78 



papyri/era and Streblus aspera. But until the true value 

 of these fibres has been finally determined, no advan- 

 tageous action on an extensive scale can be taken in the 

 matter. 



When Mr. Ribbentrop speaks of Rs. 35 per ton as the 

 cost of freight, he means, I presume, the freight on a single 

 ton or two, and does not intend to imply that the average 

 cost per ton on a large consignment, sent by a chartered 

 vessel, would be so heavy as that. And to judge the pro- 

 spects of the trade fairly, it must be assumed, unless the 

 assumption be proved untenable, that large quantities will 

 be dealt with. Moreover, there is no reason why this item 

 of expenditure should not be reduced to a minimum by 

 shipping the fibre as ballast. I have already treated this 

 matter in full detail (vide pp. 67, ante), so that no more 

 need be said on the subject here. 



I am much gratified at the compliment paid me by the 

 Chief Commissioner of British Burma, in ruling that my 

 proposal remain in abeyance until I return to Burma ; but 

 I should have preferred had my suggestion been carried 

 out, and a sample consignment been sent to me while I 

 was in England. I should then, I respectfully submit, have 

 been in a much better position to develop the scheme, and 

 further the interests of Government, than I can possibly be 

 in India. I have learnt by experience that work of this 

 kind can be more satisfactorily accomplished by means of 

 personal interview than by correspondence, or by employing 

 third parties. For example, it is not every dealer in paper, 

 textile fabrics and rope, who is sufficiently acquainted with 

 our Eastern fibres to allow of his corresponding on the 

 subject ; but if such a man can have samples placed before 

 him, and definite and exhaustive information supplied on 

 the spot, my experience has been that he is very glad to 

 avail himself of any new source of wealth. And, with the 

 utmost deference to the opinions of others, I think it will 



