S7& Account of the Hindu Method 



the acre (so far as my information goes, and it is chiefly 

 from Mr. Beckford's History of Jamaica,) yields from 14 

 to 20 cvvt. of their raw sugar, worth on the island about 

 20 1. currency : here the produce is more than double, but, 

 on account of its inferior quality, and the low price it bears 

 on the spot, the produce does not yield a great deal more 

 money than in the West Indies : however, as here labour 

 is incomparably cheaper, the Indian planter must make 

 much l^rQ;er profits. 



The situation of all the sugar lands hereabout is exactly 

 alike, being the middle of an extensive plain, adjoining to 

 the aforementioned river; the soil in all is also much alike, 

 so that the produce is nearly equal in all, when no unfa- 

 vourable circumstances happen : this is further proved by 

 the quantity of sugar a measure of juice will yield : here it 

 is almost always, except in a very rainy season, or in laid 

 down or wormy canes, about one-sixth part ; that is, every 

 six pounds, or three quarts of juice, yield one pound of 

 sugar. In Jamaica, Mr. Beckford says, that, on an ave- 

 rage, 1800 gallons of juice may be reckoned to yield an 

 hogshead of sugar, weight 16 cwt., which is, within a trifle, 

 one of sugar from eight of juice : this proves our juice to be 

 one-fourth part richer than theirs. From the above calcu- 

 lations it is evident that our lands hereabout are better 

 adapted for this species of culture than the lands in Jamaica : 

 for here thev not only yield a larger crop of canes, hut the 

 iuice thereof is also richer ; and were our planters here to 

 bring the molasses. See. into account, employed in the 

 West Indies for the distillation of rum, their profits would 

 be still greater ; for at present stich refuse they give to their 

 cattle, or let their labourers carry away, or use as they 

 think proper ; and, by being so employed, I have no doubt 

 but it is productive of more real good than if converted into 

 ardent spirits: let it continue to be so employed, is my sin- 

 cere wish ; for the longer they are ignorant how to convert 

 what is at present wholesome into a poison, the better it is 

 for them ; they have already too many ways of furnishing 

 themselves with spirits, particularly near the residence of 

 Europeans. 



Here the canes, while growing, seem also subject to 

 fewer accidents than in the West Indies. I will mention 

 them briefly. 



1st. A very wet season is the worst; it injures the canes 

 greatly, rendering them of a reddish colour, yielding a poof 

 unprofitable juice : here they reckon the small heavy pale 

 yellow car.es the best. 



3d. Storms^ 



