New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-08
NEGRO KNOw.NOTHINGs.

clpleH, CARED 10 rhtner Fpitnl tAtItlts, ifaS To-
Gently taken place in the colony of British Guiana,
ON the northern coast OF South America In that
COLONY. 90 well as in Jamaica and Trinidad, great
efforts were made and large expense was IL
Cured, shortly after the emancipation of the ne
proes. in attempts to obtain additional supplies OF
labor by emgrants from abroad Among other
places the authorities Of British Guiana turned
their attention to Madeira which was greatly over
peopled and whence 10 the course of several years
a very considerable number Of emigrants was
brought TO the colony their passage being paid out
of the colony chest, which was principally supplied
BY import duties levied on the articles Of food and
clothing, largely imported subsequent to emancl-
patton for the use of the laboring population.
The object in the importation of these Poriu-
guese was to employ them as plantation laborers,
and to that occupation most of the new corners did
for a while devote themselves. But they were not
found very well adapted to this purpose. They
were unable to Withstand the heat of the sun and
the effects of the climate, and great mortality
was the consequence. Such, however, as survived
carefully treasured up their wages, and having at
length accumulated some little sums of money,
they turned their attention to quite new branch
of industry.
Under the old slave system no such thing as
retail shop existed in any part of the colony.
Every thing was bought by the Wholesale, and was
dealt out by the Overseers to the labOrers. Eman-
cipaHon having brought with it the regular weekly
pay ment of wages, and throwing each laborer upon
his own resources, of course, great opening was
made for tina introduction Of O retail trade.
This gap the Portuguese stepped forward to nil.
They began first as hucksters or travelling ped
dlers, which was the only sort of retail trade
hitherto known in the colony bu. proceeded soon
to establish little retail shops, principally for
groceries and articles Of food, first in Georgetown,
the capital. and afterward in the rural districts; and
some of them made 80 much money i'll this way as
presently to 60 into the wholesale trade, and TO
freight and even to buy vessels OF their own for
purposes of Importation. The news of these re-
narkable successes reaching Madeira drew out new
swarms of emgrants, who followed in the footsteps
of their predecessors till in the course OF time the
Portuguese though they have added little or moth
ing to the agricultural development of the colony,
have come to play conspicuous part in its COM
merce, distancing alike, in their peculiar depart
ment Of it, Negro and British competitors.
1t is natural enough that this pecuniary success
on the part of the Portuguese-wh at first, from
their inferiorty in field labor, the black population
had regarded with contempt, and from the fact of
their working in the field had desgnated as white
niegers should have excited some feelings Of
jealousy ON the part Of the blacks, to which might
be added the antipathies which, especially among
the uneducated classes, always spring up between
people of different nations; though in this case this
feeling did not 60 so far as to prevent intermar-
riages, many of the negroes taking to themselves
Portuguese wives. There were also the antipsthies
sprineing from differences of religion, the Portu-
guese being Catholics, and the negroes, some Epis
copalians, some Presbyterians, and q large part
Independents, having been collected in churche,
under the auspices of the London Missionary
Society.
Such was the state of things when that miserable
wondering fanatic or mailman Orr, commonly
known as the Angel Gabriel arrived in this colony,
in which it seems he happened to be born Of Scotch
parcntage, large portion of the white residents of
Utiub CcVttH' AUS Piocbitulrl III
stirring up religious riots, after having wandered
and preached through most parts Of the world
where the English language is spoken, not without
having come into frequent collision with the police
and seen the inside Of many prisOns-returns at
last to give bis native place the benefit OF his &C.
cumulated experience; Of which the consequence
was some serious riots, in which Catholic churche
were assaulted and much Portuguese property de
stroyed. The following account of these riots
which excited at first good deal Of alarm, is given
by The Royal Gazette of British Guiana, printed at
Georgetown, the capital of the colony:
1--WE regret to say that serious disturbances have
taken place during the pas; week throughout the colo
N.Y. and the shops Of the Portuguese traders have been
pilaged and destroyed by the negro population
There has been for long time existing among the
creole negroes latent feeling against the Portuguese
immigrants, who are thrifty and industrious race of
people, and this feeling is also prevalent among the
African immigrants and negroes from the islands who
have come to reside here. This feeling of jealousy
however, would not have broken out into active hoe
hty but for other circums ances which have occurred
IN this city within the last few weeks. About the end
OF the past year named John Savers Orr better
known IN England and in America by the cognomen Of
the Angel Gabriel returned to this colony of which
be IL creole and took up his abode with his mother
IN this city. Having discovered that there con.
siderable degree OF smothered jealousy and Ill feeling
existing between the negro population and the Poru
guese he seized Upon il and mixed il up with his at
lacks On the Roman Catholics. In this be was only
too successful; like spark dropped upon finder hos
thty against the Portuguese spread rapidly through