204 TOBACCO. 



various sales tlarougliout the year by the importers or 

 consignees, first hands. 



" As regards the prices for the particular sorts which 

 during the year found their way to the United States, 

 and which are usually purchased from quite a number 

 of firms in the wholesale tobacco trade through the 

 mediation of brokers, they differed all the way from 

 about 45 cents to 95 cents. United States currency, for 

 the half-kilogram. 



" Thinking it might prove interesting, if not important, 

 to parties in the United States in any way concerned in 

 this matter, to be informed as to the extent and quality 

 of the crop of 1882, I made inquiries relating to it, and 

 ascertained as follows, viz. : — ' That whilst it is im- 

 possible to state, at this early day, with accuracy the 

 yield of the crop, it is generally considered and expected 

 to have been again in excess over the previous one, and 

 that it amounts to about 90,000 bales.' 



" Its quality is represented by the planters to be very 

 good, as far as they are able to judge ; but this can, of 

 course, only be determined later on, after the tobacco has 

 gone through the process of fermentation. 



" The first parcels of this new crop will arrive here 

 about the month of March next, and will be offered for 

 sale about a month or six months thereafter. 



" In concluding this report, I would remark that the 

 year 1882 has been a most favourable one for tobacco 

 planters in Sumatra and for those interested in tobacco 

 plantations there, and so have those connected with the 

 trade here realized handsomely by the year's operations. 



" I am, therefore, induced to state that so long as the 



