SUGAR MAPLE TREE. 79 
. P.S. Since writing the above letter, I have procured 
through the friendthip of M. Henry Drinker a copy of 
Mr. Botham’s account of the; method of manufacturing 
Sugar inthe Eaft-Indies..It is extracted: from the report 
“of the committe of the Britith privy Council for trade on 
the fubject of the Slave trade. .1 fhall infert in this poft- 
_cript only fuch parts of it as will throw light upon the me- 
thed of manufacturing the maple fugar which has been 
mentioned and to fhow. how much it is to be preferred in 
point of ceconomy to that which is ufedin the Weft-In- 
dies, 
‘Extract from the report of the Committee of Privy Coun- 
cil for trade on the Jubjedt of the African Slave trade, 
oc. To the King, Part 3. No. 3. Mr. Botham on the 
mode of cultivating afugar plantation in the Eaft-Indi- 
oC. ) | 
BS 
= | been for two years in the Englith and 
_ French Weft-Indian Iflands, and fince conducted 
fugar eftates inthe Eaft-Indies; before the abolition of the 
flave trade was agitated in parliament, it may be defirable 
to know that fugar of a {uperior quality and inferior price, 
to that in our Iflands, is produced in the Eaft-Indies; 
that the culture of the cane, the manufacture of the fugar 
and arrack, is with thefe material advantages, carried on 
-by free people... China, Bengal, the coaft of Malabar, all 
produce quantities of fugar and fpinits; but as the mof 
confiderable growth of the cane is carried on near Batavia, 
I fhall explain the improved manner in which fugar eftates 
are there conducted. ‘The proprietor of the eftate is gen~ 
erally a wealthy Dutchman, who has ereéted on it fub- 
ftantial mills, bailing and curing houfes. He rents this 
eftate to a Chinefe, who refides on it as a fuperintendant; 
and this renter (fuppofing the eftate to confift. of 300 or 
more 
