52 
Indians’ Raue Visits. 
and its counterpart, where the negroes afflicted with it are nothing else 
than wandering skeletons over which the skin hangs in immense I olds, 
are just as plentiful as other scabious diseases, and I shall never forget 
the impression which the sight of the first case of Frambosia made on 
me, with every hair already fallen off and hands and feet in 'complete 
suppuration. The most awful thing about this disease is that though 
those who are afflicted with it have no hope of cure, they can neverthe- 
less linger on for years before being released from 
their sufferings by Death. The disease commences with 
the growth of a number of small swellings which first 
of all develop between the muscles and the skin : these grad- 
ually burst, pass into a state of suppuration and even attack the gullet 
and nose which caves in at the very first. The most awful stench drives 
everybody out of the sufferer’s vicinity. Finally, the skin is loosened 
entirely from the muscles and actually rots away, until the suppurating 
process, spreading from the fingers and toes right over the body at last 
puts an end to the patient’s infinite misery.* So much for the negro 
population of Guiana. 
188. The natives are only very rarely to be seen in town, and when 
they are, very surely belong to one or other of the Warrau, Akawai or 
YVaika, Arawak and Carib tribes: these collectively occupy the coastal 
areas, and for that reason have held intercourse with the Europeans for 
a long time past. Unfortunately, almost always as a result of it, the 
whole shady side of civilisation, not its bright one, has passed over to 
fliese Indians, although an immense gulf still continues to exist be- 
tween the viciously inclined African and similarly disposed Indian, be- 
tween a drunken negro and a drunken native. 
189. The inhabitants of the real Interior never appear in the city and 
only carry on trade through the mediation of the tribes just mentioned 
who barter from them their birds, tamed mammals, hammocks, plaited 
baskets, earthen-ware vessels, feather decorations, fruits, resins etc. in 
exchange for European articles such as knives, scissors, hatchets, axes, 
powder, spot-print, beads etc. : the former take these into the hinterland 
and trade them to advantage for products of the local tribes. Unfortun- 
ately these trading coastal-tribes have such a propensity for drink that 
they often spend the greatest portion of the money earned in satisfy- 
ing their greed for spirits although they only come and go like birds of 
passage. When such parties of Indians are noticed in the city, the negroes 
do not let them out of their sight but follow them like jackals or vul- 
tures after a caravan in the desert, and as soon as the vast quantity of 
liquor imbibed begins to take effect, get hold of the remaining money or 
“trade” already bought, either by fair means or foul. 
190. Ttefore Emancipation, when the Colony still particularly re- 
quired the services of the Indians, the authorities kept a large house or 
caravanserie for them in the west end of the town, where they could al- 
* This is, of course, the old conception of “ Elephantiasis,” which included Yaws, “ Bush 
Yaws,” what we now know as Elephantiasis, and other manifestations of Filariasis, Leprosy 
and probably other conditions. The condition which is here so graphically described is prob- 
ably that which we now know as Leprosy. (F.Ci .R.) 
