Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-08-31

derbrush that covers the face of the
country, and make travelling both I'M
pleasant and dangerous.
The soil produces luxuriantly the cele-
hrated cayenne pepper of commerce,
coffee, indigo, the sugar cane, and a valu-
able starch made from a native root.
Large quantities Of sugar, molasses and
rum are manufactured, and form no in
considerable articles of export. The
trade Of the colony is principally with
France, England and the United States.
There are no domestic animals larger
than sheep, goats aud pigs; probably
not over a dozen horses in the colony.
Locomotion is performed by water or on
foot. On his arrival at Cayenne, Mr..
Mccullough, who was provided with ex-
cellent letters of introduction, was hos
pitably received by Mr.. lie Bar, the
Governor of the colony, and others, and
assured that every facility should be
afforded him for the prosecution of his
inquiries. After spending some little
time enjoying the Inequalities Of Cay
enne, Mr.. Mccullough, having been fur
nished with the use of a schooner by the
Governor, proceeded up the Aprague to
I its junction with the Poisson river, and
up the latter TO where are situated the
Aprague Company's mines, the most cele-
brated of the mining companies of Guiana,
about $50 miles from Cayenne. The
water, which on the coast and near the
mouths Of the rivers is always muddy,
and literally alive with sharks, is here
clear and limped and stocked with the
choicest fish, but being always warm,
and ice unknown, is very little used as a
beverage, the inhabitants preferring the
light wines Of France, and the
negro the native rum. In fact, in hiring
the negroes or coolies, rum is an absolute
necessity. Though tractable and will
ling to do what is there considered good
work for the trifing sum of $3.50 per
month and found, if they don't get their
rum at regular intervals, prescribed by
custom, they Immediately quit work. and
no power can make them commence
again till the coveted liquor is furnished
Slavery no longer exists in the colony.
/ The Aprague Company have control Of
/ 10, 600 hectares of land, or nearly 1885,
1 600 acres The hectare is a French
measure Of area, and its exact English
equivalent is 2.47ll acres. 1t must be
borne in mind that no one can buy land
in the colony, it must be leased from the
Government or perhaps it would come
nearer the strict truth to say, from the
. Governor, nor can any one but a citizen
lease land. To become citizen, how
ever, requires no other formality than a
residence Of six months. The form o!
obtaining lease is in this wise: A map
of the country being spread before the
yould-be lease holder, he selects such 6
piece Of land AS he fanc,es, taking the
desperate changes OF its being "moun
tain or meadow, moss or moor, :" for i
must not be inspected, nor pick put il
the ground, nor pan Of dirt washed, til
the selection is made, and the lease ex
cuted. The usual rental exacted is two
cents American money!, per hectare
payable yearly, to be increased to eight
or ten cents per hectare, after the mines
become productive: answering to the roy
atty on precious metals exacted in some
other countries. On this vast extent o.
land, the Aprague Company are working
in six different places, and employing
about 300 hands; only - of whom, how.
ever, are actually employed in mining
They commenced work about four years
ago, shortly after the first discovery Of
gold i'll the colony, and during that time
have taken out nearly five millions Of
dollars. The only mining that has been
done yet is placer mining, The diggipgs
"AS 7A414ioN' va ms iIpLi SlA IuCutS u
six feet in depth. No bitches have been
dug, nor any appliance used beyond the
sluice. The gold is about like that OF
California, varying in coarseness with
locality, and is of very fine quality
worth fully SIS per ounce.
Seven companies are now at work in
different parts of the Colony. Some
very fine specimens have been found
Mr., Mccullough saw one nugget OF pure
gold, weighing three pounds avoirdupois.
John Ely, of Raymond K Ely fame,
George Chlisman and others, have
formed company, secured large tract
of land, purchased a schooner, loaded
her with everything necessary, and are
now, doubtless, actively at work ON theil
mines. No old NevadaD, who has
known John Ely during the varying for.
tunes Of his past career on this coast, but
viii wish him godspeed in his new en-.
terprise. Mr.. Mccullough and q gentle
man associated with him have secured
5000 hectares, or 10000 acres, of land
on the Cinnlbrae river, and have dis
patched practical miner, of the goot
old California type, to look after theil
interests.
No doubt can exist OF the existence O
gold, and that in paying quantities, il
Guiana: but let no enthusiastic pros
pector forget that it is thousands o
miles away; that ready money mus
be paid down for every article
from boat to a breakfast that no
body talks anything but French; tina
ground must be paid for before it is pros