FLORA OF BRITISH GUIANA—HITCHCOCK. 297 
rise to over 150 inches, while in the savanna region of the south it 
may fall to 50 inches. 
The temperature near the coast is very uniform. The mean maxi- 
mum (Fahrenheit) is 83° in the winter and 87° in the summer, while 
the mean minimum ranges between 74.5° and 76.5°. In the hottest 
part of the year, the long dry season, August to November, the 
temperature (shade) rarely goes higher than 88° and at night falls 
to about 80°. In the winter it rarely falls below 74° and usually 
rises only to 82° to 84°. The temperature in the sun is strikingly 
high in contrast (140° to 145°). The humidity is always high. Be- 
cause of this it is uncomfortable to be out of the air currents. The 
houses are raised on pillars and the structure is open to allow a free 
circulation. Clothing and leather mold quickly. 
The population of the entire colony is about 300,000. The per- 
centage of the different races is given in the Handbook (1913) as 
follows: Europeans, 1.3; Portuguese, 3.4;.East Indians, 42.7; Chi- 
nese, 0.9; Negroes, 39; mixed races, 10.2; aborigines, 2.3. The popu- 
lation of Georgetown is about 60,000, of which 4.5 per cent, are 
whites, and of New Amsterdam, about 9,000. The great majority 
of the people are to be found near the coast. 
The drinking water of the coast region is obtained from rain 
water caught in tanks. The general water supply of Georgetown 
and the neighboring plantations is obtained from the East. Coast 
Water Conservancy. This is a swampy area lying southeast of the 
city. Dikes have been built to impound the water in several square 
miles behind the river and coast plantations and extending east to 
a dike near the Mahaica River. The south limit is the slightly 
higher land back of the swampy area. The water is led to its destina- 
tion by a series of canals. 
The drainage of Georgetown is intertidal. There is an outflow 
during low tide and tide gates shut out the sea water during high 
tide. 
The health of the colony is fairly satisfactory. There is no yel- 
low fever, but malaria and dysentery are rather common. The 
death rate is about 35 per thousand among the population as a whole, 
but only 14.8 among the whites. On account of the drainage system 
and the open canals it is difficult to protect the lower class of the 
population largely made up of East Indians and Negroes. 
The industries are mainly agricultural, though the production of 
gold and diamonds is of some importance. There are large de- 
posits of bauxite (an oxide of aluminum) which are just commenc- 
ing to be exploited. Timber is also.an important minor industry. 
There are many kinds of woods exported, the best known probably 
being the greenheart (Vectandra rodioei), a wood much used. for 
piles, lock gates, and other structures in contact with salt water, be- 
