Brazil and Java. 29 



is physically incapable of becoming an industrious 

 labourer in a tropical climate. In support of these 

 conclusions, he instances the entire collapse of the 

 planting industry in Jamaica (an island at one time 

 producing an annual crop of 13,000 tons), in con- 

 sequence of the abolition of slavery. He conse- 

 quently argues that in Brazil, which is at present 

 the largest producing country (yielding a crop of 

 250,000 tons, or half the world's supply), and which 

 is entirely dependent on slave labour, the enter- 

 prise must eventually diminish, if not die out 

 altogether. Already a struggle has begun in that 

 country in reference to the slave question, the 

 Government, led by its enlightened emperor, being 

 in favour of manumission, which is, however, 

 vehemently opposed by the cultivators. The 

 difficulties which must necessarily accompany a 

 discussion of this kind are already being felt, and 

 the exports for some years past have fallen off 

 200,000 bags per annum. Mr. Branson next 

 glances at the state of affairs in Java, the annual 

 yield of which may be roughly stated at 80,000 

 tons. Here, we learn, the cultivation is carried on 

 by tribute, or partially forced labour. The Govern- 

 ment hold a monopoly of the land, each family 

 being allotted its farm on condition of planting and 

 keeping in bearing 650 coffee trees, and gathering 

 and delivering this crop into the Government 



