Book I. AGRICULTURE IN ASIA. l,- 3 



transplanted ; no manure is even required or given in Java except water. In 

 ploughing for rice, the land is converted into a semifluid mire, in which the plants are 

 inserted. A curious mode is made use of to scare the birds from ripening crops. An 

 elevated shed is raised in the middle of the plantation or field, within which a child on 

 the watch touches from time to time a series of cords, extending from the shed to the 

 extremities of the field like the radii of a circle, and thus prevents the ravages of 

 birds. The native cart of Java is a clumsy conjunction of boards, running on two 

 solid wheels from five to six feet in diameter, and only from one inch to two inches broad, 

 on a revolving axle. It is drawn by two buffaloes. 



946. The upas, or poison tree [Antiuris toxicaria), has been said to be a native of, and 

 peculiar to, Java ; but Dr. Horsfield and other botanists have ascertained that there is no 

 tree in the island answering its description : there are two trees used for poisoning war- 

 like instruments, but neither is so powerful as to be used alone ; and, indeed, they are 

 in no way remarkable either as poison plants or trees. The Raffles/a Arnold/, the most 

 extraordinary parasitic plant known to botanists, is believed to be a native of this island 

 as well as of Sumatra, where it was originally found. 



947. The roods of Java, Sir Stamford Raffles observes, are of a greater extent and 

 of a better description than in most countries. A high road, passable for carriages at all 

 seasons of the year, runs from the western to the eastern extremity of the island, a 

 distance of not less than eight hundred English miles, with post stations and relays of 

 horses every- five miles. The greater part of it is so level that a canal might be cut 

 along its side. There is another high road which crosses the island from north to south, 

 and many intersecting cross roads. The main roads were chiefly formed by the Dutch 

 as military roads, and " so far," Governor Raffles continues, " from contributing to the 

 assistance of the agriculture or trade of Java, their construction has, on the contrary, in 

 many instances been destructive to whole districts. The peasant who completed them by 

 his own labour, or the sacrifice of the lives of his cattle, was debarred from their 

 use, and not permitted to drive his cattle along them, while he saw the advantages they 

 were capable of yielding reserved for his European masters, who thus became enabled 

 to hold a more secure possession of his country." {History of Java, i. 198.) 



948. Of the peninsula of Malacca very little is known. Agriculture is carried on in 

 the marginal districts of the country ; but the central parts are covered with unexplored 

 forests, which swarm with lemurs, monkeys, tigers, wild boars, elephants, and other 

 animals. The chief grain cultivated is rice ; and the chief exports are, pepper, ginger, 

 gum, and other spices, raisins, and woods. Game and fruits abound. " The lands," 

 I.e Pouvre observes, " are of a superior quality ; and covered with odoriferous woods ; 

 but the culture of the soil abandoned to slaves is fallen into contempt. These wretched 

 labourers, dragged incessantly from their rustic employments by their restless masters 

 who delight in war and maritime enterprises, have rarely time, and never resolution, to 

 give the necessary attention to the labouring of their grounds." 



949. The kingdom of Siam mav be described as a wide vale between two hish rid<res 

 of mountains ; but compared with the Birman empire, the cultivated land is not above 

 half the extent either in breadth or length. 



950. The agriculture of the Siamese does not extend far from the banks of the river or 

 its branches ; so that towards the mountains there are vast aboriginal forests filled with 

 wild animals, whence they obtain the skins which are exported. The rocky and varie- 

 gated shores of the noble Gulf of Siam, and the size and inundations of the Meinam, 

 conspire with the rich and picturesque vegetation of the forests, illumined at night by 

 crowds of brilliant fire-flies, to impress strangers with admiration and delight. 



951. The soil towards the mountains is parched and infertile ; but, on the shores of the 

 river, consists, like that of Egypt, of a very rich and pure mould, in which a pebble can 

 scarcely be found ; and the country would be a terrestrial paradise if its government were 

 not so despotic as to be justly reckoned far inferior to that of their neighbours the 

 Birmans Rice of excellent quality is the chief product of their agriculture ; wheat is 

 not unknown ; peas and other vegetables abound ; and maize is confined to their gardens. 

 The fertility of Siam depends in a great degree, like that of Egypt on the Kile, on its 

 grand river Meinam and its tributary streams. 



952. The kingdom of Laos borders on China, and is surrounded by forests and deserts, 

 so as to be of difficult access to strangers. The climate is so temperate, and the air so 

 pure, that men are said to retain their health and vigour, in some instances, to the age of 

 one hundred years. The flat part of the country resembles Siam. The soil on the east 

 bank of the river is more fertile than that on the west. The rice is preferred to that of 

 other Oriental countries. Excellent wax and honey are produced in abundance, anil 

 the poppy, ginger, pepper, and other useful plants are cultivated, and their products 

 exchanged with the Chinese for cloths. 



953. Cambodia, like Siam, is enclosed by mountains on the east and west ; and 

 fertilised by an overflowing river. The climate is so hot that the inhabitants are under 



