CHAPTEK IV 



(C. WiLGEESS ANDEliSON, F.G.S., F.K.G.S.) 



THE COUNTIES, TOWNS AND SETTLEMENTS OF BRITISH 



GUIANA. 



The rolony is divided longitudinally into the counties of Demerara, 

 Essequibo, and Berbice. These three counties ai'e to some extent 

 projiortionate in their areas to the lengths of the rivers on both sides 

 of which they extend, and from which they take their names. That of 

 Demerara, although by far the smallest, is the most important and 

 the best known, for in it is placed the cajjital and the principal port of 

 the colony. For this reason the name of this county is often, but 

 erroneously, used to designate the whole of British Guiana. 



Georgetown, the cajiital and principal port of the colony, is situated 

 at the mouth of the Demerara river on its eastern bank in 6" 49' 29 " 

 north latitude, and 58° 09' 52-5" west longitude. (Site of the Georgetown 

 post office.) 



Georgetown has a good harbour, is well laid out on flat land with 

 wide streets running at right angles to each other, and it contains a 

 population of about 60,000. 



The only other town in the colony is New Amsterdam, the former 

 capital and the chief port of Berbice. It is situated about five miles 

 from the mouth on the eastern bank of the Berbice River, and it has a 

 population of about 9,000. 



There are many large and small villages scattered along the sea coast, 

 and on the margins of the rivers near the sea. In the county of Demerara 

 the most important of these are Plaisance, Beterverwagting, Buxton, 

 Belfield, Victoria, Fellowship, Den Amstel and Bagotville. 



The most important places in the county of Essequibo are Suddie, 

 situated on the west bank of the Essequibo river which is known as the 

 Aroabishe or Arabian coast, and Bartika at the junction of the 

 Essequibo and Mazaruni rivers. The Penal Settlement is very pleasantly 

 situated on a low range of hills on the west bank of the Mazaruni River 

 near the junction of the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers. 



In the North-Western division of this county the more important 

 Settlements and Government Stations are Morawhanna, Arakaka and 

 Barramanni. 



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