The Journal of the Eoyal 
development of the district. Already a cart road has 
been formed along the proposed route, a distance of 
some 30 miles from Bartica, and so far as can be ascer- 
tained no serious engineering difficulties are likely to 
present themselves along the entire route. 
The first of the branch lines to be constructed would 
iloubtless be one to the Mazaruni Diamond fields, 
branching from the main trunk line 30 or 40 miles north 
of the Potaro, bending round towards the Mazaruni, 
crossinof the Semang and Karaman^ Rivers, skirtincr the 
Merume mountains and touching the Mazaruni Riv^er 
close to the mouth of the Merume River, clear above 
the numerous and dangerous falls in the Mazaruni, the 
length of this branch line being about 90 miles. 
Another main trunk line, about 140 miles in length, 
might start from Cartabo Point, about 8 miles from 
Bartica, traversing the watershed between the Cuyuni 
River on the right and the Mazaruni, Puruni and Car- 
toonie Rivers on the left, tapping rich mineral country 
on either side, and reaching on to the Venezuelan 
boundary close by the mouth of the Acarabisi River, 
through which connection might be made with the 
Barama and Barima districts : though probably the 
present steamer route to the North West district via 
Morawhanna will be found the more convenient mode 
of approach to, at least tlie lower reaches of, the Barima 
and Barama Ri\'crs. 
The North West district is so well watered by these 
two rivers and their tributaries that there would appear 
to be no necessity there for any main trunk Ihie, short 
local railways as portages and accommodation lines to 
