British Guiana Exhibition. 281 
our inhabitants can find, not perhaps a ready source 
of wealth, but certainly an easy mode of adding 
to a slender income. There were many products 
which should have found a place in this class and many 
of those shewn might, as already mentioned, have been 
presented in a better form. It is only to be hoped that 
from what was exhibited by Surinam, Dominica, and 
Tobago the people in this colony may have derived in- 
struction and valuable suggestions. 
CLASS III —Fibrous Substances. 
The Fibres which were exhibited were of various kinds 
and well prepared. It is difficult to obtain any reliable 
data as to the quantities procurable or the cost of cultiva- 
tion and preparation. The absence of this information 
militates against the introduction of these products to 
home manufacturers ; but it is hoped that as large 
samples will appear in the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, 
1886, persons to whom these fibres would be useful will 
give estimates of their market value and so enable pro- 
ducers here to determine whether their industry would be 
fairly remunerated. 
Of Cotton, formerly one of the chief staples of the 
colony, there are but 2 or 3 specimens and these appear 
to have been cultivated in gardens. In another section 
of the Exhibition was shewn some lace made from the 
fibre of the agave. The texture of this material was 
peculiarly fine. 
There was also exhibited a machine for converting 
cane megass into paper stuff, and as this process is so 
novel the Committee have pleasure in including in this 
report much valuable information kindly communicated 
LL 
