308 SPICES 



CHAP. 



trodden with the feet, to separate the fruit from the stalk. The 

 grain is then winnowed, to clear it from the stalks and the 

 Hghter grains ; and then the good heavy grains are spread on 

 mats in the sun to dry for three days. It is calculated that 

 100 catties of green pepper, with the stalks, yield 35 catties of 

 clean and dry pepper. The collection of one day from 46,000 

 plants of three years old was 500 catties of green or 175 of 

 dry pepper. 



It is usual, as was before noticed, when the plantation is 

 delivered over to the proprietors at the end of three years to 

 let it to a Chinese farmer for five years more ; as the proprietor 

 is thereby less liable to imposition, the only precaution necessary 

 being to see that the tenant is careful of the vines during the 

 last year, and leaves them in good condition at the expiration 

 of the lease. This is the only way in which an extensive planta- 

 tion, or one whereon the proprietor cannot bestow his whole 

 attention, can be managed to advantage. But, if the proprietor 

 has time and is careful and acute, he may render it something 

 more productive by keeping it in his own hands. The labour 

 of cleaning the vines, throwing up earth about the roots, and 

 collecting the produce of the plantation above mentioned of 

 46,000 plants was performed by sixteen Chinese workmen. 



In an Appendix to a letter from the Superintendent of 

 Prince of Wales Island, dated 12th November 1796, is an 

 estimate, whereby it would appear that a plantation of 100,000 

 vines should yield, at the end of twelve years, a clear profit to 

 the proprietor of 153,000 Spanish dollars. But the value of 

 the pepper is stated too high at 14 dollars per picul ; and the 

 interest of money, on both sides of the account, is neglected. 

 Yet if we value the pepper only at 10 dollars, for which it is 

 presumed it may always be sold on the field, and compute the 

 interest, the result will give an advantage exceeding the 

 Superintendent's calculation by 31,000 dollars. See Appendix A. 



The whole quantity of pepper produced last year on the 

 Island was estimated at something between 16,000 and 20,000 

 piculs. Taking the medium quantity at 12 dollars, which was 

 the selling price, this article must have amounted to 216,000 

 dollars. The pepper is more esteemed than that which comes 

 from the Malay continent and Sumatra, and it sells for about 1 

 dollar more per picul. The difference is occasioned by the 

 haste of the Malays to gather fruit before it is sufficiently ripe. 



