359 



[TRANSLATION.] 

 LAND, CAPITAL AND LABOUR IN PORTUGUESE INDIA. 



The Portuguese territory in India comprises 3,806 kilo- 

 metres, of which barely a third 1 is regularly cultivated in rice 

 and coconut palms, the former being insufficient for local con- 

 sumption, and both insufficient to maintain the economic 

 equilibrium of the Colony. Other crops are of little import- 

 ance, and emigration, calculated at 60 per 1,000 per annum, 

 is the result of the excess of population over production. 

 Thus, with a population of 530,000 inhabitants in 1909-10, the 

 imports of rice were 1,200,000 Ib. and the exports did not 

 exceed! 800,000 Ib., representing a deficit of 400,000 Ib. 



However, 'the agricultural services receive the greatest con- 

 sideration from the Government of the Colony, and are in 

 charge of an Inspector of Agriculture and a Bureau of Land 

 Survey. 



It is expected that the improvement in the preparation of 

 the land by irrigation works, already partly realized, will 

 facilitate a larger variety and a greater extent in the crops 

 cultivated and protected by capital, which is not abundant in 

 the country, though it could not be employed to better purpose. 



The need of an Agricultural Credit Bank is increasing, 

 though small similar institutions fulfil, as far as possible, the 

 services demanded of them. 



There is no compulsory labour, such a system being quite 

 unnecessary, as the supply of labour is far in excess of the 

 demand, and it is only recently that owing to emigration it has 

 become less abundant. Half the local population is engaged 

 in agriculture and industry, the latter including the extraction 

 of salt and minerals, and the manufacture of woven fabrics, 

 preserves, and spirits. 



The native is temperate in eating and drinking. It appears, 

 however, that alcoholism tends to increase, especially in the 

 lower ranks of the Christian population. The Hindus and 

 Mussulmans, in accordance with their religious precepts, 

 abstain from alcohol. 



Poor-law institutions do not exist, neither is there protection 

 of native labour. Recently, by a decree of August, 1901, the 

 relations of landowners with their colonists or labourers 

 residing in the area of country estates have been regulated. 

 Penal labour does not exist. Enrolment in the military forces 

 is voluntary. 



