94 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



creature, particularly susceptible to beri-beri and other 

 diseases of the tropics, and when I saw convicts die, 

 as did unfortunately happen, I came to the conclusion 

 that the balance went heavily against the system. It 

 must, however, be recorded that the convicts are 

 extremely well treated. Except in the matter of pay 

 — convicts on expeditions receive about one guilder 

 (is. Sd.) a month — they are treated in all essentials 

 exactly like the native soldiers ; they have the same 

 rations of food and the same tent accommodation, 

 and many of them enjoy themselves a good deal more 

 than if they were occupied in sweeping the roads in a 

 town in Java. Their hours of labour in camp are 

 comparatively short, and the loads they are given to 

 carry on the march are by no means excessive. Nothing 

 could exceed the kindness of Cramer's treatment of the 

 men under his command, and I have no doubt that the 

 same may be said of the treatment of convicts elsewhere. 



