TIMEHRI: 
THE JOURNAL OF 
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL SOCIETY 
OF BRITISH GUIANA. 
Yo. u.  § . DECEMBER, 1912. No. 2. 
FOREWORD. 
The purpose foreshadowed in the Editor's toreword to the first 
number of the present volume has not been lost sight of in this one. All 
the promises of contributions to this end have not, it is true, been fulfilled, 
nor, again, has the big subject of *‘ Guiana whose rich feet are mines of 
gold been exhausted, but we are still able to present to our readers 
some reflections of the doings of men in the colony and of the interests 
and problems which engage their minds. 
The first article from the pen of the Curator, Mr. James Rodway, 
F.L.S., touches the chord of romance and mystery which breathes in the 
dark forest lands of the colony, ‘‘ the deep vibrations of whose witching 
song” are retained by every ear which has listened in their depths, until 
the memory blends fancy and reality in monstrous images of Eldorados 
and anthropophagi such as rioted in the minds of men in the days of Good 
Queen Bess. 
The real aspect of the “mines of gold ” is presented in an article by 
Mr. W. A. Dunn whose long connection with the mining industry in 
Guiana enables him from his stores of experience to put pearls of know- 
ledge within reach of his readers. 
Drs. K. S. Wise and Minett contribute a valuable paper dealing with 
the results of their exhaustive bacteriological study of the water ‘supply 
of twenty-four estates in relation to the health of the communities sup- 
plied. In giving space to the record of pioneer work of this kind, Timehri 
is not only securing for its pages a permanent place amongst documents 
of note in the progress and well-being of the colony, but is also bringing 
under the notice of all whom such questions concern directly authorita- 
tive information which may form areliable basis for measures tending 
to these ends. 
In “Our Villages and Country parts” the Rey. Jb. Cropper 
cousiders some aspects of communal life and customs to which more 
attention should certainly be paid in the near future. In ‘“ The Colony’s 
