TOLLS AT THE MARKET PLACES. 177 



regular proportion of two- fifths of the produce. In 

 addition to this, every community is compelled, when 

 directed by Government, to clear a certain quantity 

 of land, and to plant and cultivate coffee, sugar-cane, 

 tobacco, or whatever may be directed, and to deliver 

 the produce to Government, at a certain fixed rate 

 of payment, which is in fact the wages of the labour. 

 At every pasar also, or market-place, tolls are de- 

 manded from all sellers of any kind of article, 

 whether they occupy a stall or not, and these tolls 

 are farmed almost universally by Chinese, who are 

 very oppressive and extortionate in their exaction. 

 Similar tolls are collected in the same way at piers 

 in the harbours of the coast, but I did not hear that 

 they were taken on any roads or bridges, or at the 

 entrances of towns. 



The above are the direct taxes in money or pro- 

 duce, but the people have also to provide labour, 

 and the use of horses and carts, and victuals for 

 Government travellers. Each kampong, or commu- 

 nity, in proportion to its population, provides so 

 many coolies, and so many horses, &c. at the diffe- 

 rent wissel-posts on the public roads. If these are 

 required in the direct service of Government, or 

 for the use of a Government officer travelling on 

 duty, no payment is made, but if for the use of per- 

 sons travelling by permission of Government, on 

 their own concerns, there are certain fixed rates of 

 payment. Every traveller, moreover, in places where 

 there are no hotels, must be supplied with food by 



VOL. II. N 



