DESICCATED COCONUT INDUSTRIES 145 



The market price of coconut oil at the time 

 of writing (end- October) varies from 50 to 

 55 per ton, according to its place of origin and 

 quality. 



For many years Cochin (Malabar Coast) oil 

 commanded about 35 per cent, more than the 

 Ceylon product, and still maintains a certain 

 superiority in price. This is due to the exceptional 

 whiteness and other special qualities of the Cochin 

 copra as compared with that of Ceylon. While the 

 south-west monsoon rains from the end of May to 

 August are very heavy in the Cochin district, the 

 latter enjoys a larger number of dry months 

 than Ceylon, and it is in those dry months 

 that the coconuts are dried in the sun. This 

 produces a whiter and finer copra than the 

 average of Ceylon, and therefore accounts for 

 the superiority of Cochin oil. Generally speaking, 

 Cochin coconuts are not better than the Ceylon 

 variety; the advantage is rather one of climate 

 and of the greater care exercised in the preparation 

 of the copra. From a close study of this question, 

 we have acquired the conviction that the Cingalee 

 is not so cleanly or intelligent as the native of 

 Southern India, notably in Malabar and Cochin, 

 who takes a pride in his work and is more 

 painstaking. So indolent is the native of Ceylon 

 that coconut planters have to import a good deal 

 of labour from other regions. Another important 



