Return to Bartika Grove. 
75 
Island, cultivated some land, and at the same time intrenched 
themselves fairly strongly. The news naturally had a disquiet- 
ing effect upon the Governor and plantation-owners as it 
was feared that the example taken might be repeatedly fol- 
lowed. These fears were further increased when the runaways, in 
their presumption, went so far as to inform the Governor through some 
Indians that if he wanted to make slaves of them again lie must come and 
fetch them not only with the whole of his forces but with those of 
Holland as well, and that they were accordingly awaiting him with con- 
fidence in the firm conviction of seeing the attempt on his part comi- 
pletely frustrated. The Governor recognised their advantageous posi- 
tion and at the same time all the difficulties to lie encountered in the 
way of successful attack: he therefore deemed it far better to 
conclude a favourable treaty Ilian to put to a test the uncertain for- 
tunes of war. A certain Peter Tollenaar, a mulatto, was despatched, 
unarmed, for the purpose of discussing peace-terms with them on the 
following lines: if they did not extend their raids into the Colony lint 
worked every second month for it, and at the same time gave an assur- 
ance not to entice away any more slaves, the Governor would give them 
and their descendants their freedom. Peter Tollenaar was successful 
in his efforts on behalf of peace and from that time up to Emancipa- 
tion this free am] coloured population continued its existence. To pre- 
vent their children falling back into slavery, the men were at first allow- 
ed to marry only free Indian women. 
263. We soon reached Bartika Grove again, but left it by next 
morning in spite of the entreaties of brave Bernau, who wanted us to 
(stay a few days longer. As 'the schooner had not yet taken in her cargo, 
we accepted most cordially and gratefully our countryman’s offer to 
get us to Zeelandia in his own boat and with the aid of his youthful but 
expert paddlers. With heartiest good wishes for a successful journey to 
the Orinoco, and the promise on our part to spend a few days with him 
on our return down the Cuyuni, as was my brother’s intention, we left 
the Mission and its friendly inmates. 
264. The strength of the ebb that had now set in, as well as the 
strenuous and skilled help of our indefatigable crew, let the boat skim 
over the waves as swiftly as an arrow while with lively interest I watch- 
ed the youngish paddlers whose eyes and ears kept ever on the alert to 
see the smallest object, to hear the slightest noise. In spite of the rapid- 
ity with which we sped, they nevertheless noted every fish that was 
swimming down there in the water round about the boat, as well as 
every bird that the close branches of the trees along the banks were hid- 
ing, and if they heard the note of such a feathered creature, or the cry 
of some mammal in thq forest, I immediately learnt the name of the guilty 
party. One could tell at once the new inmates who only recently had 
been received in the Institution by the deep melancholy which was in- 
wardly awakened by these scenes and stamped a definite mark upon 
their faces. The remembrance of their forests, of their free unfettered 
life, the recollection of the playing-grounds for their childish sports, had 
chased away every smile, every sign of Life from their boyish features. 
Taciturn and self-centred there they sat in front of us: they certainly 
cast their languishing gaze at the objects that were arousing their com- 
