COFFEE COUNTRIES. 235 



estimated cost was 16 per head. The vessel 

 was unsuccessful, the men have been given out 

 at 3 P er head to those planters who cared 

 about giving such a figure. In 1878 and 1879 

 men used to be g, including depot expenses. 

 The men also are not of so good stamp as they 

 once were mere boys and old men are allowed 

 to come." This drives the planters back upon 

 Indian labourers. 



It seems quite certain that, as yet, Coffee has 

 not been an assured success in Fiji. Hemeleia 

 vastatrix may not be so virulent as it has proved 

 to be in Ceylon, but the wet climate has developed 

 another bad blight in the shape of " black leaf." 

 Such Coffee as is grown, too, is not well cured, 

 although the single curing mill erected is but 

 poorly patronised. Last season in Fiji seems to 

 have been worse for excessive rainfall than even 

 that of 1882 in Ceylon. From a rainfall of no in., 

 the quantity went up to 183 in., an increase of 

 73 in one year ; and it will be observed from the 

 monthly returns that as nearly as possible 100 in. 

 fell in the four months, December to March. 

 No wonder, although the Coffee blossoms were 

 destroyed. Of course, it would not be logical to 

 judge the Coffee enterprise by the results of one 

 year ; but we have now the experience of a good 

 many years before us, and we have a right to 

 say that the prospects of Coffee in Fiji are not 

 all that could be wished. 



