The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-24
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.
Brought to Light in the Archives
Of Guiana.
REFERRING TO DUTCH OCCUPA-
TEON OF DISPUTED TERRITORY.

Evidence Said to Be Very Important-OId
Records of the Courts in Evidence
More Data Said to BE Forthcoming.
Washington, July 2s.-The last issue of
the Demerara Chronicle, that OF July g.
which has just reached the Bureau Of
American republics. says:
Eor several weeks past important in
quiry the nature Of which was partially
referred to in an article with regard to
the relations that existed between our
Dutch predecessors in the colnoy and
Aboriginal Indians has been progressing
III the government buildings. The
archives at the rear of Guina public
buildings are packed with mass Of
documents that has been accommodating
fer centuries. Many are in the original
Dutch and French, and these are being
systematically overhauled and trans
lated for the purpose of discovering
whether they contain matter that may
prove of value in strengthening the
position the British government has
maintained in regard to the boundary
line existing between this colony and the
adjacent public. The contents OF many
Of these documents are Of course relative
ly of little value. We learn from CEN
versation current among authorities
evidently we'll informed, that as far as
the search has proceeded, it has been SUI
ceSsfIl in uneNrthlng several imporEau5
points of evidence that appear to es5at lisa
beyond all doubt that the DuFch ct11LI u
west OF sstquibo, occupied TIC reIii oty
and exercised jurisdiction to the IL Nuth
of the Orino0o. The nature of bs
evidence IL this direction that has -
ready been brought to light and tao yGlu,
thereof, may be judged IRON Tho TACT that
in one Of tie documents is record Ct ;tl
order by The Dutch ccur5 OF o!iry, 10
erect a fort ana station Ior the Butch
soldiers at their boundary "Orinoq.e
/ appears that IA military officer obt iaed
an sud1encs from the court of Policy 10
ask for provision being made for tlool S
which we're expected to arrive Ga!Iy.
There was no accommodation for them in
Stabroek, and he had orders to Keep
them on board ship until proper provision
was made for their reception. The coH-t
of Policy decided that tho forts shoul be
erected at Couabana, Mahaira ana, as
stated ou the D1tol boundary to
Orinioque. Other documents discovered
show the estimates of the cost and plan
OF a fort ss Couraban& that wtFe actual
ly prepared in May, and may reasonably
be supposed that further seat oh viii fur
nizh similar evidence with regarG to
fort at Orinoco. An old record of law
courts has heen found, we understand,
showing that the French, during the oc-
cupation of this colony. exercised juris-
diosi0n over the country extending to the
mouth Of tho OIinoCo. The document in
question relates to case in which an
Indian who had murdered L man in the
Amaoura district was brought to justice
by the French. While the search has re-
vealsd other evidence of occupation Of
and jurisdiction over the land in dispute
by Ehe Dutch, 1t has also directed atUen-
tion to important documents relating to
the boundary which are probably to be
found in the archives Of Holland.
The progress Of ths inquiry may bG
confidently expected TO bring to light
further docum ntary proof of the extsnI
of the Dutch possessions as we have
reason to believe the greater part of the
records is still untouched.