Colonial Jottings. 93 
leaf which Warrau Indians make use of as wrappers for 
their cigars : there was only one family on this creek, 
from whom I hired a corial to convey myself and crew 
to the Demerara River for the purpose of purchasing a 
supply of cassava bread &c, &c. The provisions I had 
brought with me from New Amsterdam were intrusted to 
six of my crew as carriers, but after I left them they 
returned to the place I first landed, dug up the rum I had 
buried in a jug, and on the savanna all six Indians 
became intoxicated, and fought, and during the fight 
destroyed all the provisions. But to my great disappoint- 
ment there was no bread of any kind to be obtained in 
Upper Demerara River, the consequence bein? that in- 
stead of returning to the Berbice River the following day 
as first arranged (the distance across the savanna from Ber_ 
bice to Demerara via " Mannaca-secaru" is only a walk 
of ten hours) I was obliged to descend the Dem- 
erara, as far as Post Ampa, before I could obtain 
bread and other necessaries for my return journey. 
On approaching the forests bordering the Mannaca- 
secaru Creek, a large size tree — which the wind had 
thrown down--lay across our path. I took it at a jump 
but knowing that Indians rarely jump when travelling 
by land, owing, as I suppose, to having loads to carry, I 
was curious to see whether they would climb on the tree, 
and then slide off, or walk round by the head of it to re- 
join the path; and it was just at the moment of 
their state of uncertainty I fortunately discovered that 
a large bush-master snake was underneath the tree, 
and immediately under the spot I had jumped over. I 
beckoned to the Indian nearest to me not to climb upon 
the tree but to walk round it, and to bring his gun — an 
