ECONOMIC CONDITION OF JAVA. 



179 



abandoned to private speculators. Tlie yield averages about 6,000,000 pounds ; 

 but the leaf is of indifferent quality. 



Other economic plants, such as cacao, the clove, and cinnamon, are not extensively 

 grown, and even pepper, formerly the chief resource of the province of Bantam, 

 has ceased to be a profitable industry. Of the 25,000,000 cocoanut trees, about 

 10,000,000 are fruit-bearing. 



Despite great commercial vicissitudes, tobacco has become one of the important 



Fig. 71. — Teak Forests between Semaeang and Surabaya. 

 Scale 1 • 2,500,000. 



Lasb or Greenwich IM 



60 Miles. 



exports, besides supplying a considerable local consumption. This industry has 

 also ceased to be a Government monopoly, and is now largely in the hands of Chi- 

 nese speculators. But they are not allowed to cultivate opium, and have to pur- 

 chase this drug from the Government, which imports it from India, Persia, and 

 Asia Minor. Indigo, formerly one of the most jealously preserved monopolies, is 

 now also surrendered to free labour, and still continues to be an important article 

 of the export trade despite the competition of the coal-tar dyes. Neither jute, 

 cotton, nor any of the other textile plants are extensively cultivated. Amongst 



