The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-08
DOWN ON SALISBURY.
English in British Guinna Dissatia-
fed with His Decision.

hcO WIN Ills DeCthiOU.
New York. January 7.-'rhe World this
morning publishes the following special
correspondence from Georgetown, British
Guiana:
The announcement that Lord Salisbury
has agreed to submit the question OF the
boundaries between British Guiana and
Venezuela to arbitration has not been ac-
faction, for the further prolongation OF the
negotiations is seriously restricting the In
vestment OF foreign capital in the develop
ment OF the colony's auriierous wealth.
That Secretary Olney has scored US
diplomat in this matter is readily admitted,
but Lord Salisbury is as soundiy rated for
having yielded 10 arbitration upon terri
tory over whichsthe Dutch exercised 3tris-
d!ction that has been continued by the
British since they succeeded 10 the Dutch
possession and rights.
That Lord Saiisbury's decision has had
for the time being a detrimental effect upon
investments in the colony of British Guiana
is proved by a steady fall IN tho value OF
stocks Of gold mining companies operating
in the disputed territory, the numerous APP
plicationS for an extension OF time IN de-
cisions regarding gold mine options. ana
the almost general inclination to halt in the
further development of the gold industry
Still the colonists are satisfied that 1t Is
but q question of time when their claims
to the entire gold bearing area north and
west Of the Esequiebo TO the right bank
OF the Amacura river, will be fully estab-
lished retaining TO the colony the valuable
property on the Barima and Barama rivers
and their tributaries. AS to the Cuyuni,
evidences Of Dutch occupation are still vis-
ible, and the documentary proof OF British
jurisdiction from the time of the earliest
settlement is considered here as complete.
Tho British government has had a spec
ialist searching the old Dutch records in
the archives OF British Guiana, and two
days ago discovery was made, which. in
the absence of exact data defining the linA-
Its of the Dutch possessions is regarded
here as conclusive evidence that the Brit
ish from their earliest occupation In
Guiana, exercised Jurisdiction over the en-
tire northwesg territory. and presumed q
| protectorate over the Indian tribes. but
that the Indians made periodical returns
10 the British government. Among the
documents just discovered Is the census
| return for 1917. sent In by the respective
chiefs of the Moruga, Walni, B&rima and
Baramata, and Cujuni rivers. The popula-
tion is enumerated in the returns. and the
number Of men In each tribe capable OF
taking up arms is carefully detailed.
There appears TO have been four great
Carib centers, Pawrooma. Monurga Walni
and Barima the chief towns Of which were
Marpa. Coorpareroore, Tocoopoina and Pek-
wa. In each was a war captain, RESPONSE
bic first to the Dutch and afterwards to
the British government.
The the aborigines of those days were
not like the scattered communities now in
the interior is shown by the fact that car
goes OF tobacco. cotton and other products
could be obtained from the natives ut regu-
lar intervals 1t paid to send trading yea
sells on such risky voyages. While tho na-
tive tribes refused to trade with the Span
iardE and ropel!ed their advances. the
Dutch were carly on friendly terms with
all. That was the reason why the Spaniards.
and afterward the venezuelans. never oc-
cupied the territory as far east us the
AIrackra.