FLORA OF BRITISH GUIANA — HITCHCOCK. 295 
8,600 feet. The general level of the savanna region in the southern 
part of the Colony is only about 300 to 400 feet. 
The region was first settled by the Dutch at Kyk-over-al about 
1615. This place is a little island a few miles above Bartica in the 
Mazaruni Eiver near Kartabo. Settlements were later made on the 
Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice Eivers, which grew into colonies. 
These passed to Great Britain about 1815 and were united into the 
colony of British Guiana in 1831. The names of the original colonies 
are preserved in the names of the counties into which the Colony 
is divided. The county of Essequibo includes the drainage system 
of the Essequibo River and the coastal region west to Venezuela; 
the much smaller county of Demerara includes the drainage system 
of the Demerara River and, along the coast, to the Abary River. 
The county of Berbice includes the drainage system of the Berbice 
River and east to the boundary, which is the Courantyne River. 
The means of communication are mainly by boat. The rivers are 
navigable for some distance (50 to 60 miles) but are finally much 
interrupted by rapids. Beyond steamer or launch navigation 
progress is slow, by canoes and small boats, with frequent portages. 
There is practically no communication in the interior by roads. 
There are paths here and there to connect one river with another, 
but supplies must be carried by porters. The longest trip that one 
can make inland without a special outfit is from Georgetown to 
Tumatumari on the Potaro River. This is accomplished as follows : 
By steamer (three times a week) to Wismar on the Demerara River; 
by rail to Rockstone on the Essequibo (rapids prevent the ascent of 
the Essequibo) ; the following morning by launch to Tumatumari, 
arriving from 6 to 10 p. m., according to conditions. There are good 
rest houses at Rockstone and Tumatumari. The rapids at the latter 
point prevent a further ascent of the Potaro, but a small launch runs 
above the rapids a few miles to Potaro Landing to supply a gold- 
mining company. A trip up the Essequibo to the Rupununi cattle 
region of the southern part of the colony is said to take a minimum 
of three weeks from Georgetown. A railroad runs along the coast 
from Georgetown to Rosignol opposite New Amsterdam, and another 
from Vreecl-en-Hoop, opposite Georgetown, to Parika on the Esse- 
quibo. In the immediate vicinity of the coast there are good auto- 
mobile roads. 
The climate is strictly tropical, but is tempered by the trade wind. 
The mean monthly rainfall at Georgetown is as follows (1880-1912) : 
January 8. 36 
February 6. 78 
March 7. 49 
April 7. 25 
May 11, 50 
June 12. 06 
July 10. 61 
August 6. 31 
September 3. 01 
October 2. 35 
November 5. 26 
December 11. 46 
Total , — 91. 23 
