No. 114. Extracts from the Journal of the Mining Engineer, Thomas Hildebrandt, April, 1741. * [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, pp. 288, 290.] Monday, April 24.-While my people carried the things to above the great fall and with great difficulty dragged the two boats overland, I meanwhile washed the sand and examined the rocks, but found nothing of lodes; also found nothing [in] the sand washed. When the things were again loaded in the boat I pushed on again to a difficult fall, where I ate at noon and noon and had again to have the things taken out of the boat and the boats dragged over again; this done, went on to a fall named Awaroutaru, and having passed it stayed over night at an Indian path two nights, for this reason, that I had to write two letters to the [West India] Company, one to Amsterdam and [one] to Middelburg, as likewise also one to the Commandeur. Also prospected there somewhat, but found nothing, save that I saw that a fine savanna lies about one. * * * * * Sunday, April 30.—In the morning at 6 o'clock left the place where we had stayed four nights, at the creek Tibokoeykoeroe and came to a great fall named Tokeyne, where we had great[er] trouble to get up than we had yet had anywhere, the perpendicular height of the above-named fall being 4 fathoms. If I had not had the luck [to meet] six Indians who showed themselves helpful in dragging over my boat, I should have found it impossible to get up; and I kept these Indians by me still after they had helped me, in order to show the way further through the many islands and two other difficult falls, one named Simierie and the other Motoesie. Having passed these, I came to an island where three old Indian tents stood. Had these somewhat repaired and took our night's rest there. This island was named Arwattapauoeroe, that is to say, Monkey's Island. * * No. 115. * * Extract from letter from Thomas Hildebrandt, Mining Engineer, to the West India Company, June 3, 1741. [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, p. 292.] I also inform my lords and employers that on April 23 I began the No. 115. journey to the Blaauwenberg, in order to examine the mountains. Ac cordingly, I made a beginning above the indigo plantation at the first small fall, but found only unpromising rock. Then I went higher up to a creek called Moroko-eykoeroe, and up to this point I have explored as carefully as anybody could do, round about the Blaauwenberg. I have indeed found beautiful lodes, but it will take severe labor to work it, since the moutain is covered with heavy iron rock as far as this aforesaid creek, which lies full four hours above the Blaauwenberg. I have found at this place a beautiful copper vein which is worth going on with. * * * Extract from proceedings of the Court of Policy in Essequibo, June 4, The scarcity and lack of horses being taken into consideration, it was resolved that the respective plantations send to Aguire in order to barter up horses and that the cargos therefor be advanced out of the Company's Extracts from the Journal of the Mining Engineer, Thomas Hildebrandt, 1742. [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, pp. 294-295.] The prospecting expedition to up in Cuyuni. Wednesday, January 10.-In the afternoon at 2 o'clock took up my journey to the Blaauwenberg, and went no further than to the indigo plantation, and there spent the night. Thursday, January 11.-Broke camp again in the morning and came to above the first great fall and there spent the night and had great discomfort. Saturday, January 13.-In the afternoon at 3 o'clock came to be 1 Note by Prof. Burr.-It would perhaps be better to translate this "blue mountains," as Hildebrandt does not honor it with a capital initial; but the Dutch name, having found a place on the maps, is for clearness' sake preferred. It must be remembered that these "mountains" are, according to later surveys, only low hills, not rising above three or four hundred feet. *Note by Prof. Burr.-I. e, Moroko creek, “eykoeroe" (icuru) being Carib for creek. No. 117. neath the second great fall and saw almost no chance to get up, so was the water swollen, which in my former journey I could not get through; so that the additional Indians were very opportune for me, and it was dark by the time we had the two boats up above. * * * * * No. 118. Extract from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, to the West India Company, April 1, 1744. The chief of the said Indians has offered me to answer for all the runaway slaves of this colony who make their way toward Orinoco, in case I would establish a postholder in Barima. This would be of great utility for the buying up of boats and slaves; but I have not ventured to undertake it without your orders. No. 119. Extracts from letter from the West India Company (Zeeland Chamber) to Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, August 24, 1744. * [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, pp. 303–304.] It surely would be reasonable for the Company to enjoy five per cent. on the exports of syrup and rum; it were even to be wished that we could prohibit one stoup of those articles to be exported anywhere but hither. But, because we fear that the colony cannot yet do without the English and those of Orinoco, on account of the scant navigation from this country to Rio Essequibo, we as yet do not venture upon a prohibitory resolution. As for establishing a postholder in Barima for the purpose stated in your letter, we are not averse to your making a trial; we, however, recommend that you take proper precautions that by this channel no frauds be practiced. No. 120. Extract from Minutes of the Court of Policy in Essequibo, January 3, Surgeon Juan Pedro Bolle has asked for the deserted stubble land in Cartabo; it was granted with the condition that the Noble Company shall reserve the right to build thereon at least those houses which it shall deem necessary. Extract from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, to the West India Company, March 19, 1746. I have not yet established any post in Barima, because I have not been able to find any competent person to my liking to whom to intrust the same, for I think that post might become of great importance. Extract from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, to the West India Company, July 20, 1746. The inhabitant C. Finet, having come down from up the Cuyuni, has also informed me that the report of the Caribs made to me some months ago is true, namely, that the Spaniards have established a mission up in this river, and have built a small fort there, he himself having been there and spoken with the priest and soldiery; that they were busy making much brick there, with the intention next year to found yet another mission and fort some hours nearer, farther down this river, [while] all the Indians, coming away from those parts, are fleeing this way and praying for protection. As this matter puts me in great perplexity, I beg you to send orders as speedily as possible how I am to conduct myself in this matter, assuring you that they shall be exactly carried out. I would have not the least difficulty in driving them from there and capturing the forts; but such a step being one of great consequence, No. 122. I dare not take the responsibility, especially as the true frontier-line there is unknown to me. The river Cuyuni, where the aforesaid works are being built, is the same in which your indigo plantation lies, and where the coffee plantation once lay, and falls into the river Essequibo at the place where the old plantation Duynenburg used to stand on the one side and where Mr. Van der Cruysse dwells on the other side, half a cannon-shot below Fort Kykoveral. Extract from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, to the West India Company, December 7, 1746. * [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, pp. 308-309.] I had the honor to inform you via Rio Berbice of a mission, together with a little fort, erected by the Spaniards up in Cuyuni, in my opinion on your territory; and I have it from a reliable source that they have been thinking of founding next year yet another nearer, whereat the inhabitants are much aggrieved, and the Carib Indians much more still, since thereby the slave trade in that quarter, from which alone that nation derives its livelihood, is wholly shut off. They wanted, too, to surprise that mission and level it to the ground, which I, not without trouble, have prevented; for, since they belong under our jurisdiction and carry on all their trade in the Dutch colonies, such a step would by the Spaniards surely be charged to us. It is very perilous for this colony to have such neighbors so close by, who in time of war could come and visit us overland; and, above all, the making of fortifications upon our own land is in breach of all custom. I say upon our own land: this [assertion], however, I cannot put forth with full certainty, because the boundaries west of this river are unknown to me * * * Extracts from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Commandeur in Essequibo, to the West India Company, March 23, 1747. * [Reprinted from U. S. Commission Report, Vol. 2, pp. 309–311.] That in Wacquepo and Moruca all is again still, as the nation which |