360 
existing charges of an obligatory character, among which interest 
nsions, main niena ance ot the ) poor, and payment of 
205. It is only just, non concluding these observations, to 
say that the planters in Guiana have not been behindhand in 
efforts to improve the cultivation and the yia cx of sugar, 
and that their efforts have been attended with remarkable 
success. The amount of sugar and rum produced has been well 
maintained, and the cost of uet ore has been greatly reduced. 
If it had not been for these efforts, and for an expenditure on 
pred which during the last fifteen years has amounted to 
1,307,500/., the sugar p must have practically succumbed. 
The evidence given, the information obtained in various 
ways, make it clear that t though estates have struggled on, and a 
few have even made some slight profit, many of them cannot be 
carried on at present prices, while a material fall would compel 
the proprietors of most of them to cease cultivation 
206. If such a crisis sev arise, and it may come very soon, 
the Government could only be carried on even in the most 
economical manner by the aid of subventions from the Imperial 
Exchequer, and a very heavy charge would „Probably have to be 
met for the repatriation of Indian coolies. 
ii—BARBADOS. 
208. We landed at Bridgetown, Sango. in the course of our 
voyage to British Guiana, but did n n that occasion transact 
any formal business We returned ee tha island on the morning 
of the 16th of February, arriving from St. Vincent, and remained 
until the afternoon of the 24th of the month. We took evidence 
publicly for four days, hearing 39 witnesses, and also visited 
various parts of the island and inspected several sugar w 
2 e condition of Barbados is markedly different from that 
of any sees Colony in the West Indies. It is very thickly 
darem ated ; the area is 166 Biber OLE and the number. of 
which the island can even under favourable circumstances 
support. 
210. The climate is healthy ; there are many white families, 
umbering altogether some 20, 000 pow most of which have 
for generations looked upon n Barbados s their home; and t 
attachment of the inhabitants to the aaa and to the ‘traditions 
of the past is exceedingly strong. 
211. With so large a population the labour supply is abundant, 
and though wages have lately been reduced, there have not 
hitherto been any serious ipai difficulties. The island has been 
settled for so long and so many — have piece side by 
side, that a general understanding appears to have grown up of 
the respective habits and requirements of ‘lifferent classes. This 
