357 
very much larger than all the eve West -e — = 
together, and the land occupied by cane cultivation is all on 
close to the coast, and lies so low that putris sea mp primes cal 
a system of steam umping must be maintained. The greater 
portion of the Colony, considerably more than 99 per cent., is 
uncultivated and unoccupied, being either covered with forest or 
consisting of grassy and swampy plains, known as savannahs. 
178. The total area is officially estimated at 65,836,000 acres, 
and the extent under sugar cane at 66, ur acres. The exports 
consist almost entirely of sugar and g In addition to the 
cane eultivation there is a considerable teeter of sok ee of 
food for local consumption, and some attempts are being made 
on a small scale to open up the Colony and to restore catdvélton 
which formerly existed in parts of the interior along the rivers, 
not far from the sea coast, but which has for many years been 
abandone 
179. The population at the time of the last Census in 1891 was 
278,328, and is, no doubt, increasing. Of the population in 1891, 
Europeans, other than Portu guese, were 4,588, Portuguese 12,166, 
Aborigines 17,463, Africans 3,433, Black and Coloured 141 531, 
and East Indians 105, 463. 
180. The leading features of the Colony and its general 
capabilities are fully described in the report of Dr. Morris. 
From that t report, and from the evidence received by the Com- 
mission, it is clear € lop Guiana is in the perilous position 
of being dependen ingle agricultural industry, the produc- 
tion of sugar, that pure being in a state of extreme depression 
and threatened with possible extinction, whilst it is difficult to 
see how it can revive or even be maintained under present 
conditions. 
181. The exports of sugar, molasses, and rum, which in the five 
years 1881 to 1885 were valued at 12,038,6997., fell to 9,305,880/. 
in the next five years, and in the five years 1891-92 t o 1895-96, 
to 8,276,916/., or an average of 1,655,383/. per annum. But i in the 
year of account, April 1895 to March 1896, the value of such 
exports was only 1,183,000/., and in the calendar year 1896, 
i ,000/., areis gold, was, in 1895-96, only 35,000/. The 
export of gold, however, had increased in value from 3,000/. in 
1882 to 450, 0007. in 1895-96. 
182. The quantities of ria Der in the three periods just 
referred to were, for 1881-85, 552,687 tons ; for 1886-91, 579,924 ; 
and for 1891-92 to 1895-96, 547, 282 showing that the gross output 
has been —Ü well maintained, notwithstanding the 
great fall in v 
183. The ficri which was ex 6007. in AN = to 602,7007. 
in 1893-94, and fell to 588,200/. in 1894—95, o 567,700. i in 
1895-96, and is understood to be still very doni falling off. 
The e expenditure, which was 429,000/. in 1882, was in 1895-96 
14687 B2 
