Land Titles. 
At Cartaboo point (the promontory between Cuyooni 
and Massarooni), the property of the TlERENS family is 
still to be traced in the foundation of buildings, and 
various slabs, marking the graves of that family. 
The inquisitive pioneer who takes the trouble to search 
along the sides of the river at this point is sorely puzzled 
to account for Europeans selecting such thoroughly 
sterile land on which to settle, judging from the scanty 
yield of cassava and other provisions now grown by the 
descendants of the early settlers, who have lost all tinge 
of the European. To white men it must have been 
starvation, and the parent country in a deplorable state, 
before her sons could be forced into such a free exile. 
Van PlERE seems to have had a long reign, for it is 
evident that he was at the head of affairs when these were 
removed to Fort Island in 1613; for, in 1621 his name is 
mentioned in connection with the first introduction of 
African slaves by the Dutch Government. Fort Island 
appears to have been the early seat of government of the 
young colony, as it is there that we find the first authen- 
tic records ot the country, under the administration of 
one GRAVESANDE. In 1634 the colony had risen to such 
importance that a Commander was appointed in the per- 
son of J. VAN DE GOSS ; from which date a line of Com- 
manders follows until 1742, when L. S. VAN S'GRAVES- 
ANDE was appointed to that high position, and under his 
rule in 1751 the two rivers Essequibo and Demerara 
were united under one Commander, GRAVESANDE, who 
held that important post until his death in 1773.* 
On the 17th March T769, there seems to have been an 
• A slab in Fort Island church marks the resting place of that able 
man. 
L 
