Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad": Volume 12, Slice 6Various
Science
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad": Volume 12, Slice 6
Various
Encyclopedias and dictionaries
successfully introduced in 1772, but like that of the pepper-tree and
the nutmeg its cultivation is neglected. A very small portion of the
territory indeed is devoted to agriculture, although France has paid
some attention to the development of this branch of activity. In 1880
a colonial garden was created near Cayenne; since 1894 an experimental
garden has been laid out at Baduel. About 8200 acres are cultivated,
of which 5400 acres are under cereals and rice, the remaining being
under coffee (introduced in 1716), cacao, cane and other cultures. The
low lands between Cayenne and Oyapock are capable of bearing colonial
produce, and the savannahs might support large herds; cereals,
root-crops and vegetables might easily be grown on the high grounds,
and timber working in the interior should be profitable.
Gold-mining is the most important industry in the colony. Placers of
great wealth have been discovered on the Awa, on the Dutch frontier
and at Carsevenne in the territory which formed the subject of the
Franco-Brazilian dispute. But wages are high and transport is costly,
and the amount of gold declared at Cayenne did not average more than
130,550 oz. annually in 1900-1905. Silver and iron have been found in
various districts; kaolin is extracted in the plains of Montsinery;
and phosphates have been discovered at several places. Besides
gold-workings, the industrial establishments comprise saw-mills,
distilleries, brick-works and sugar-works.
_Trade and Communications._--The commerce in 1885 amounted to L336,000
for imports and to L144,000 for exports; in 1897 the values were
respectively L373,350 and L286,400, but in 1903, while imports had
increased in value only to L418,720, exports had risen to L493,213.
The imports consist of wines, flour, clothes, &c.; the chief are gold,
phosphates, timber, cocoa and rosewood essence. Cayenne is the only
considerable port. One of the drawbacks to the development of the
colony is the lack of labour. Native labour is most difficult to
obtain, and attempts to utilize convict labour have not proved very
successful. Efforts to supply the need by immigration have not done so
completely. The land routes are not numerous. The most important are
that from Cayenne to Mana by way of Kourou, Sinnamarie and Iracoubo,
and that from Cayenne along the coast to Kaw and the mouth of the
Approuague. Towards the interior there are only foot-paths, badly
made. By water, Cayenne is in regular communication with the Safety
Islands (35 m.), and the mouth of the Maroni (80 m.), with Fort de
France in the island of Martinique, where travellers meet the mail
packet for France, and with Boston (U.S.A.). There is a French cable
between Cayenne and Brest.
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