IV 



CLOVES 191 



source of the largest part of the supply of cloves in 

 the world, although its produce is the lowest priced 

 of the three classes in commerce at the present day, 

 viz. Penang, Amboyna, and Zanzibar. The cultivation 

 attained its maximum before 1872, when its export was 

 10,500,000 Ibs. of cloves. In this year, however, a 

 disastrous hurricane destroyed most of the trees in 

 Zanzibar, but those of Pemba, situated on the west side 

 of the island, were more protected and escaped better. 



The cultivation is chiefly in the hands of the Arabs. 



Zanzibar cloves are very dry, and larger and redder 

 than Pemba cloves, hence they are known as " Zanzibar 

 red-heads." The Pemba cloves are smaller and! blacker 

 and less dry. They are disposed of as soon as possible, 

 as otherwise the buyer has a loss in weight from drying. 

 The Zanzibar cloves lose about 8 per cent in weight on 

 the passage from Zanzibar to Europe. The local trade 

 weight is the " frasla," equivalent to 35 Ibs. 



The exports from Zanzibar in 1890 are given as 

 124,929 fraslas, i.e. 4,372,515 Ibs., and from Pemba 

 385,981 fraslas, or 13,509,335 Ibs., altogether nearly 

 18,000,000 Ibs. In 1891 Zanzibar produced 62,017 

 fraslas (2,160,595 Ibs.), and Pemba 326,986 (11,564,510 

 Ibs.). Besides the cloves, clove-stalks are shipped from 

 Zanzibar in immense quantities. 



The cloves are shipped to Bombay, and also direct 

 to Hamburg and the United States, and also, in less 

 amount, to the Red Sea ports. 



They are sold at about 9 dollars for 35 Ibs., about 

 6d. per Ib. 



Mascarene Islands. The cultivation in the 

 Seychelles was practically abandoned in 1902 on 

 account of the scarcity of labour and the irregularity 

 of crops. 



In Reunion the tree was introduced in 1772 by 

 Intendant Poivre, and cultivated well till a few years 

 ago, but the produce was irregular in amount, and the 

 frequency of destructive cyclones discouraged the 

 planters. In 1820, 150,000 kilos (330,000 Ibs.) were 



