1840.] on the Tenasserim Provinces, fyc. 163 



VII. The combination of agricultural with mercantile pursuits 

 forms an additional reason to select this part of India in pre- 

 ference to many others. I mean, a planter can combine the 

 sale of valuable spontaneous productions of nature which sur- 

 round, with his chief pursuits in agriculture. 



As the greater part of valuable productions can only be ob- 

 tained from plants which require several years* growth before 

 they arrive at maturity, the time which intervenes is lost to 

 the planter in expectations, and can be turned to account by 

 converting into practical use the following productions, which 

 to this day are unused, though of intrinsic value, viz. — sticklac, 

 the gamboge, the caoutchouc, the different gum resins, the wood 

 oil, the black varnish, the aloes, and sandal woods, the native 

 dyes, and several tanning substances, &c. &c. 



VIII. The last advantage which the provinces offer as a colo- 

 ny, consists in the facility of getting good labourers ; though the 

 country is thinly peopled, and the Burmese on account of their 

 independence and want of skill will never be extensively used 

 as labourers, yet the Chinese can be brought into the country ; 

 it would only be necessary to direct the tide of their emigra- 

 tion from Singapore here, and certainly if Chinese once knew 

 that they could find remunerating employment they would flock 

 of themselves to these shores. 



This is a matter of vital importance just at present, when the 

 effects of the emancipation of negro slaves has involved the 

 greatest part of the tropical colonies in embarrassments which 

 threaten some of them with ruin. The advantages of having an 

 European colony would be briefly the following : — 



1 . It would be the best means of rendering the country in the 

 shortest possible time remunerating. Until now it has been a 

 loss, and though it has made a gradual progress towards the 

 better, yet it will be a considerable time before the native popu- 

 lation augments sufficiently to render the country a source of 

 revenue to government. It must besides be kept in mind, that 

 should circumstances ever allow of settled government in Pegu, 

 the greater part of the population in the north will emigrate 

 from Tenasserim and return to their old homes, where they will 

 have protection. 



