COMPARATIVE VALUE OF LABOUR. 341 



The following statement, may suffice to furnish 

 some general idea of the comparative value of 

 labour in India and China. 



Sir Thomas Munro states the wages of an 

 agricultural labourer at Madras to be from 4s. to 

 6s. the month ; that the expense of a single 

 individual among the class of cultivators and 

 manufacturers does not exceed 27-5. the year ; and 

 among the lower classes 18s. including food, 

 clothing, furniture, and every thing else. Mr. 

 Cockburn states this expense at 32s. Lord Teign- 

 mouth also states, that at Bengal 3s. a month is 

 adequate for the support of a single person.* 

 Dr. Falconer informed me, that the pay of an 

 agricultural labourer at Kamoon is 8s. the month ; 

 and 8s. will dress him from head to foot. 



In the south of China it is very much the 

 practice to feed agricultural servants and work- 

 men. A labourer who can plough is a yearly 

 servant ; he has his dinner found him, but his other 

 meals he takes with his family ; and receives about 

 10s. the month. The packers of Bohea are allowed 

 three meals a day, and five pence wages. The 

 Hong merchants' coolies or porters are supplied 

 with three meals a day, their lodging, and 15s. 

 the month. The East India Company's coolies 

 were lodged but not fed, and received 20s. the 

 month. A common carpenter or bricklayer re- 



* Minutes of Evidence on the Renewal of the East India 

 Company's Charter in 18113. 



z 3 



