148 APPENDIX. 



known 



doubt, to a large extent, take the place of ghee ; it is much better for 

 cooking purposes, far cheaper, and more readily transported, while 

 it cannot be easily adulterated. The consumption of the huile 

 iVaracTiides seems to follow on the track of Indian emio-rants : in 1880 

 there were but very few Indians settled in Singapore, Penang, &c., 

 and in that year the export of ground-nut oil amounted to only 10 

 casks; in 1890 the shipments to these two ports amounted approxi- 

 matively to 1,800 candies. The future of the export oil trade seems to 

 wear a decidedly bright appearance, and there is no apparent reason 

 why the development of the last few years should not continue at 

 the same ratio for at least some years to come. The value of the 

 traffic to Pondicherry is very great : besides the labour required to 

 work the native mills, employment is given to a large number of 

 coopers and others in preparing and shipping the casks. The 

 following statement shows the total number of casks exported for 

 the periods named below : 



Number of casks 1835. 1830. 1887. 1838. 1889 1890, 



^ 



exported 10,403 10,25 '5 17,727 16,093 19,3G5 18,485 



It will be seen by the above that the shipments during the last four 

 years have not materially changed; the period of 1889 was excep- 

 tional, the ground-nut crop being unusually large, and the prices 

 generally low. 



The statement given below exhibits the highest, lowest, and 

 average rates, per French candy of 529 lbs. English, during the 

 several years mentioned : 



1875. 1880. 1885. 1890. 



Rs. a. Rs. a. Rs. a. Rs. a. 



Highest quotations per candy .. . 49 70 67 86 



Lowest per candy 32 12 51 14 52 55 



Average do. 40 3 59 8 65 14 62 4 



Tlie exceptional low prices for 1875 are accounted for by the un- 

 expected heavy crop of kernels, which was greatly in excess of the 

 foreign demand, which caused the rates to rule low, and to offer 

 unusually good advantages to local crushers. {Times ■ of India, 



March 31st, 1891.) 



PoNDiciiEiiiiY, 27/A April 1893.— Tlio number of casks exported 

 in l.Sl»2 was the lowest ^incc 1887, in which year the purchases for 



