m 



fdi fMmAL AMiCVLTmi^t^ Uvm i, T8$f. 



would lorefer them to coolies, for they can work 

 hard and well when they like, and when they get 

 job and jDiece-work, though for " Master " and day 

 wages their energies are far less active. Jamaicans 

 have been attracted to Colon, in the hope of mak- 

 ing money, their large numbers have died, and of 

 those who have returned many are lastingly shat- 

 tered in health— many of those who died have 

 left wives and families to tight the bpttle of 

 life ur>>cided by the natural bread-winner. If 

 tl*e- .Jamaica revenue is deficient and the land 

 must " pay the piper," then as suggested in my 

 reply to the Gleaner's article "Tax the Land," let 

 a sufficient but moderate additional impost be 

 put upon all cultivated land, and let all land- 

 holders, large and small, white, brown or black 

 pay the same rate per acre. "Euinate," reserve, 

 and uneultivable lands alreadj' pay a sufKcient tax, 

 but to force holders of large areas, obtained in 

 "old times" when Government was only too glad 

 to encourage the settlement of capitalists : to 

 have their properties studded over with Negro 

 settlers, because they cannot afford to, or will 

 not pay an unjust tax, would be odious. Fancy 

 having native grounds all over one's estate, with 

 free right of way? Petty larceny is rife enough 

 already without opening such another encourage- 

 ment. Another argument I read in the Gleaner 

 was a complaint that no sooner did a man make 

 money than he was taxed ; that there was con- 

 sequently no encouragement to the people to bet- 

 ter themselves and that the right thing was to tax 

 the land, was the only proper way to raise revenue. 

 How absurd ? as if it were not right that those 

 who can afford it should pay the taxes, not the 

 poor. Says the Gleaner writer, if a man makes 

 money and buys a horse and carriage he is im- 

 mediately made to pay tax thereon, and rightly 

 so, for he should contribute to the upkeep of the 

 roads which he uses and without which his car- 

 rage and horses would be of no use ; this is but one 

 example made use of tor taxing land, and making 

 it pay for anything else. 



In my next letter I hope to be able to tell your 

 readers something about the " North-side " as I 

 am going on a short visit to St. Mary's ; it is a 

 parish of sugar and banana estates and " Pens," 

 large numbers of coconuts are also grown. I may 

 also see " Castleton, " the Botanical Garden of 

 Jamaica. I will close with a lew more Jamaica 

 proverbs : — 



Behind dog, it is dog, before dog it is "mister" dog. 



Big blanket make man sleep late. 



Cotton tree nebber so big, but little axe cut him. 



Finger nebber say "look here," him say "lookdere." 

 —Tours faithfully, W. S. 



; « ■ . 



MB. VON DONOP'S LATEST EEPOET ON 

 PLANTING, &c., IN BOENEO. 



Sppagaya Iliver.—l ■visited this river to ascertain 

 irl >vhat condition the property owned by Mr. 

 Major was in. I regret to report it is fast i'e» 

 turning to jtinglc though I noticed coffee, and fruit 

 lieeg, d'C, all battling against the grass and small 

 jungle growiftg tip against them. The buildings 

 which are all tetnporary are rapidly decaying. 



The property of the China Sabah Company on 

 the Suanlamba river is, I regret to say, in a 

 similar state to that of Mr. Major's the plants 1 

 saw of Liberian coffee, cocoa, iXrc, were looking 

 ii irly healthy but unless immediate steps are taken 

 they will soon be choked and die. The police- 

 nn n are in charge of the property and live in the 

 bui galow. The Condenser is in good order — I 

 gave instructions, however, to have it carefully 

 pofe«l over. Tbe tobacco preee i§ also id gooa 



order. There is a smail Bajow village en this river 

 the inhabitants of which are cutting timber for 

 Mr. Koh Heen's firm. I consider both the China 

 Sabah Company's property and Mr. Major's would 

 be very suitable for Chinese to cultivate. A large 

 acreage is already cleared of the forest but im- 

 mediate steps should be taken to clear away the 

 grass and small jungle. The land having been 

 cleared for some time back should render the 

 locality healthy. 



I visited Messrs. E. E. Abrahamson & Co.'s 

 Timber works on the Domondong river which I 

 found a scene of busy activity. There are at 

 present 120 men cutting and hauling out timber. 

 Of these 90 are Chinese and the rest Malays. 

 The Bajows work independently and seem to take 

 to the business. 



I had no time to visit the Blacking river but I 

 learn a Chinese firm employ about 200 men, Malays, 

 Bajows and Sulus in cutting and removing timber. 

 Mr. Henry Walker made a complete survey 

 of the Labuk river as far as Liraantic. I called 

 at the Governmeut station Balmoral which is at 

 the mouth of the Labuk. It is in charge of a 

 native with two policemen. I regret I am unable 

 to report favourably of it. No progress has been 

 made since my last visit when I was accom- 

 pained by Your Excellency. There are only 3 

 houses (including one belonging to Government) on 

 an average only 3 boats call at the station each 

 way per month. No fees, dutice, tfec, are 

 collected. There is no appearance of Bajows 

 who I at one time hoped might be in- 

 duced to settle there, for the reason they are what 

 they have been very i^roperly termed Sea-gipsies 

 and lead a roving life. In the meantime the 

 station costs the Government annually about #400. 

 The Government building is in fair order. I do 

 not consider the native in charge a suitable man 

 for the post. He can neither read nor write and 

 appears to have no influence or tact with the 

 natives and gives me little or no information of 

 the affairs of his district. Should the Government 

 decide to continue this station (which I cannot 

 recommend them to do) I would suggest a sui- 

 table substitute be put in his place. Around the 

 houses I noticed sugar cane growing and a few 

 other products. Pigs, however, appear to do con- 

 siderable damage. Proceeding from Balmoral (the 

 native name of which is Piluran) we arrived at 

 Galagan two hours journey. I visited Galagan a 

 few months ago and I am glad to say this settle- 

 ment formed by people of Bulungan has progressed 

 most favourably and will I am sure progress still 

 more. There are about 65 houses most of large di- 

 mensions, the occupants of which, putting them down 

 at 10 per house, Avould make a population of 650 

 people. There are several new arrivals from Bulun- 

 gan who reside in houses of their own. 



The inhabitants give one the idea of being a 

 very industrious lot. On their first arrival they 

 busied themselves '^vith clearing the jungle 

 building their houses around which fruit treea 

 are thickly planted. At the present time be- 

 sides what might be termed an orchard, large 

 tracks of land are being planted with paddy which 

 before long will I think be an article of exports 

 I noticed sugar cane being crushed in the usual 

 native fashion. To the Chief, Dato Mumucno 

 Nagara I handed 2,000 sago plants which were 

 eagerly seized upon and with your approval I 

 wish to indent for a further supply from Province 

 Dent. I had a long evening " bichara " with 

 the Dato and settled many matters upon which 

 he wished to obtain information and vice versa. 

 The people of Bulungan arc not the same roverg 

 &i tbe otbsx iDhabitaute ot (be river; Tbey §el' 



