A view of wildness

Sep 08, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
Those of the citizens of Georgetown who did not know themselves as ‘Townies’  must wonder how come ‘Wild Coast’ author found out immediately on his arrival. Nevertheless his early view of the people and their city was wildly complimentary. The following are excerpts from his description:
“From the court a beautiful city, as light as feathers, fluttered off down the coast. Perhaps – like its people – Georgetown didn’t truly believe it belonged here, and so it hovered over the water. Nothing was firmly attached. It was all built on canals and breezes, a city of stilts and clapboard, brilliant whites, fretwork, spindles and louvres. The streets were as wide as fields, and the cathedral seemed to drift endlessly upwards, reputedly the tallest wooden building in the world. One area was even called Lacytown, as though, at any moment it would simply take off and drift away, home perhaps.”
“The forest was constantly trying to creep back into this city, along with the mildew. Even concrete rotted here, and cars seemed to moulder. By day the canals were silky and green, and by night they were operatic with frogs. ‘Why? Why?’ they’d sing, which made the dogs all howl. Nature, it seemed, was gradually reclaiming its inheritance.
Amid this riot of parrots and flamboyants, the Townies could still be fleetingly British. They’d talk about things like ‘spring’ and ‘autumn’ while the weather remained doggedly hot. They could even be a little archaic, with children peeing in ‘posies’ and having ‘tennis rolls’ for tea.”
And we are only at page 16 of 163 pages on Guiana/Guyana.
E B John