The Gold Industry in Guiana. 91 
rope ; and master and servant sleep next each other, a fire 
being kept up all night. Next morning " tea w is served 
out, and the hammocks taken down ; and we start afresh, 
only halting for breakfast and for the night — generally at 
the foot of some falls. 
We eventually arrive at our destination, and with 
hearts gladdened that all is safe, proceed to build a 
benab. Next morning we go prospecting, armed with 
a day's provisions, a gun, cutlass, shovel, battel, and 
a little grog. A prospe6l hole is dug, and after the 
gravel is passed, a couple of shovels of earth is put in- 
side the battel ; this is then placed in the water and 
tumbled round like a whipping-top. The dirt is thrown 
out by the whirling motion, and a little black sand is all 
that remains. A couple of drops of water is thrown on 
this, and a few specks of gold are seen. This does not 
pay, and we go on prospecting, following the winding of 
the creek until we reach a spot which is likely to pay. 
This is marked out, and we return to our camp. Next 
morning we strike, and every man takes his quota of lug- 
gage ranging from 25 to 50 lbs. according to thedistanceto 
be travelled. The luggage is put in canvas (painted) water- 
proofs bags, and is taken on the shoulder, or with a strap 
made of the bark of a tree. The transportation is no easy 
job when one has to climb up a hill and down another, and 
to cross a creek on a tacooba,* overgrown with moss, 
and become slippery. 
Here we are at last on our El Dorado ! A benab pro- 
perly partitioned is put up, a room for the master or 
manager, one for the men,andoneforprovisionsandstores. 
The men are set to cut down the trees for a space of 
* The trunk of a dead tree. 
M 2 
