38 THE COCONUT BELT 



(2) There are large tracts of land available at 

 moderate prices, for those who can secure the ear 

 of the chiefs. 



(3) Native labour is plentiful and cheap. 



(4) West Africa is better situated as regards 

 proximity to European markets than the Middle 

 East, which now supplies the major portion of 

 European consumption. This proximity is impor- 

 tant from two standpoints, freights being somewhat 

 cheaper and the produce arriving in a fresher 

 condition and therefore commanding a higher 

 price. 



(5) The West African coconut regions, being out- 

 side the hurricane zone, escape those destructive 

 storms which occur in many other tropical coun- 

 tries. 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES 



The Federated Malay States not only cultivate 

 rubber on a vast scale, but also coconuts, which can 

 be grown under favourable conditions on the flat, 

 alluvial land near the coast. Good land is also 

 available inland, and if situated near the large 

 towns or the mining communities, better prices 

 can usually be obtained from the sale of the nuts. 

 About two years ago, large areas of land were taken 

 up in Perak and Selangor by European companies 

 for the purposes of coconut cultivation. Lower 

 Perak is said to be the most important district 



