October i, 1890.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
BRITISH GUIANA : 
THE COLONY OF SUGAR AND GOLD. 
It was natural enough that Sir James Longden 
should 0 requently refer to “ what we did in j 
Demarara,” (the Demerary of many writers), and that 
Sir Arthur Gordon should praise the fertile soil 
and magnificent nutmegs and cacao of Tritydad. 
We have certainly very little in Ceylon to compare 
with the volcanic soil of the West India Islands 
and the marvellously fertile swamps (when drained by 
deep and broad canals) of the flats which form 
such prominent features in our South ? American 
settlements of Demerara and Berbice,— often re- 
ferred to as “ those fine islands in the West Indies ” 
during the debates which preceded the abolition o^ 
slavery. With that event the once important cultiva- 
tion of coffee in British Guiana dwindled to almost 
nothing, while cacao is but a secondary product. 
But from the persevering application of science, skill 
and industry to the staple sugar, Demerara and 
Berbice have been able to hold a good position both 
after emancipation and during the recent crisis occa- 
sioned by the beet-root sugar bounty policy of the 
continental nations. But now we learn that sugar 
cultivation is threatened by the rapid develope- 
ment of an industry never so much as dreamed 
of when sugar was almost literally coined into 
gold, in the old days of slavery and protective 
duties. Gold is being collected in abundance 
amidst the alluvials of the great rivers which run 
up from the British colony into Venezuela and 
Brazil, and labour has been diverted from the 
production of sugar and rum to the gold dig- 
gings. In this fresh crisis we notice, from the 
proceedings of the Agricultural and Commercial 
Society, as reported in the very interesting 
journal Timehri that the colonists are not 
turning their attention so much to fresh labour 
drafts on India, as to the neighbouring 
colonies, especially over-populated Barbados, the 
Azores and, what is quite a new enterprise, to the 
Southern States of the American Union, where 
the possible solution of the problem of harmonious 
existence, side by side, of the whites and the negroes 
is in many places giving extreme anxiety. The now 
free negroes of America and others willing to do good 
work for fair wages are invited to resort to the British 
South American colony, scales of wages and other 
details being published as inducements. From an 
article in the magazine referred to we quote some 
interesting details regarding the progress of the 
gold enterpise in Guiana, to which, it seems to 
us, public attention has not been directed in 
a manner adequate to the importance of 
the results already attained and the promise 
afforded for the future. We quoted what was 
stated regarding this enterprise in Timehri of June 
18S7 ; and now, after the lapse of three years, the 
report is : — 
AVith but .scant encouragement, and suffering under 
great disadvantages, the industry may have said t) 
have progre.saed by leaps and bounds, as indicated by 
the returns to hand for the different years. In 18?5 
according to ofUcial returns, 939 oz., were exnorted •’ 
in 1880, 0,518 oz. ; in 1887, 11,900 oz.; in 1888 14 670 
oz. ; in 1889, 29,327 cz. ; and in the first six months of 
the present year abont 27,000 oz„ valued at nearly 
(>500,000, have been already obtained, an amount not 
far short of the total output for 1839, which in itself 
had been more than double that obtained in the 
previous year. 
36 
The industry has 1 ecome a very considerable source 
of income to the Government, for the royalty (at 90 
cents peroz.) within the six months, has amounted to 
nearly ^25,000 ; while but the merest nominal expen- 
diture on their part has been entailed. 
A very noteworthy feature in the growth of the 
industry has been the perception of the fact, that gold 
is to be found in paying quantities over large areas of 
the colony. First in the Puruni and Ouyuni river 
districts, then in the river districts of the north-west, 
and now more recently in the Potaro district, the 
metal has been obtained in large quantities ; and it 
may almost be regarded as certain that the upper 
districts of the Mazaruni, Bssequibo, Berbioe and 
Oorentyne will be similarly productive. 
The constant succession of rapids, cataracts and falls 
along the river courses, and the serious danger of these 
obstructions in the height of the wet season, render 
the natural water-way a serious drawbeok ; and the 
genius of the engineer may be said to be the 
great hope of the future. Following his tracks 
through the recesses of the forest, come the 
pictures of an advanced and prosperous mining in. 
dustry ; of the inland settlements and villages, and 
possibly even cities, with their farms and clearings, 
where a wider agricultural development may be at- 
tained ; and of a trade in timber and other forest 
products from regions at present untapped ; while tlie 
easy access to higher lands will furnish health resorts 
from the coast ; and the gradual clearing of the land 
by lessening the almost continuous extent of forest; 
will tend to an equalisation of climatic conditions that 
must have a marked influence in decreasing both 
the great periodic and constant swamps of the interior. 
Already, however, the note of labour-alarm has been 
sounded, for the rapid development of the gold in- 
dustry within the last two years, has been the means 
of drawing away from the sugar estates an appreci- 
able quantity from the staff of labourers ; and with 
the continued advance of the industry, it is but to 
bo expected that the labour supply of the estates will 
be still further lessened. The question is thus a most 
important one, fraught with grave issues to Jthe mate- 
rial prosperity of the colony, how best to maintain 
the staple sugar industry in full and vigorous swing, 
and, at the same time, to provide for and enoouraga 
the fullest development of the mineral wealth within 
our reach. 
The absence of special encouragement from the 
Government may be due to apprehensions of trouble 
in two directions : — the disorganization of the labour 
supply for plantations and the balata rubber and 
timber enterprises, and the danger of complioations 
with the border countries. Venezuela, indeed, has 
already been indulging in tall talk of war (1) to vin- 
dicate her rights. A cautious and conservative 
policy may be very good up to a certain point, 
but there can be no doubt that the ultimate re- 
sult of the gold discoveries in the British colony 
and the bordering states will be to oonneot George- 
town, Demerara, with the capitals and chief 
towns of the great series of Southern American 
States, by means of the iron bands of the railway. 
Besides the sugar industry and the others men- 
tioned, labour is required for extended fruit 
growing for the American market, considerable 
enthusiasm being awakened in regard to preserved 
plantains. Some of our readers may not be aware 
that our Dutch predecessors in Ceylon were in 
the habit of splitting ripe plantains longitudinally 
and drying them in the sun on mats. Of course 
the great difficulty in this mode of preparation is 
the necessity of watching against adverse weather 
and the depredations of crows and other animals. 
The late Bev. Mr. Thurston, therefore, when at 
the head of the Government Industrial School, baked 
the divided plantains and put them up in hermetl- 
oally soldered tins, in which shape they were 
highly prized by children sent “Home” from 
Ceylon for education and by absent or re- 
tired colonists. Those who have tasted the 
