Analysis of Soils on Berbice River. 283 
would I am sure be surprised if he saw the coffee trees 
growing wild round the Indian settlements, unpruned 
but still loaded with berries, growing in a soil which both 
to appearance and analysis seems utterly unfertile. 
Now what are the chief causes why this land is un- 
cultivated. Those that have seen the struggle for labour 
in the past easily account for this. Another reason is 
that as long as there is land easily to be obtained 
on the sea coast and near the large markets of the colony, 
you will not find men anxious to go away from their 
species, and from land which the first settlers of the 
country found more fertile than up the rivers, and which 
would grow a crop, sugar, which could withstand the 
high rates of wages ruling on account of scarcity of 
labour. We often hear the expression used " opening 
up the country ;" that to my mind, and I think to the 
generality of persons, is a wrong expression to use. 
Opening up country, conveys to me the idea of 
pioneers taking to land which has not previously been 
under cultivation ; now as regards this district and for at 
least 100 miles up this river, and similarly on the Deme- 
rara river, the land has not only been cultivated and 
surveyed, but the estates on both banks are in the hands 
of descendants of the original proprietors, or the present 
occupiers have purchased a right title and interest in the 
land. True, their claim would be difficult to prove, but 
I do not think any one would like to try and oust the 
present occupiers, and many would have a claim against 
the Government for compensation. Very little of this 
land is in absolute possession of Government, as was 
seen lately when the Government found it difficult to 
obtain a piece of land up the Demerara River on which 
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