Gold mining is the principal industry of Guiana, the amount of gold dust exported rep resenting a sum of 10,149,115 francs in 1913. The gold is exported almost exclusively to France and Switzerland-2,388 kilograms of a total of 3,758 kilograms, Switzerland receiving 1,362 kilograms. Martinique received the re maining 9 kilograms of precious metal (kilo gram=2.20 lbs.).
Agricultural products do not enter much into the commerce of Guiana. Cocoa in ber ries is exported to an amount of 15.241 kilo grams (34,000 pounds), and coffee beans 720 kilograms (17,000 pounds), valued at 2,521 francs ($50420). °Cayenne') pepper, which is now merely a trade term for this condiment, could be much more remuneratively exploited. Bananas, manioc, food producing plants, pota toes, yams and maize give good results nearly everywhere in the colony.
The forests, very rich in valuable wood, are as yet but little exploited. Rosewood was ex ported in 1913 to an amount of 44,676 kilograms of a value of 1,116,900 francs. Exotic woods were exported to an amount of 244 steres, rep resenting a sum of 36,616 francs; most of the wood found in Guiana is superior to the Eu ropean woods both as regards hardness and rupture resistance; the wacapou is used in the construction of railroad ties, the wapa is em ployed in France as props for the growing of vines. Apart from the wood other products are found in the forests, some of which are quite valuable, such as oily products, aromatic products, dye products, gum and resinous prod ucts, textiles and medical products. Balata
gum is exported to an amount of 217,982 kilo grams, representing a value of 653,946 francs. A fairly good trade is also done in raw hide, 35,040 francs, raw feathers, 2,760 francs, air bladders, 10,095 francs, and rich phosphates, 127,720 francs.
With the exceptiOn of gold prospecting, Guiana is only partially exploited, the extraction of gold having caused other industries to be almost entirely neglected, or at least relegating to a secondary place other rich 'minerals or vegetables which could be developed to the profit of the colony. It is, moreover, believed that silver exists in Guiana, as well as copper, lead, iron, tin, mercury and numerous precious stones such as topazes, chalcedones, grenats, amethysts, etc.
From every point of view, whether as re gards exploitation or rich forestral or agricultural products, Guiana is in a position to satisfy all demands made on it for colonization. The colony should accordingly show much im provement in a not too distant future, espe cially when the gold seekers will be joined by workers on the land. It should not indeed be forgotten that in a country so well endowed as Guiana, pasturage and tilling are the very e sence of its existence and future prosperity.