Farming and Irrigation. 89 
Guiana, with its two wet and two dry seasons, said to have 
been more regular in the past than at the present day, it is 
not to be wondered at that more was not done to provide 
against droughts. Moreover, the early settlers were 
scattered over the upper reaches of the Rivers where 
sweet waters always abound. 
Second : — About the year 1826 the colonists seem to 
have been moved, by a calamitous drought, into action ; 
for about this time the Lamaha Canal was projected, and 
canals from the Abary and Canje Creeks were started and 
carried a considerable way. The various lakes on the 
Aroabisce Coast date from about this time, but depressed 
markets seem to have checked the growing energy and 
probably the " it will serve my time " of the present day 
intervened, and the water question was allowed to go to 
sleep. Early in the thirties, another calamitous drought 
again reminded the colonists of the want of water, and 
again several plans were set on foot to impound water, 
among the rest the Boerasirie Scheme ; and an attempt 
was made to make a more permanent barrage of the Lama. 
Gordon's Stop-off was made. Disappointment followed 
all these works, because too much stress was laid upon 
tidal influence. The Planters saw on the sea board a tide 
rise 10 feet high which would put their lands 3 feet under 
water, and they supposed that this influence extended to 
the upper reaches of the Rivers and Creeks, and that a 
Canal tapping the upper waters would give a plentiful 
supply. Canals were dug which, contrary to expectation, 
led the water the wrong way. This fact and bad times 
again relegated the water-supply to dream land. In 
1868-69 another drought occurred, and the New Water 
M 
