CHAPTER VI. 
Mouth of the Essequibo — Islands at the Mouth — Bartika Grove — 
Mouth of the Mazaruni — Kyk-over-all Island — Penal Settlement — • 
Guy uni — Carib Settlement Kai-tan — Old Dutch mining claims — Divine 
Service ut Bartika Grove — Arrival of my brother at the Mission — Results 
of his journey — Return to Georgetown — Port Island — Yellow Fever — 
Plantation L'Hcureuse A venture — The Police Chase. 
GIG. On the following morning, alter getting our corials over the 
front dam which protects the estates from encroachments of the sea, and 
saying good-bye to Fr. Cullen, his brother and the Catechist, who left 
us here to reach Georgetown by the shortest route, we voyaged along the 
Arabian Coast to the mouth of the Essequibo. This stretch of land is 
undoubtedly the most important and fertile area of the Colony, it alone 
including 37 sugar estates and several large farms besides. As the 
plantation owners take the greatest possible pride in the height of their 
boiler-house chimneys, these stacks rose far above the flourishing natural 
wealth of the tsouth, the dense border of coastal vegetation, and lent quite 
a peculiar character to the view. The bustle going on in the machinery 
sheds was betrayed by the dense black whirling columns of smoke which, 
under pressure of the atmosphere spread out over the landscape, in dark 
streaks and became ever lighter and lighter in the distance until they 
were finally blurred in the haze. What increased the charm of the 
picture still more was the sunset casting its gilded rays over the lightly 
ruffled ocean and wealth of panorama. The favourable impression of 
the sea view was further heightened by the mighty Essequibo, for though 
the mouth of this river was yet several miles away, one could nevertheless 
recognise from now onwards the huge waves of the stream rolling on into 
the sea, and without mingling with its waters, stretch away out into the 
Atlantic like a dirty streak. The picture became even more vivid and 
impressive when the flood-tide set in and two mighty volumes of water 
put their uncontrolled forces to a test that resulted in indescribably 
violent commotion. The proud stream however proved its mettle because 
the penetrating energy of the flood was soon overpowered, the foam- 
belaboured waves and eddying circles abated, and the arrogant streak of 
victorious current reappeared before our gaze, to lose itself again in the 
far distance on the horizon. This sublime sight was not even without 
effect on the Negroes w ho were otherwise so insensible to the beauties of 
Nature, and called from them a general expression of astonishment. 
047. Midnight again drew near without our having reached 
Plantation Aurora, the place fixed for camp, and our Blacks were once 
more about to express signs of dissatisfaction when Mr. King quite 
casually remarked that they must have forgotten there was a prison close 
by where be would have every man jack of them locked up for a few 
days.* Any prospective disturbance of the peace had been thus just 
* The prison referred to is at Capoey bnt now devoted to other purposes, Court House. 
Police-barracks etc. (Ed.) 
