Gold in British Guiana. 297 
Arriving at a ferry the following dialogue ensued. 
Passenger : I suppose you pay a large rent to Govern- 
ment for this ferry ? 
Ferryman : The Government ! The Government has 
nothing to do with it ; it is my own, I put it up myself. 
Passenger : Then I think on your large profits you 
might afford to make some improvements for the conve- 
nience of your passengers, and if you are wise you will 
reduce your fares or you will some day find the Govern- 
ment stepping in and taking the concern into their own 
hands. 
Ferryman: Ha! ha! ha! the Government indeed! 
If you wait till Government does anything you may 
wait till doomsday. 
Now our Government is inclined to do something, but 
the precise manner in which the opening up of the 
country is to be effected is a very momentous matter con- 
sidering the vast expense of such an undertaking, and 
should not be precipitately entered upon without due 
consideration of every aspect of the question and the 
absolute requirements of the country. It may be recol- 
lected that a few years back it was proposed to construct 
a road from the lower Massaruni to the Mara-Mara Creek 
on the Puruni, and a considerable sum of money was ex- 
pended in making a preliminary survey of the proposed 
route. This scheme, from which so much was expected, 
was after a short time quietly relegated to the limbo of 
forgotten projects, and now reposes peacefully in merited 
oblivion : this was but four years ago, yet I venture to 
predict that in four years more the at present much 
talked of scheme of the Bartica-Essequebo railway to the 
head of the falls, whether accomplished or not, will be 
