Colonial Jottings.* 
By W. C. H. F. McClintock, J.P. 
HEN I was last in New Amsterdam, Berbice, 
with little or no occupation at that time, a 
thought struck me that during the few days 
left before my departure for the sister county my time 
would be well spent in paying a visit to the Upper 
Berbice River, and with that object I increased my crew 
from five to nine Indians. 
I ascended the river some distance above all wood- 
cutting establishments, and until I reached a landing 
named by Indians "Savanna-land." At this part of the 
river the forest fringing its banks scarcely extends thirty 
rods inland, which was a most agreeable surprise to me 
— for, instead of struggling for hours through a dense 
forest — as I have frequently done — before reaching the 
desired obje6t, I landed almost at once on a magnificent 
savanna, studded here and there with small clumps of 
trees giving it the appearance of a well kept demesne. 
After landing, and burying one gallon of rum, in the 
hope of having the use of it for my crew on my return 
to Berbice, I started across the savanna at a quick pace 
until I reached a tributary of the Demerara River named 
Mannaca-secaru, which name, in the Arrawack language 
means dry leaf of the manicole palm — that part of the 
* The following notes have been supplied to me at various times 
by my friend Mr. W. C. H F. McClintock, so long resident on the 
Pomeroon River, as Postholdc. and afterward as Special Magistrate. 
—Ed, 
