(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)
Bishop Weld tells of his visit to the Hinterland
(1600 Aboriginals confirmed; visit to highest inhabited spot in B.G; declines comment on plan to settle Jewish refugees in the Rupununi.
– Exclusive Interview  with W.I.Gomes, April 23, 1939) HIS LORDSHIP Bishop Weld, S.J. visited among many Catholic centres in the interior, a Patamona Indian village at the top of Mt. Kurukabaru, some 3500 feet above sea level, and reputed to be the highest inhabited spot in the country.
During his stay in the hinterland, Bishop Weld administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to more than 1600 Aboriginal Indians.
There are 17 Catholic churches, and several other stations among the Aboriginals in the interior.
The Churches vary in size according to the population of the village. The largest one seats 400, and is dedicated to St. John Berchmans.
This one is in the Wapisiana country in the upper reaches of the Sawariwau River.
Every village has its Church and Presbytery, and the Indians travel at times for three or four days to attend Mass, and receive the Sacraments when the Missionary is on a visit.
It is estimated that there are 2,000 Wapisianas, 900 Makusis, and 400 Patamonas among the Catholic population of the Rupununi and the Pakaraimas.
On leaving Georgetown, Bishop Weld, accompanied by Father Henri Mather, S.J., and an Indian crew, proceeded to Yupukari and then across savannah country to St. Ignatius Mission on the Takutu River.
His Lordship spent Christmas at St. Ignatius, and during his stay there, officiated at three Confirmation services.
He left on Old Year’s Day, and proceeded to the Kanuku Mountain District.
From this point, he crossed the Rupununi savannah to the south of Isherton, then cutting eastwards, worked his way down as far as Shea, and on to Dadanawa.
On the first part of his travel, Bishop Weld had 14 Confirmation Services and covered more than three hundred miles.
Returning to St Ignatius, he had a few days rest.
The second part of the journey was to start on February 9, but was postponed to the next day.
It was this change in his schedule by 24 hours that allowed His Lordship the opportunity of receiving the news of the death of Pope Pius XI, as the message went through on the night of February 9.
Leaving St. Ignatius, his Lordship proceeded to a Makusi village at the foot of the Kanuku Mountains, on the northwest side  near the source of the Nappi River.
From this village, he rode across the Ireng Savannah to the Pakaraimas, spending a day at St. Theresa’s in the Karasabai reserve.
More than 200 Indians gathered here.
Leaving St. Theresa’s, his Lordship rode through the Pakaraimas for one day more. It was an interesting ride, but very rough.
The trail then became too difficult for horses, and the rest of the journey to Chiung, the last of the Makusi villages, had to be covered on foot over precipitous mountains, and took four days.
One day was spent at Chiung at a small church,  then the journey was resumed for another two days to Kurukabaru, which is the highest inhabited spot in the country, some 3500 feet above sea level.
The temperature at times is below 50 degrees centigrade.
A large gathering of Patamonas was there to greet His Lordship. Then followed two more days on to Waipa,  on the Ireng,  which is about four days by trail from the source of the Ireng, and six days walking to Mount Roraima.
Two days were spent at Waipa, before moving onto to Mr. Winter’s place at Pappaparu.
His Lordship was accompanied by Fr. Wm. Keary, S.J., as far as Mr. Winter’s place, and rested there for three days before proceeding to the Upper Potaro, at the mouth of Chinapowa.
Fr. Keary returned to the Takutu from this point, and information reached His Lordship  this week that he arrived at St. Ignatius on March 28 last.

Mass at Kaieteur
The trip from Chinapowa Landing to upper landing  Kaieteur  was covered in one day by boat.
The Bishop said Mass in the ‘Rest-House’ the morning after his arrival at Kaieteur Top, and at about 9:15a.m, the mist lifted and he was able to gaze on the majestic splendour of Kaieteur, as the Potaro River tumbled over the precipice into the gorge, 822 feet below.
Three of the Makusi carriers who worked with His Lordship’s party on the journey suffered an attack of malaria and had to return.
Leaving Kaieteur, His Lordship and Mr. Winter proceeded along the usual route to Bartica, via Kangaruma, Garraway Stream, the Bartica-Potaro Road, then by special launch from Bartica to Parika, and by rail and ferry to Georgetown,  arriving back in the City on Saturday evening.
His Lordship became ill while in the hinterland, and has expressed his thanks to Mr. Winter, who brought him to the City.

The Jewish refugees
His Lordship granted me a special interview last Tuesday evening when he related his experiences on his visit to the frontier stations.
When I asked him what he thought about the plan under consideration for the settlement of a large number of Jewish refugees in the Rupununi district, he explained that it would be difficult for a layman to express an opinion, as he personally felt it would require experts on colonization to study the country carefully, in order to arrive at any definite conclusion.
His Lordship spoke about the great need for a resident medical officer among the Indians, a problem that the Government says it already has under consideration.
He found that among the Wapisianas, there was  great mortality of children around the age of five years, and spoke of deaths from malaria among those who leave the Patamona country and go to the Potaro for work.
There is also the danger of infection of those who return to their homes after visiting the Potaro.
It was Bishop Weld’s  first visit to the Indians on the frontier in the Rupununi District, and he spoke in glowing terms of their simplicity, and their wonderful character.
They did their work without the slightest grumble, and he never heard them quarrel among themselves.
They were honest in every detail.
(The Daily Chronicle: April 24, 1939)
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)