COFFEE COUNTRIES. 237 



become a self-sustaining institution of the colony. Eighteen 

 vessels, with an aggregate of about 3,000 tons, are engaged 

 during the season in conveying upwards of 2,000 persons. 

 Still the supply is not equal to the demand. Government 

 supervises the whole matter of labour, from the time the vessel 

 goes for them, during the term three years of engagement in 

 Fiji, until their return home. 



Of the cost per head to the planter of these labourers no 

 statistics have been published, but, approximately, it is 16 

 per annum viz., one-third of indent for three years, ^3 ; wages, 

 /3 ; food, ^4 155 ; return home, ^"4 ; landing at plantation, 

 2s. 6d. ; quarters, los. ; mats, 53. ; blankets, 8s. ; sulus, IDS. ; 

 medicine and proprietor of hospital house, los. 



The cost of Fijian labour is about ^"17, and of coolie ig. 

 Size of house, bedding, clothing, stock of medicines, daily 

 rations, periodical inspections are all laid down by ordinance. 

 On return home these labourers receive presents of axes, 

 tomahawks, beads, &c., but not muskets as formerly. In 

 1883 a new law came into force, which will have the effect 

 of increasing the cost about 15 per cent., as well as, from 

 its stringency, drive small capitalists from their fields of 

 labour. Just as the labourer is becoming most useful to 

 his employer the time expires, and he is not allowed, even 

 if he wishes it, to enter upon a new agreement for more 

 than one year. Last year the allotment fee was 16, depot 

 fee i, sundries about 53. Government impedes the engage- 

 ment of the natives as agricultural labourers for more than 

 one month at a time, even though they desire ; and foreign 

 labour is scarce, which is ever the case upon an influx of 

 capital. It is very probable that before long coolie labour 

 will exclude Polynesian. 



COOLIES. In 1879 the authorities arranged with the Indian 

 Government for the introduction of coolie labour. The second 

 and third attempts made in 1883 and 1884 have proved very 

 successful. By a late ordinance, for every coolie applied 

 for 6 per caput has to be paid in advance to the Government. 



CROWN LANDS. At Suva these are sold by auction at a high 

 upset price per acre, one half down, the other moiety in three 



