18 Geology of the Gold Fields of Brltislt Guiana. 



THK POPULATIOX OF BUITISH GUIANA. 



The estimated population of British Guiana is about 300,000, 

 distributed as follows : — 



On the settled coast-lands and the lower river banks there is a very 

 mixed population. Negroes and coloured natives of the colony and of 

 the West Indian Islands and East Indians preponderate. There are 

 also a few Chinese and some half-bred South American Indians. There 

 are a fair number of Portuguese, and comparatively few Europeans of 

 other nationalities. 



On some parts of the coast-lands, and especially in the hinterland, 

 there are several tribes and sub-tribes of al)original Indians. The low 

 swampy western sea coast between the Barima and the Essequibo rivers 

 is favoured by the Warraus, who are only a small tribe. In the vicinity 

 of these coast-lands and along the lower reaches of the rivers the 

 Arawaks have their homes. They are the most civilised of all the 

 aboriginal Indians. 



On the Upper Barima, Barama and Cuyuni Rivers the few remaining 

 Carib Indians dwell. There ai'e many villages of Akawois and of their 

 near relatives, the Patamonas, in the country around the Mazaruni, the 

 Upper Potaro and the Ireng Rivers. In the vicinity of the Lower 

 Rupununi River and that of the Lower Ireng River the country is 

 sparsely peopled by the Macusis. Between the Ujiper Rupununi and 

 the Takatu Rivers a small tribe called the Wapisianas dwell, and next to 

 them, southwards, the Tarumas live. In the vicinity of the head streams 

 of the Essequibo River an exceedingly interesting tribe called the 

 Wai-wois have their habitat. Of these and of other small tribes along 

 the southern boundary of the colony but little is at present known. 



THE CLIMATE OF BRITISH OUIANA. 



The climate of British Guiana is, as would be expected from its 

 geographical position, hot, but it is not unhealthy. The temperature 

 ranges fmrn 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The seasons are divided into 

 dry and wet. There is a long dry season from the middle of August to 

 near the end of Noveml)er, and a shorter, less sharply defined one in 

 March and April ; the remaining two periods are termetl the short and 

 long wet seasons respectively. But the long dry season is the only one 

 of these that is sharply marked in every year, the short dry season not 

 unfrequently turning out a very wet one whilst the short wet season is 

 at times a period of more or less well-marked drought. 



