Demerara Sugar Production. 19 
in the trench may bring forth a lump or two that has 
accidentally fallen from the punts that brought the last 
lot to the factory, but that does not last long. Another 
suggestion is made to mix in a few lumps of coal. This is 
tried and seems to be doing well, but it is soon discovered 
that it is clogging the grating bars. Meantime the density, 
of the syrup scarcely rises at all, and now and then the 
end teache positively ' goes down', z>., boils flat like water 
instead of in a foam like milk. 
Then there will be a slight pause in the rain and the 
megass will be a trifle better. Then down comes another 
shower : still everything comes to an end in time. When 
the weary night has almost gone, and the twittering of 
the birds announces the approaching dawn, the wel- 
come sound is heard 'Take water', which means that 
all the juice is on the wall, and the work is nearly done. 
By the time everything is over, and the people are paid, it 
is broad daylight ; and the weary overseer goes to his bed at 
about six o'clock in the morning, with the unpleasant 
consciousness that there are two boxes which only stand 
17 Be.; this will mean explanations, which will probably 
be received with a grunt, and the words ' well don't let it 
happen again.' 
At breakfast the manager will ask at what time the 
fire was hauled, and will say ' I am glad that it was before 
the train passed up in the morning, it does not look well 
to be seen smoking on a Sunday.' 
If this is unpleasant for the overseer who only occa- 
sionally has to take the watch, imagine what it must be 
for the labourers who take every watch. Every morning 
at three they had to turn out and work till generally, ten 
o'clock at night, or even later. 
C2 
