BRITISH GUIANA. This Colony, a possession of Great Britain, forms the western part of Guia na, and lies between Venezuela and the Corentyn River. Its area is about 95,100 square miles, being more than half that of all Guiana. Of British Guiana (quite the most important of the three Colonies), only the alluvial stretch along the coast has been really developed. There are three settlements—Demertira, Essequibo, and Berbice with Georgetown as the capital of the Colony. In addition, there is the new northwest district, which began to be opened up in 1883. There were 83,000 acres in the Colony in cultivation in 1900, nearly seven-eighths of which was in sugar. The live-stock interests are not important. Wood cutting is a leading industry. The gold-mines are being exploited, and employ some 11,000 miners. Diamonds are also found, chiefly along the Mazaruni River.
The principal export is sugar, forming about 55 per cent. of the total exports for the Colony. Next in order of value rank gold (093,926) and rum (£300,583). Some timber and woods, bala ta, and molasses are also shipped out. About 40 per cent, of the sugar goes to Great Britain and the United States. The commerce of British Gui ana does not appear to be increasing. The total value of exports for 1900-01 was £2,068,406; of imports, £1,393,529. The latter consist principally of tissues, flour, manures, rice, and machinery. North America supplies the Colony with fish.
Fully half the Colony's trade is with Great Brit ain. In 1900-01 the total tonnage entered and cleared was 709,928 tons. The colonial fleet consists of 48 vessels, with 2793 tons. George town (q.v.) is the chief port; next in commercial importance is New Amsterdam, at the mouth of the Berbice. There are 75 miles of railway, 500 miles of river navigation, 600 miles of telegraph lines, and about 75 post-offices.
The Colony is administered by a Governor ap pointed by the Crown. The Governor is assisted by an Executive Council and by a Court of Pol icy, consisting of seven appointed and eight elect ed representatives. In addition, there is a court made up of six financial representatives, who are also chosen by the registered voters (2400). In 1900-01 the revenues and expenditures of the colony nearly balanced at a little over £500,000. The colonial debt. was £688,400. Besides the twenty-five savings banks, there are two banks with .a note circulation. The population in the same year was 294,943, among whom were 2600 Europeans, 105,500 East India coolies, 99,700 negroes, and 3800 Chinese. The Asiatics furnish the labor for the plantations. The common lan guage is English, and English money is ordinarily used. In 1900 there were 212 public schools, at tended by 27,500 pupils.