184 Letter XT. 
the equator. Coffee, ginger, tobacco, sugarcane, and nutmegs, 
exist at present on various of the islands—some indigenously, 
others having been imported ; but none of them are as yet cul- 
tivated with a view to export. 
I have seen several coffee plants, some very large, and bear- 
ing an immense quantity of berries. There is no doubt but 
that the plant grows well, although I am not aware whether its 
produce is equal in point of quality to that grown in Ceylon 
and elsewhere. I see no reason, however, why it should not 
be, and believe that, from the great variety of soil and situation 
which these islands afford, this valuable article might be grown 
on many of them with much success. 
Ginger and nutmegs are indigenous plants, and, although 
not themselves the articles of commerce, show that their more 
valued relatives might be cultivated here. 
The tobacco plant is found on several of the islands, and 
seems to thrive tolerably. It grows rather rank for making 
really a good leaf, but attention might amend this. The natives 
dry and smoke it when they can get none of the imported 
article ; but they decidedly prefer the latter. 
The sugarcane does very well, and is cultivated to a consider- 
able extent by the natives as an article of food. The canes 
are thick, strong, and very sweet, and bye-and-bye, when men 
of capital turn their attention to them, will yield a rich 
harvest. 
Utilising the fibre of the cocoanut-husk.and banana-stem 
is another industry in which much might be done. I think 
I said before that Mr. Hebblewhite, of Havannah Harbour, is 
erecting a building and procuring machinery for making coir 
matting, brushes, &c., from the cocoanut fibre. It is to be 
hoped that he may be successful in the enterprise, and thus 
develop this new industry in the group. With regard to the 
