmoiistone. 
The gallant liurglier-Captain was therefore connected 
by marriage with tbo Arrawucks and no doubt this was 
ono reason why ho bad such groat influorco over them' 
If, therefore, dtscendants of Cbnr'es Waterton exist, 
they have American Indian blood in their veins. 
We do not suppose the Sootohman William Reid, 
who married the Indian “Princess,” was connected 
with the Sir William Reid, Baronet, who, after 
long residence in Demerara as a planter, came 
here to engage in the coffee enterprise in 1840, 
and with whom the writer was associated in 
pioneering work in Uva in 1840,41,— but the coinci- 
dence of name is certainly curious. 
In the notice of Edmonstone, we have a 
glimpse of a reverse of fortune from eooentrioity of 
conduct and instability of purpose such as is not 
uncommon in colonies, although, in the case before 
us, addiction to dtiok does not seem to have 
been added to moral aberration, the result of 
reading the rhapsodies of a man who was un- 
doubtedly insane 
Near the border of the clearing at Warrow’s place 
lived the eccentric Swedenborgian, “ Old Glen.” His 
story was a curious one. Coming to Dem.erara as the 
mate of a merchant vessel, he received a grant of land, 
settled down, bought a few negroes, and in seven yea-s 
gained an assured position, while after twenty years he 
became a man of some importance. Going on board a 
Dutch vessel one day he found the Captain reading 01 e 
of Swedenborg’s books, and being taken with the new 
religion Glen was very pleased when the owner prese.itrd 
him with several works of that mystic author. From 
this time he became an enthusiast. His estate was neg- 
lected, everything went wrong, the negroes r .n away or 
became careless and lazy, and every day Glen became 
poorer and poorer. Having ordered a large consignment 
ofthe books of his beloved author, he was unable to pay 
for them, and consequently the estate was sold. Being’ 
destitute be set up as a preacher to the negroes, but 
this not being allowed, he went to Berbice and enlisted 
as a private soldier; Here he fell into disgrace for sleep- 
ing on duty and was sentenced to “run the gauntlet.” 
In pity the commanding officer would have remitted tbe 
sentence, but Glen refused, and was so determined to 
receive his punishment that he would not pass his com- 
rades until they gave him the customary blow.s, even 
going so far as to chide them if they did not strike hard 
enough. Returning to Demerara Edmonstone found 
him destitute and offered him a home at Warrow’s 
Place. Glen would not live in the house but built him- 
self a benab in the forest. He was very gentle and 
kind to the Indians, many of whom came to him for 
medical treatment, which he practised by means of some 
of the forest remedies. Among other kind actions he 
taught the little Edmonstoues their letters, and Mrs. 
Waterton probably received the rudiments of her edu- 
cation from him. 
There is a very interesting paper on the Mollusca 
of British Guiana, from which we observe that 
several of the many land shells |(slugs and snails) 
are used as food. The Revd. D. |J. Reynolds 
contributes “ Jamaica Proverbial Philosophy,” which 
gives a good idea of the shrewdueBS of “ Quasby.” 
For instance : — 
When snake bite -yon ; you see lizard, you run. The 
burnt child dreads the fire. 
Cuss John Crow “peel head” and turkey pee pee 
bex. Ofifend one monk, and the lappets of all cowls 
will flutter as far as Rome. (Spanish.) 
Cow tail out off, God Almighty brush fly for her. 
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. 
Quattie (the smallest Jamaica silver coin of the 
value of l^d now out of circulation) buy trouble, 
hundred pound can’t pay for it. Mischief comes by 
the pound, but goes away by the ounce. 
The raven cried to the crow, “avaunt Blackamoor." 
vSpanish). One ass calls another ass long ears. (Ger- 
man.) 
Scheminy men plotting — ’Oeitful fire roast plantain, 
onneassa (soft soap) scrape it. 
Youth mocking at Age — Man no done grow musn’t 
langh after long man. 
A man who is so afraid of another man that he cannot 
say lus soul is his own — Oow belongs to butcher, can 
nel'ber .sjy, “I berry well.” 
