New-York tribune., 1906-10-21
ON THE COAST OF GUIANA.
What the TraUeller Discerns on
pproaching Land.

For many miles out to the traveller near
ing British Guiana will have noted a character
istic of the land IN the yellow brown waters, the
ocean being tinged by the sediment from the
| waters of the Orinoco River. Back Of the fringe
of muddy water the eye follows the low contour
of a bordering grove OF mangrove, and still be-
yond It. or replacing 1t IN some places the tele-
scope glass may reveal g somewhat taller
growth of willowlike bushes. In the distance.
less lofty than the occasional chimney that tells
where the sugar cane was cultivated until COM
petition with the sugar beet to large extent de-
stroyed this important industry, few specf-
mems of palm. There is not rise Of land that
even remotely suggests hill. and 1t is in faith
only that the mind constructs the landscape OF
lofty mountains in the interior.
There are few regions of the earths surface.
says Professor Angelo Heilprin, in THE Bulletin
| of the American Geographical Society" where
man has done less to modify Wild nature. or 10
take from it it's majestic soemnity and grandeur,
| than In the wilds that extend In one almost un-
| broken sweep from south OF the Orinoco to
| the lower basin of the Amazon Here the greae
primeval forest unfolds itself In a magniicence
| that Is perhaps not matched elsewhere The
capital OF British Guiana, Georgetown. lies q
\ short distance UP the DeInerara River, wnfcn
opens I'D q space or some three-quarters Of
| mile wide between the luxurious growths on
either side. Among the notable features or the
capital city are its canals, in which are growing
the beautiful Victoria Regia water lily and otos
| and which would hardly be associated by the
traveller with the prosaic topic OF city drainage.
The population OF Georgetown Is about 10000.
| Of whom about one-tenth are white. Although
\ Professor Heillprin'S visit made In March
| and April when the sun is virtually overhead.
the highest shade temperature he saw recorded
was only 87.5 degrees. At a distance. therefore,
of only four hundred miles from the equator he
found temperature below that which he had
observed on the Yukon River. near the Arctic
Circle. The evenings were invariably delightful
and their refreshing quality made men willing
TO work on the morrow. In the low country that
extends backward for miles from the border
The naturalist finds that exuberance IN animal
life which is the day dream of tropical nature
Hundreds and thousands of white ibises flock In
the meadows: with them are spoonbills. bItterns.
herons reedbirds. and many other varieties. Il
Is a yeritable bird paradise
Travelling into the interior, one finds tiny
hamlets peerins out from the canopy Of vese-
tation- AT the landings. however. are found
: plenty of folk. mostly black or brown who
come to meet the boat Many native boats ply
the river, carrying fruits. dyewoods. wooden
ware and charcoal. But II is only where CIV
rization is left behind that learns to appre-
signifies and how meek and lowly even IL beam
tiful. Is the vegetation Of the north that Is U.s.
journey of upward Of seventy miles the tray-
ellers break in the forest save whore
| tributary waters came down to Join the parent
/ stream.
Professor Heilprin noted especially the lack Of
insect pests In these forests. Recalling the ac-
counts OF Humboldt of the torments that wero
/ inflicted by the myriads OF mosquitoes along
/ the Cassiquiare River, he prepared for IKE
torrnents In the valleys of the Guiana rivers hue
found the mosquito almost entirely absent and
the minor insect plaques about equally deA-
ciont Ono n the most interesting develop
ments OF the animal life OF the region Is A small
bat which fastens itself to man and beast and
/ sucks the blood without the victim being aware
OF It's presence, The quantity OF blood actually
drawn Is small, but the nature Of the wound is
| such that it remains open for some time ana
bleeds freely
The almost boundless resources OF timber "a
The interior OF the country. IN both hard and
dye woods have thus far hardly been touched
for export There are placer deposits OF roid II,
| some localities, and diamonds are occasionally
| found but the possibilities OF the country are
habitants barely know what their resources arA