Contractors. 7 1 



little risk they may run of subsequent prosecution 

 and conviction as defaulters. Europeans can some- 

 times be met with willing to undertake contracts 

 of this kind, but they themselves are usually as 

 much affected by the difficulty of getting labour as 

 those desirous of employing them. 



To render any system of contracts really satis- 

 factory, those undertaking them should be able and 

 willing to give some material guarantee or security 

 for their due fulfilment, and natives seldom are either 

 able or willing to do this. Europeans will seldom 

 consent to do so, knowing how much their success 

 depends on the uncertainties of the labour market. 



In regard to the class of coolies to be engaged, 

 the planter is seldom in a position to pick and 

 choose ; he must accept those he can get ; and the 

 first who come, and all who come, are generally 

 received without much question. Hill-men are of 

 course the most suitable and desirable, coffee plan- 

 tations being always more or less in mountainous 

 situations, and consequently sickness and dissatis- 

 faction would be greatly avoided by the minimised 

 change of climate which would thus be expe- 

 rienced. 



In the Wynaad districts, especially, is the supply 

 of labour fluctuating and unreliable, being as a rule 

 unequal to the demand, while the planter is moreover 

 weighted with the disadvantage of being often un- 



