Colonisation Scheme. 87 



5. A still stronger inducement to leave the colony was the absence 

 of a sufficient number of women of their own race or class. Inter- 

 marriage between races has not been frequent. The East Indian inden- 

 tured women were only about one-third of the men. Unfortunately the 

 immigrants were only of the agricultural class to the extent of 30 per 

 cent, and most of the women immigrants were recruited from town resi- 

 dents. There were circumstances in the case of very many connectsd 

 with their previous life, local temptations under such special circum- 

 stances, and daily work which militated against fecundity. 



6. It is now fully recognised that any scheme of colonisation to be 

 successful must be based upon the introduction of families and upon the 

 foundation of an ordered family life in all classes of the community. 



7. Until the visit of the Royal West India Commission to British 

 Guiana in 1897_the small proprietor was not encouraged and both Govern- 

 ment and" employers must be accused of short-sighted views on the subject 

 of the future fortunes of the colony as a whole. As compared with arri- 

 vals about 27 per cent, of East Indians returnee! home. Sail greater pro ; 

 portions oFChinese and Portuguese left _:he colon}', Re-indenture was not 

 IaTowe~d bylaw. NegVo immigrants were not numerous but a few Congoes 

 and Orubas were settled here as liberated slaves in the fifties. There was 

 no organised attempt to import African families but some thousands of 

 Barbadians have come in at various times and are useful citizens particu- 

 larly in the artisan class. 



8. In spite of the failure of the indenture system to solve the prob- 

 lem it must be remembered that the present population so far as it is not 

 the result of the slave trade is almost entirely due to indenture. 



Health. 



9. The health returns of the Colony are more favourable than those 

 of most tropical countries whether in South America or elsewhere and 

 have shown a marked and regular improvement for many years. They 

 certainly are far superior to those of India. No doubt the coming 

 organised campaign of sanitation by co-operation under Government 

 leadership between towns, villages and estates will lead to further marked 

 improvement. The Colonisation movement has such a campaign as a vital 

 part of its programme. A definite effort must be made to remove the 

 erroneous impression that British Guiana is an unhealthy countrv which 

 impression was created forty years ago before yellow fever and cholera 

 had vanished. Ordinary tropical diseases such as malaria and hookworm 

 are being grappled with under circumstances that are now more favourable 

 than ever before. Drainage, sewage disposal, good housing of the work- 

 ing classes and water supply are now to be dealt with on comprehensive 

 lines. The interior is especially healthy as may be shown by the mortality 

 returns of the balata industry and the health record of the European resi- 

 dents. 



