MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 605 



is the long-smouldering discontent which finds utterance 

 in this manner. 



In these times of a general uplifting of the native, 

 the planters, if at least they wish to be immune from 

 attack, will do well in their dealings and intercourse with 

 the population to take into account the altered spirit 

 of the Eastern nations. 



A knowledge of languages and a tactful behaviour 

 are amongst the requirements which every employer 

 and his European staff should possess. Young and 

 inexperienced assistants should not be placed in positions 

 of independence, and the mode of living of many requires 

 supervision as the moral preponderance of the European 

 over the Eastern races is dependent again on the manner 

 of living of the first-named. 



The necessity for good treatment of the labourers 

 is realized by most employers and much is already being 

 done to render the life of the coolies on the estates 

 more agreeable. 



On various estates complete sets of native musical 

 instruments (gamelan) are to be found; on others 

 bioscope entertainments are regularly given. 



(7) Wages. The wages of the labourers who have 

 made labour contracts on the basis of the above men- 

 tioned coolie ordinances vary a good deal. 



On rubber estates they amount as a rule to 33 cents 

 per day for men and 28 cents per day for women, if the 

 labour contract is made for the first time. In the 

 re-engagement contracts the men stipulate for an 

 additional 5 cents per day. Besides these payments the 

 trained tapping coolies usually receive a monthly 

 premium of from f. i to f. 1.50. 



The coolies engaged for the tobacco cultivation, who 

 plant tobacco, earn by this work on an average 60 cents 

 per day. For other work the usual wages of 33 and 

 28 cents are paid. 



In some districts where provisions are exceptionally 

 dear, the contract wages are higher. For mine work 

 also higher wages are given, viz., from 40 to 60 cents 

 per day, whilst all food is supplied in addition, on some 

 estates free, on others at a small charge. 



