Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-08-31
THREE MONTHS IN SOUTH AMER
ICA.
Glimpse at the Gold Mines Of Gui-
ana,

We had the pleasure, yesterday, Of an
interview with Mr.. ]. A. Mccullough,
gentleman we'll known to many of our
citizens, who has Just returned from an
extended tour through British, Dutch
and French Guiana, in South America,
where he went for the especial purpose
of determining, by personal examination,
whether the reports that had reached the
United States of the immense value of
the gold mines said to have been discov-
cred there, We're based upon facts or
otherwise. He tells US that his explora-
tons of French Guiana, where he spent
most of his time, fully confirmed the ac-
counts OF the richness OF the mines which
had prompted his trip, but at the same
time, says, emphatically, "let no man,
who has not ample capital, think for one
moment of going to that country to mine
or anything else, for to do so, is to court
destruction"
The following is brief resume Of cur
conversation with Mr.. McCullough:
ROUTE.
Mr.. Mccullough left New York on the
18th of March last, by British line of
steamers, running direct to Georgetown,
in British Guiana, and thence took the
French line to Cayenne, the principal
settlement in French Guiana, making
the trip in about thirty days. The Eng
lsh line to Georgetown has since been
drawn off, leaving the traveller the choice
of two routes, one by steamer from New
York to St. Thomas, thence to George
town and thence along the coast to Cay
enne; the other, Fabens line Of schooner
packets from Salem, Mass, direct to
Cayenne, the trip occupying from 30 to
40 days-fare, $50 coin.
FRENCH GUIANA
On the North Atlantic Ocean, is situated
about five degrees north of the equa-
tor, and fifty degrees west longitude.
CAYENNE,
The principal town in the colony is
place of about 10000 inhabitants, and
was first settled about $50 years ago.
For the last 100 years it has been in the
hands of the French, and for a long
time has been used as a penal colony by
that Government. It is being gradually
disused for that purpose, no convicts
being now sent there. The white inhab-
itants are almost wholly French, and the
better class are cultivated and agreea-
bic people. The lower classes are ne.
groes and coolies, and the mixed races
to be found in every tropical country,
a quiet, peaceful and sober race.
CLIMATE.
Notwithstanding its tropical location,
from the influence of the trade winds
the heat is by no means insutferable,
the thermometer showing mean average
of about So degrees in the shade, the year
round. Nevertheless, white men rarely
go out in the sun without an umbrella to
shade them from its rays. Sunstroke is
unknown. The country is generally
healthy. During stay of three months,
our informant saw very little sickness,
though there were few cases of yellow
fever, the first, however, that had been
known there for 25 years. The rainy
season lasts from March to August, five
months.
CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY, PRODUCTIONS,
TRADE, ETC.
The country is generally low and fiat,
though back from the rivers it is more OF
less rolling. 1t is well watered by nu-
merous streams, Astounding in fish, and
the forests are filed with the most valua-
BILE woods Of commerce. very remark
able tree, called the cabbage tree, is
found there. 1t grows to the height of
IS feet, and bears ON the top what looks