The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-23
DUTCH IN GUIANA.
Demerara Claims That They
Held Jurisdiction Clear to
the 0rinoco.


WASHINGTON, July %, 1S96-The last
issue of the Demerara schronscle.9 that
of July s. which has just reached the Blu
reau of American Republics, says
For several weeks past the important
inquiry. the nature of which was partially
referred to in an article with regard to
the relations hat existed between our
Dutch predecessors in the colony and the
abor ginal Indians has been progressing
in the Government buildings. The ar
chives at the rear Of Guiana Public Build
ings are packed with a mass of documents
that has been accommodating for centu-
ries. Many of them are in the original
Dutch and French. and these are being
Systematically overhauled ard translated
for the purpose of discovering whether or
not they contain ratter that may prove
Of yalue in strengthening the position the
British Government fas mairtai7e9 in
regard to the boundary Iine existing be-
tween this colony and the adjacent re-
pubic.
eTne contents Of manv of these docti-
men.s are of course relatively Of little
value, but we learn from conversation
current among authorities evidently well
proceeded I'm to the present tire It has
been successful in u1esrtafag several iT-
pertahts points in evidence that aopsar
to establish beyond all doubt thet the
eupied terr.tery and exercised juris5r-
tion to the mouth of the 0finccn. The
nature of the evidence in this direction
that has already been brought To light
md value thereof may be indeed fran
the fact that in one Of the documents IS
the REGARD If an order by the Dutch
Caurt of Policy to erer. a fort and STA
ticn Dnteh soldiers at their boundary on
the Orinooue,'
ut anpaars that a mf'ffarv officer OH
taired an audience from the Court Of
Policy to ask for provision haipg made
for troons which were expected To arrive
LAZY. There was no accommodation ter
fhem in Stabr~ek. ard he had e~dATs t.
keen them on hoard the ship urfn nranfe
provision was raeda .fa~rtfe'r reception.
The Court of Policy fAeidea that fersz
should be erected at Caurabana. Maha-
tea. and. as stated. on the Dutch bosind-
airy at the O~ronnaue. Other documents
discovered show that the estimate Of the
wara actually preDaTef and 1t may res
senahly he supposed that further search
will furnish similar evidence with regard
TO the fcrt at Or-ncco.
stAn old record of the law courts has
also been found. we understand. show ng
that the French, during their eccupa-
ton of this colony. exercised jurisdiction
over country extending to the mouth o.
the Orinoeo. The document in question
rerates to a case in which an indian,
who had murdered a white man in the
Anacura district. was brought 30 Justice
by the French. While the search has re-
yealed other evidence of the o~ecunallon
of and jurisdiction over the land in dis
pute by the Dutch. II mas also qlfeSled
attertion to important documents rel3t-
ing to the boundary which are probably
to be found in the archives Of Holland.
The progress of the inquiry may. mere
fcre. be confidently expected to BRING 20
LIGHT further Documentary prcof OF the
extent of the Dutch possession. as we
have reason to bel eve the greater part
Of the records is still untouched.