The Gold Industry in Guiana. 
I. — THE GUIANA GOLD MINES OF THE PAST. 
By James Rodway, F.L.S. 
HE large quantity of gold ornaments found by 
the discoverers of America in possession of the 
natives, and the treasure obtained by rifling the 
graves prove not only that there was a considerable 
traffic in the precious metal, but also that it was more 
valued than is generally supposed. Although an ounce 
of gold dust might be exchanged for a common hawk's 
bell, it does not follow that the gold was not valuable, 
but simply that the bell was the greater novelty and 
therefore most coveted. From the Mississippi in the 
North, to the Amazon in the South, similar patterns of 
ornaments were commonly obtained, and the evidence 
is favourable to the opinion that they were derived from 
the same source. As among most of the tribes the 
chieftain was buried in full dress, with all his jewels, 
there must have been a continuous demand for gold and 
pearls, and there is every reason to suppose that the 
consequent supply came from Guiana. 
There is no question that the Caribs of the mainland 
had communication with their kindred in the islands ; 
the similarity of language is the strongest evidence on 
this point. Apart from this, however, we find many 
writers mentioning as a faft that such a traffic as is 
required by the circumstances was regularly kept up. 
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