Guiana

Guiana, a region in the N. of South America, lying between Venezuela and Brazil, two provinces of which are also known by this name. What is ordinarily known by the name is the threefold tract of country, consisting of British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana. This country is well watered by numerous rivers, which are, however, only to a slight degree navigable, having numerous cataracts in their courses, mud-banks at their mouths, and sand-banks in their channels. The climate is hot and moist, and the rainfall heavy, especially in southern, or French Guiana. Vegetation is luxuriant, and a large quantity of timber is obtained. Gums, bark, nuts, balsams, cotton, tobacco, caoutchouc, and many plants useful for medicinal purposes are found in abundance, and of edibles, arrowroot, tomatoes, guava, cassavas, rice, yams, and many different fruits are indigenous. Besides ferns and tree-ferns, there are orchids growing along the tops of the trees, and the Victoria regia lily. The Spaniards first came to Guiana in the first years of the 16th century, and in this and the succeeding centuries several expeditions in search of gold and the fabled El Dorado landed in the country, notably the disastrous one of Sir Walter Raleigh. The Dutch were the first to really effect a settlement on the Essequibo in 1613; the English came to Surinam in 1650; and lastly the French arrived. The British tried to seize the whole country, but in 1667 gave up Surinam to the Dutch in exchange for what is now New York. A few years later the French came to Cayenne, farther south, where they have remained ever since. At the peace of 1814 Surinam, which had been captured in the war, was again given back to the Dutch, but all the other conquests, comprising the north of Guiana, were retained by Great Britain.

British Guiana, or Demerara, has Venezuela and Brazil on the W. and S., Dutch Guiana on the E., and the Atlantic on the N. The exact line of the Venezuelan boundary is disputed, but the area of the country according to the British estimate is 76,000 square miles, with 320 miles of coast. In the W. there are several chains of mountains, that of Roraima reaching from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. The chief rivers are the Berbice, the Demerara, and the Essequibo, which names are also given to the three counties into which British Guiana is divided. The ehief towns are Georgetown, the capital, and New Amsterdam. Sugar is much grown and largely exported, and the chief other industries being wood-cutting and gold-mining. Chinese and coolies are chiefly employed in the plantations. The administration is in the hands of a governor, assisted by a Court of Policy of 15 members, 8 of which are elected by the people. Taxation is levied by a court consisting of the Court of Policy and 6 members elected by popular vote. The Executive Council consists of the governor, 4 official and 2 unofficial members nominated by the Crown.

Dutch Guiana, or Surinam, has an area of 46,085 square miles and a coast-line of 240. It is separated from Brazil on the S. by the Tumuc-Humuc Mountains, and from French Guiana, on the W., by the river Maroni. Very little of the country is cultivated, the greater part of it being still primeeval forest. Sugar and cocoa are, however, grown and exported, and gold-mining has increased of late years. In 1887 new mines were discovered between the Tapanari and Arva rivers, a district claimed both by the Dutch and the French. The capital is Paramaribo. The legislative body is elected by the people, and the executive consists of a governor and council.

French Guiana, or Cayenne, lying between Dutch Guiana and Brazil, has an area of about 31,000 square miles. There is a coast-line of about 240 miles. The chief rivers are the Maroni, the Sinnamary and the Oyapok, on the Brazil boundary. There are a fewr ranges of low hills. Very little commerce is carried on, but some gold is obtained from the mines and exported, some also being smuggled. The climate is extremely unhealthy, malarial fever and dysentery being prevalent. During the French Revolution some of the Terrorists, including Billaud-Varennes and Collot d'Herbois were despatched to Guiana, and later on some who deserved a better fate. From 1853 to 1864 an unsuccessful attempt was made to form French Guiana into a penal colony. Slavery was not abolished here till 1848. To the N.W. of Cayenne are the lies de Salut, between which and the town there is a good roadstead.