The three divisions of Guiana are similar, having first a low marshy coast land, rising at the back very slightly for a distance of 10 to 40 miles. A broader, more elevated tract of sandy or clayey soil follows with a still higher region in the rear. Of the southern section the eastern part is almost all forest, the central and southwest portions have more grass clad savannas, which might support thousands of cattle if there were any way to get them out. There is a vast network of water ways, many rivers in their lower sections near the coast being connected by caños. The forest varies, being dense in river bottoms and thin on sandy soils. The longest river, the Essequibo, is about 600 miles, others a little less. At from 50 to 100 miles inland, all the rivers are blocked by rapids, but some are accessible to large vessels as far as these. There are various hills and mountains, the highest, the Pacaraima Range, marking in part the boundary with Venezuela, the Acarai Mountains with Brazil; the two form the water shed between the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Essequibo rivers. Mt. Roraima, altitude 8635 feet, rising as a red rock 1500 feet above the forest, is said to have as its top a tableland of 12 square miles. Several other mountains are from 7000 to 8000 feet high. Ranges of hills and mountains from 2000 to 3000 feet traverse the country elsewhere. In Dutch and French Guiana are almost impenetrable forests, less explored than those of British Guiana, especially towards the south. A splendid waterfall is the Kaieteur, nearly five times as high as Niagara, 741 feet, with 81 feet of cataracts just below, in the midst of lovely tropical vegetation. Many other beautiful falls of less height, and cascades provide an immense amount of water power.
The climate is considered good in most places though there is large rain-fall, at Georgetown averaging 93 inches a year, in some places 100; but there is no yellow fever, and other diseases except in certain localities may be guarded against.
British Guiana
Area. This colony has an area of 90,000 square miles, exceeding that of Great Britain, a sea coast of 270 miles, and a depth varying from 300 to 535 miles.
The Population according to the official report of 1919 is 310,000.
Boundary. British Guiana has the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast, Dutch Guiana east, the Corentyn River serving most of the way as the boundary line; Brazil is on the south, and Brazil and Venezuela are west.
The Government is practically that of a Crown Colony with a Governor who has almost absolute power. He is assisted by a legislative council which has no great influence.
The Population is mixed, East Indians and negroes forming by far the greater proportion of the total, some mestizos, Chinese, Indians, and 10,000 whites. The large majority of the people live in the coastal belt. Many negroes were brought from Africa as slaves, who, after their emancipation, in large numbers refused to work on the plantations as before. East Indians were then brought in, who though not so strong are more industrious and have better health than those of other races; for one reason because they dress to suit the climate, draping themselves with a few yards of cotton cloth in a really artistic manner. The native Indian is useful to the traveler as boatman, wood-cutter, or huntsman, also to gold diggers, and seekers of balatá. Some of the half civilized are fairly reliable. If they become friends they are of great value. The wild Indians are disappearing, perhaps going farther back.
Education is mainly carried on by religious denominations, with missions in outlying districts; 224 schools receive government assistance; there is one government free school in Georgetown where students may be prepared for English universities or for ordinary fields of labor. Of course there is full religious liberty, but the government subsidizes the principal churches, especially the English and Scotch, in the country the parishes alternating. The Roman Catholic and the Methodist churches also receive annual grants. Other denominations are represented, but receive no assistance except in some cases for schools.
The Post Office is up to date with telephone (1800 miles of wire), telegraph (575 miles), and savings bank attachments, the last having over a million dollars on deposit. There is cable communication with the West Indies and wireless. British money is not in general use; dollars and cents according to the decimal system of America are the common currency. The weights and measures are naturally British like our own.