Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
7ineS-Disbatch
TruUel0gneS
Interesting Places Throughout
the World About Which You
Read Described in Word Pic
turcs-PictureSQue Nooks and
Corners Explored - =

GEoRGETOWN. BRITISH GUIANA.
September 2S.--lf the visitor 10 British
Guiana confines himself To Georgetown
ana its Immediate surroundings he very
likely VIII leave the colony with in
complete knowledge OF this very varied
country His Impression vii! be that
oil q low, hat and quiet undeS ira b. e
land. but such is true only in the case
Of the capital city itself. for the into
rior OF British Guiana offers wide
variety OF attractions IN thick forests
dense hush, numerous rivers and long
mountain ranges. To get 10 these better
SpotS OF the interior one must put up
with many diScomfortS because travel
INTO lar British Guiana is attended
with difficulty in some instances and
with many inconvcnienceS and much
SLOW travel in all cases But the visit
10 IN" interior rcpayS one we'll for
all the disccmfcrtS undergone
Much OF the travel into the interior
is made on slow-goine river steam
boats. whose accommodations are
ncaGcr and unsatisfactory There ar.
no railroads. and after leaving the
steamers it * necessary either TO ride
the points of interest. Tho rivers are
filled with many rapids. and navigation
on ;hcm is possible for only compare
lively short distances. For any one
who wishes 10 spend from ten TO
twelve days in making - river trip 10
which numerous discomforts arc at
;aChcd the Kaicteur Fall on tho Poiaro
MiNcr offers particularly fine sight.
This waterfall has drop OF 40 feet.
sheer and unbroken. and is the chief
na iural attraction OF British Guiana.
MOUNTAINS PROMISE WE'LL
FnR TREASURE HUNTERS
Arduous trips arc continually being
made into I'll" forests and mountains
OF This colony 10y explorers and pros
aboriginal Indians and also are eau.
,ious against ATTACKS by boaconstric-
tors and wild animals. The mountains.
however. hold forth rich prospects in
gold and diamonds. and they therefore
lure prospecting parties. many OF
which are composed OF men from tho
United States. cold and diamonds arc
tn" only minerals which so far have
been found in large quantities.
There arc four great rivers in this
couutrS-the pcncrara. the Esscuuibo,
divides British Guiana from the Dutch
colony on III" south. The Essequibo
drains more than half the colony and
is 60" miles long. The prmcrara River
miles :.nd the Berb.ce for eiehty-c!Cht
from their mouths. hut in the upper
regions these rivers ar" impcded with
fails. ranids and cataracts. that pre-
vent navigation.
The conditions existing in the in
terror "f British Guiana are consider
Para rubber. and this product is now
being grown successfully in connection
with several of the larger sugar as
tatcs Of the colony The government
has established experiment stations.
being thoroughly convinced now that
this country can be made TO produce a
tremendous amount 81 Para rubber. Il
is estimated that more than 5000 non
acres Of land in this colony are cspe-
cjally suitable for growing rubber
trees. and planters hope to tho coll
onv soon begin 10 take rapid strides in
cult'vatinu the Para products.
RICE AND SUGAR
AMONG STAPLE CROPS
l.icc is raised with case in the coll
ouy. because OF the low level of the
coast lands thousands Of acres near
Georgetown are cmiucntly We'll adapted
to til" cultivation Of this food
Ta ns i1n %.nnE IS n fnT gn"ing nsF'an
with prices rising. II Is by far the
most profitable.
sugar, with its byproducts OF rum.
moiasSes "a and m9iasGmit' forms - per
from British Guiana. About 81 per
cent of the waEc-carninG section OF the
population IS connected with the sugar
Tn. methods adapted 10 The cul,iva-
tion of sugar in British Guiana are
unlike those oi any other country be
the sea At high tide, and therefore cX-
tensivc sea dams have been con-
structcd and are maintained constantly
TO protect the crops All the estates
are laid out in rcctangleS. with many
canals. drains and crosS-drains run
ming through them for the purpose OF
ufilidSr, transport ana irrigation.
Large puVtS ar" employed TO trans
port the cane from he fields where 1t
is cut Ia the factories where II il
ground. Thcs" punts are drawn along
IN" cana! by nu!" ia charge OF Il
small negro lad Sometimes one mute
VIII pull as many as twelve punts. The
scene presented when the animal, pul!-
Ing the punis. climbs over one OF tho
bridges AT the commands of The negro
boy is entertaining.
Both mechanical and implemen,al
;illagc is carried out on the largest OF
the plantations, the Plantation pa
mcnd. But even here the greater part
Of the work is done by hand The can.
Is planted by hand. wccded by hand.
cnt by hand and carried by hand from
The fields 10 the punts that han! Il TO
/ tn" factories.
Many unusual and entertaining sights
and. scenes ar" 10 be found IN the
nc!chborhood Of the Plantation Dla-
, mond during the canc-cutting season
because Of the hundreds OF East In
dams who are engaged in work in
and @bout THIS large estate, The plan