The Gold Industry in Guiana. 79 
the metal under surveillance, and subjeft to being pricked 
with a sword now and then if they showed any signs of 
objecting. As a natural result of this treatment " the 
kings and lords of all the borders and of Guiana had 
decreed, that none of them should trade with any 
Christians for gold, because the same would be their own 
overthrow, and that for the love of gold the Christians 
meant to conquer and dispossess them of all together.''* 
Here we have the true reason, why the gold mines of 
Guiana were concealed from Europeans for over two 
hundred years, so that Raleigh's evidence was even 
discredited, and his book classed with travellers' tales. 
According to HuME : — " Raleigh's account of his first 
voyage to Guiana, proves him to have been a man 
capable of the most extravagant credulity or most 
impudent imposture." This opinion of the great his- 
torian hardly requires refuting in Guiana. Allowing for 
a little exaggeration, and taking away what he gives as 
reports, almost every sentence glows with truthful 
accuracy. Some of the Puruni diggers will understand 
the following charafteristic specimens : — " For when 
the springs began to break, and the rivers to raise 
themselves so suddenly, as by no means we could abide 
the digging of any mine, especially for that the richest 
are defended with rocks of hard stone, which we call 
the white spar, and that it required both time, men, and 
instruments fit for such a work, &c."— " And it shall be 
requisite for any man that passeth it (the river Orinoco) 
to have a pilot, for it is four five and six miles over in 
many places, and twenty miles in other places, with 
wonderful eddies, and strong currents, many great 
* Raleigh's Discoverie of Guiana. 
