About five-sixths of the country is forest land, nearly all the property of the government. These 78,000 square miles of timber are largely inaccessible on account of the numerous waterfalls and rapids of the rivers; a railway line to the remote interior is of the utmost importance. The timber and lumber trade is slight, though the _greenheart_, a wood of great strength, weighing 75 pounds the cubic foot, is sought for its use in the construction of docks, heavy flooring, etc. The trees which grow in clay soil near rivers and creeks supply logs 18 by 24 inches, 70 feet long. Most of it is shipped to Panamá where it was used in the locks; 40 to 60 varieties of trees are found on an acre. The export of _balatá_ is important, only sugar, rum, and gold preceding it in value, nearly $1,000,000 worth in a year. It is a kind of gutta percha much used for belting. The tree is tapped the same way as a rubber tree. Licenses are granted for certain forest areas and the country is ranged over by prospectors and tappers. Over 1,000,000 pounds are produced. The milk resembles that of the cow, and is sometimes used for coffee, but it is believed to be unwholesome. A tree usually yields one gallon, which produces five pounds of balatá, but some trees five gallons. The trees must not be tapped oftener than once in four years. In the forest are found various gums and balsams, the _copaiba_, the tonka bean, the basis of many perfumes, vanilla, nutmeg, oils from palm nuts, and most important, the _caraba_ oil which is used by the Indians to lubricate their bodies and to dress the hair for the purpose of warding off noxious insects and vermin. It has a strong unpleasant odor, doubtless arising from its valuable properties. Light woods suitable for paper are found and many others of value. There is a variety of fibre plants, agave, pineapple, _pita_ hemp, and others, some of which might be utilized to save the great importation of rice and sugar bags. There is an inexhaustible supply of pulp material for the manufacture of paper. MINING =Mining= is an important industry in Guiana, the mineral wealth being chiefly in gold and diamonds, though recently _bauxite_, valuable as a source of aluminum and for other purposes, has been found in what promises to be paying quantities.