Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-07-24
THE DIVISIONAL LINE.
What the Demerara Chronicle Has TO Say On
the Question.

Washington. July 23.-The last issue
of the Demerara Chronicle, that of July
Is. which has just reached the bureau
of American republics, says: For sew
cral weeks past an important inquiry,
the nature of which was partially re-
ferred to in an article with regard TO
the relations that existed between our
Dutch predecessors in the colony ana
the aboriginal Indians, has been pro-
crossing in the government buildings.
The archives at the rear of the Guiana
public buildings are packed with
mass of documents that has been ac-
cumulatng for centuries. Many are in
original Dutch and French. These are
being systematically overhauled and
translated for the purpose of discover
ing whether they contain matter that
may prove of value in strengthening
the position the British government
has maintained in regard to the bound
ary line existing between this colony
and the adjacent republic.
The contents of many of these docu-
ments are of course relatively of little
value We learn from conversation
current among the authorities evidently
well informed that as far as the search
has proceeded. it has been successful
in unearthinS several important points
of evidence that appear to establish
beyond all doubt that the Dutch colon
lists west of Essequibo occupied terri
tory and exercised jurisdiction to the
mouth of the Orinoco.
"The nature of the evidence in this
direction that has already been brought
to light and the value thereof may be
. far ba in M
documents is a record of an order by
the Dutch court of policy to erect a
fort and station for Dutch soldiers at
their boundary "on the Orinoque.' 1t
appears that military officer obtained
an audience from the court of policy to
ask for provisions being made for the
troops which We're expected to arrive
daily. There was no accommodations
for them in Stabroek and he had Or
ders to keep them on board the ship
until proper provisions was made for
their reception.
THE court of policy decided that
forts should be erected at Courabana.
Mahaica and as stated, on the Dutch
boundary at Orinioque. Other docu-
ments discovered show the estimate of
cost and the plan of a fort at Courabana
Were actually prepared. 1t may rea-
sonably be supposed further search will
furnish similar evidence with regard to
the fort at Orinoco. The old record of
law courts has been found, we under
stand. showing that the French, dur
ing their occupation of this colony, cx-
ercised jurisdiction over the country
extending to the mouth of the Orinoco.
The document in question relates to a
case in which an Indian who had mur-
dered white man in the Amacura dis
trict was brought to justice by the
French. While the search has revealed
other evidence. the occupation of and
jurisdiction over the land in dispute by
the Dutch is has also directed atten-
tion to important documents relating to
the boundary which are probably to be
found in the archives of Holland The
progress of inquiry may be confidently
expected to bring to light further docu-
mentary proof of the extent of the
Dutch possession as we have reason to
believe a greater part of the records is
still untouched