1841.] Report on the Island of Chedooba. 359 



extensive culture of it. That soils exist in the Island, where it may be 

 grown with advantage to greater extent, and of better quality than at 

 present, I doubt not, but I think that the advantage to the Island would 

 be limited to the production of a supply of it sufficient to give fuller 

 employment to the native looms, as at present wrought for domestic pur- 

 poses, without recourse to importation. 



In the gardens of every village Sugar Cane in small patches is to be 

 found ; it is mostly of a red kind, small, and woody in stem, with short 

 joints. In the Eastern parts of the Island it is grown to extent sufficient 

 for the production of a few maunds of jaghery ; but in the Western 

 parts, where it is of more recent introduction, a sweetmeat for children 

 is the highest object of its growth. 



As with the Cotton, and for the same reason, I incline to the opinion 

 that Chedooba does not hold out the prospect of any extensive growth 

 of the Sugar Cane. 



The only place where I have seen this valuable produce flourishing 

 in this part of the world has been in the Amherst Province of Tenasserim, 

 where it was luxuriating in a soil very different from any which were 

 found, or are I think to be found, in Chedooba, a dark rich vegetable 

 mould. In the neighbouring Island of Ramree it thrives well, and it 

 is fair also to state that not only is the Chedooba plant one of very 

 inferior quality, but that not the slightest trouble in the way of cultivation 

 is taken with it ; portions of the cane being merely put into the ground 

 in the month of May, and left to nature to bring to perfection. That 

 therefore as with the cotton it might be both improved in quality and 

 increased in quantity, admits of reasonable expectation. But there seem 

 to be insurmountable obstacles to Chedooba ever becoming of importance 

 as a Sugar Island, arising from the unsuitableness of the soil in general, 

 and, (under the supposition of the occupation of all rice grounds in the 

 cultivation of that staple,) the too limited extent of surface for such 

 purpose, clear of steep hill sides, which would remain. In passing 

 through the jungle on one occasion a cleared spot of some 4 or 5 acres 

 was found occupied half with hemp, and half with indigo. 



This was a speculation of a native, and the unusual enterprize it dis- 

 covered promised to bring its reward, as both crops appeared healthy 

 and flourishing. The planting of Indigo is very limited, the plant of an 

 inferior quality, and its preparation a very clumsy operation. It is 

 not grown for export, but sold in the different villages to dye the produce 

 of the native looms. 



