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Show 252 LIBERTY AND SLAVEH.Y. "The west coast of Demerara-the only part of the country which still remaius unvisiteu-is described as showing only a diminution of fifty per cent. upon its produce of sugar; and with this fact the evidence concludes as to one of the three sections into which the colony is divided. Does Demerara stand alone in its misfortunes? "Agaiu bear the rcport:-'If the present state of the county of Demerara afforus cause for deep apprehension, your commissiouers find that Essequibo has retrograded to a still more alarming extent. In fact, unless a large and speedy supply of labor be obtained to cultivate the deserted fields of this once flourishing district, there is great reason to fear that it will relapse into total abandonment.' "Describing another portion of the colonythey say of one district, 'Unless a fresh supply of labor be very soon obtained, there is every reason to fear that it will become completely abandoned.' Of a second, 'speedy immigration alone can save this island from total rum. 'The prostrate condition of this once beautiful part of the coast.,' are the words which begin another paragraph, tlescribing another tract of country. Of a fourth, 'the proprio· ARGU~!ENT FROM TilE PUBLIC GOOD. 253 tors on this coast seem to be keeping up a hopeless struggle against approaching ruin.' Again, 'the once famous Arabian coast, so long tho boast of the colony, presents now but a mournful picture of departed prosperity. llere were formerly situated some of the finest estates in the country, and a large resident body of proprietors lived in the district, and freely expended their incomes on the spot whence they derived them.' Once more, 'the lower part of the coast, after passing Devonshire Castle, to the river Pomeroon, presents a scene of ahnost total desolation.' Such is Esseqnibo! "Berbice," says Lord Stanley, "has fared no better. Its rural population amounts to 18,000. Of these, 12,000 have withch-awn from the estates, and mostly from the neighborhood of tho white man, to enjoy a savage freedom of ignorance and idleness, beyond the reach of example and sometimes of control. But on tho condition of the negro I shall dwell more at length hereafter; at present it is the state of property with which I have to do. What are the districts which together form the county of Berbice? The Corentync coast-the Canje Creek-east and west banks of the Berbice River- and the west coast, where, howeYer, 22 |