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Inside the swamp barrier extensive savannahs rise gradually to the unexplored mountain and Appendix No. 9. forest countr in the interior.
It is in the intermediate region, and chiefly on the banks of the rivers watering it, that the European Settlements are situated, which extend to their mouths, artificially protected and reclaimed by dykes.
The Colony is intersected by large navigable rivers, which Dutch industry has improved and inter- sected by canals.
These rivers are broad, deep, and tidal for miles, and form the main highways of communication; the chief are: Maroni, the eastern boundary; Cottica, Commewine, Surinam, Saramacca, Coesoewine, and Corentyn, the western boundary.
In 1878 the value of
Of these only the Surinam and its tributary, the Commewine, have any defences. The chief products of the country are sugar, coffee, cocoa, and cotton. exports was 207,700, and imports, 360,0007.; in that year 175 ships entered and cleared from the Colony, of which 15 were Dutch and 31 American. The Colony has not yet recovered from the slave emancipation of 1863.
The population, including bush negroes, is about 70,000, 5,000 of whom are Europeans.
The climate is exceedingly temperate and salubrious for a tropical country, whieli is ascribed to the perpetual stream of cold air brought by the trade winds.
On the coast the temperature ranges from 70° to 96°,
average 79.
Good timber is procurable in the Colony of the following kinds: red mangrove, pipeira, iron- wood, mahogany.
Gold has been discovered, but its search is not encouraged, as it interferes with agricultural labour, the great want of the Colony.
River Cottiga runs parallel to the coast from the point where the Commewine diverges to the south. It is lined with settlements and plantations. It is narrow, but very deep.
River Commewine has a shorter course than the Surinam, but at the junction is scarcely inferior to it in breadth and depth. It runs parallel to the coast for some 40 miles. Its banks are covered with settlements and plantations. At the junction of this river with the River Cottiga is Fort Sommelsdyk, built about 1700, to cover the capital, Parimaribo, from the inroads of the Cayenne depredators; it is now only used as a police-station. The fort is a small pentagon, and closes the passage by both rivers; it contains barracks and other buildings, and is surrounded by a large clearing.
Paramaribo and River Surinam.
The town of Paramaribo is the capital of the Colony, and is situated on the left bank, and about 15 miles above the mouth of the River Surinam, the most important in Dutch Guiana. The town is distant about 13 miles in a straight line from the sea. It is entirely built of wood, except a few churches and Government buildings. It contains a large military hospital. The site is about 16 feet above low-water level, and is intersected by several canals, one of which connects the River Surinam with the River Saramacca, it is called the Sommelsdyk. Population, 25,000. The mouth of the Surinam is over 2 miles wide, and permits the passage of vessels drawing 18 feet of water. About 6 miles above its mouth is the junction of River Commewine. Fort Amsterdam stands on the tongue between the rivers.
Some 8 miles higher up is the town of Paramaribo, with Fort Zelandia, both on the left bank. The river opposite the town is three-quarters of a mile wide, and forms a secure and convenient anchorage where 100 ships can ride. There are two piers and numerous quays at the town. The tide rises and falls 6 to 13 feet. The river is navigable for ships for over 30 miles above the town, and averages half-a- mile in width, with depth of 30 to 60 feet. It is navigable for vessels of 8 feet for 100 miles above its mouth, while now boats can go 40 miles further to the rapids.
Fort Amsterdam is situated on a marshy site, and its guns command both channels, while, owing to the mud-banks which surround the fort, even flat-bottomed boats cannot approach its ramparts. The fort was completed in 1749; its trace is a regular pentagon, with earthern ramparts and a broad ditch. Owing to the marshy nature of the site, its ramparts have somewhat sunk; it contains a good barrack, magazine, arsenal and manufactory, and convict prison; it is healthy.
Below the fort are two small redoubts, now in ruins: one at Purmerend, on the left bank of Surinam; the second at Leide, on the right bank, below the junction of that river with the Commewine.
Fort Zelandia is on the north-east of Paramaribo, on the left bank; it is an old-fashioned redoubt, and contains a barrack and prison. In 1712 Fort Zelandia successfully resisted a fleet of nine war ships and thirty smaller vessels, with 3,000 troops on board, which attempted, under the French Admiral Cassard, to pass up the River Surinam. The French failed to pass the Fort, but subsequently landed, and established themselves below the town on the opposite bank, and thence bombarded it.
We have no information on the present armament of these forts, but it is possible they may have some modern rifled guns, as the guard-ship has one, and it is known that in or before 1877 24 centim. Armstrongs were sent to the Indian Colonies for arming the forts there.
In 1877 the strength of the garrison of Paramaribo was: 20 officers, 451 non-commissioned officers and men. In adddition there was a militia ("Schutterij ") of 23 officers, 527 men, in five com- panies. The armed "Burgermacht" in the district was 74 officers, 1,580 men. There was also a police force of 3 inspectors, 21 sergeants, 122 men.
The "Aruba," composite screw, 4th class, is stationed at Surinam. She has an armament of one rifled 18-centim, gun and two 12-centim. guns, probably not rifled; she is 90 horse-power, draws 12 feet of water, and has a crew of 75 men.
Westward of Paramaribo there is a large estuary, formed by the junction of the rivers Saramacca
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