Juty i> iMij fm TUOPiCAL AdRICt/LTURlST, 



65 



CEYLON LEATHER. 



A Loudon correspondent, writing by a recent mail, 

 says that he finds it extremely difficult to satis- 

 factorily account for the fact, that, while nearly 

 every other description of Ceylon produce receives 

 due appreciation in the London market, and fetches 

 a price exceeding that of similar articles sent from 

 other countries, the leather exported from this 

 colony always realizes something below the rates 

 obtainable for that sent from India and Rangoon. 

 Strictly speaking, perhaps, we should have used 

 the term " hides " in making this comparative 

 statement. It may, however, be well understood, 

 for of course, we do not export leather in its 

 finished state as such. But why, he asks, can it 

 be that buffalo hides sent from Ceylon as the rule 

 only secure rates at t)ie public sales something 

 below those obtained for such as are sent from 

 the countries abovenamed. He had heard it alleged 

 that the quality of the hide may puffer from the 

 fact that nearly all our island buttaloes, or a very 

 large proportion of them, are pastured on the salt 

 grounds on our coasts. Such pasturage as they 

 obtain there, is no doubt to a very large extent 

 subjected at certain seasons to the inroad of tidal 

 waters ; but then we may feel sure that even as 

 regards India and Rangoon a very considerable 

 number of the animals from which the hides ex- 

 ported thence are obtained, have similar feeding 

 grounds. 



This reason, therefore appears to us to be hardly 

 a possible solution of the question. Indeed it 

 would almost seem as if the effect of salt in the 

 feed must go some way towards preparing the hides 

 for subsequent treatment. We certainly do not 

 see how it can exercise any prejudicial effect. 

 Another reason suggesting itself is that the Ceylon 

 shipments are greatly less in quantity to those 

 made from competing localities, and buyers never 

 bid so freely for small parcels as they do for con- 

 siderable (juantities of any description of article. 

 But, apart from these two guesses, our correspondent 

 feels there must remain some hidden cause which 

 has not yet seen the light. As we have said, 

 Indian and Rangoon or Moulmein hides top the 

 in competition with Ceylon ; but again, 

 buffalo hides beat all others. Tl.c 

 buffalo leather, indeed, has a very marked 

 pre-eminence in London sales. A friend of our 

 correspondent once purchased a travelling trunk 

 in Naples covered with this hide. That purchase 

 was made 22 years back and he is assured that, 

 notwithstanding the wear and tear of repeated over- 

 land journeys to and from India to which that 

 trunk has been subjected, it is as sound and as 

 serviceable as ever. Now there must be some 

 reason quite apart from any natural peculiarities 

 in the animal itself or from any circumstances 

 arising out of the character of its feeding grounds, 

 to account for the exceptional preference shown 

 by buyers at home for Italian hides. It would 

 make a considerable difference in the value of this 

 article of our export list if any defect now present 

 in our hides could be properly overcome. In re- 

 spect of bullocks, we know that the scarifying 

 and scoring of marks on their cattle by the 

 Sinhalese not only disfigure, but greatly destroy the 

 hides, but this would not apply to 



market 

 Italian 

 Italian 



the 



value of 

 buffaloes 



We are inclined to suspect that, after all, there 

 may be difference in the character of the treat- 

 ment by which the hide is prepared for shipment 

 9 



after having b^en stripped. All those who have 

 prepared the skins of beasts that they have shot 

 know how comparatively difficult it is to do this 

 with efficiency if any time is suffered to elapse 

 before the skin is pegged down after death. It 

 would not be the first occasion by many in which 

 our products have suffered in reputation for want 

 of proper curing. There is an art undoubtedly in 

 the preparation of hides as in any other form of 

 preparing produce for sale, and, if our brethren 

 in India, or the natives ofjitaly, possess and pract- 

 ise superior methods to ourselves, we can under- 

 stand why London buyers give their skins the 

 preference. The vast acreage of land which is 

 available in Ceylon for the rearing of herds of 

 buffaloes makes it desirable that an industry so 

 suited to the instincts of a very large proportion 

 of our native population should be fostered as 

 much as possible. Can any of our readers give 

 us information on the subject? Many of them 

 . have travelled in India or have visited the Straits 

 Settlements, while not a few have silent some 

 time in Italy. Were we able to make a comparsiou 

 of the various methods of curing adopted in those 

 ' several countries with that in vouge in Ceylon, we 

 should perhaps he able to arrive at a solution to 

 our query. 



All that bears upon means of impiovement for 

 our island industries ought to possess a great in- 

 terest for every intelligent member of the com- 

 ' munity. As we have said, in many matters of the 

 kind Ceylon has gone ahead of all competitors. 

 When, therefore, we see that in one particular 

 article of export she is lagging behind such com- 

 petition, it behoves us to do our best to set the 

 matter right. Is the question we have raised one 

 arising out of natural disqualification, imperfec- 

 tions of breed, or some such agency ? We strongly 

 suspect not, and that, as artificial methods always 

 admit of improvement, it only needs ventilation 

 of the subject to induce those who may liave 

 some experience in the matter here and elsewhere, 

 to come forward with their suggestions for effecting 

 the needful improvement. The matter is one in- 

 , deed so closely affecting the prosperity of the 

 ; people, especially in the Cva and Eastern Pro- 

 I vinces, that the Government might well be asked 

 I to cause enquiry to be made. 



Cuc.v or Ooca leaves in Peru have risen iu price 

 aim st 15 per cent. The soiling price being Is 9d a 

 pound, with an upward teudenoy. There is scarcely a 

 montlis' supply of these leaves ia the London market 

 — such is the demand for cocaine. — Kih/iri ICvpyexs. 



OoFiEi; IN Southern India. — The unfavourable pros- 

 pects nf a month or two ago, have greatly improved since 

 the rains began. Leaf-disease was prevalent through- 

 out the di-strict and was disheartening the cotfee 

 planters, but now it has disappeared and altogethur 

 iudications are favourable. In the South and East crop 

 will be as good as can be expected. .Several small 

 estates were recently sold in Ootacamund, by order 

 of the Civil Court at ridiculously low prices. One coffee 

 estate with a foreclosed mortgaged debt of 7-000 rupees 

 realized ?00 rupees onl}', and others proportionately 

 small amounts. The c ntinued depression in the coffee 

 market at home prevents agents taking up the busi- 

 ness and making advances, and for want of such 

 assistance fine properties arc lapsing into jungle. One 

 of the Calicut firms ia doing a little in the way of 

 advances, but is feeling its way and picking and 

 choosing. The Investment Company have takeu 

 over the business of Stane & Co. in licjuidation, and 

 the latter are setting up in the premises formerly 

 occupied by the Cotton Cleaning Companv. Iheir 

 circular to their old constituents does not iudicate any 

 intention of travfclling in former QXQQyQ!i^-=-Jbi(J, 



