© Mrs. H. P. Kimball 



BURDEN BEARERS IN JAVA 



The Dutch East Indies have for centuries supplied the Western World with much of its 

 spices and more of its raw drugs. Tens of thousands of tons have gone to market in such 

 baskets as these. 



dence and the passing of her riches and 

 her glory. 



THE SUBMARINE, THE AEROPLANE, AND 

 CASTOR OIE 



It is not generally known that most of 

 the castor bean from which castor oil is 

 pressed comes to the United States from 

 India. Indeed, our annual importation in 

 normal times is nearly a million bushels. 

 The Orient has always produced this 

 "delicacy" of our childhood days, and it 

 is interesting to remember that the Ebers 

 papyrus, an Egyptian medical manuscript, 

 written when Moses was a young man, 

 speaks of the medicinal virtues of the 

 castor plant. 



Today importers are viewing with ap- 

 prehension (and children with joy) the 

 castor-oil situation. Not only is produc- 

 tion lessened, but with the difficulties of 

 sea transportation from India are increas- 

 ing with the lack of ships. In fact, earth, 

 heaven, and ocean seem to conspire 



against castor oil; submarines are am- 

 bitious to send it to the bottom of the sea, 

 while aeroplanes demand it as a lubricant 

 in large quantities. Therefore, with our 

 ambitious air program and our diminish- 

 ing supply of oil, we have reason to study 

 the situation a little. 



However, the castor plant will grow 

 rapidly almost everywhere ; it is fre- 

 quently seen cultivated in our gardens. 

 The machinery for crushing is also avail- 

 able ; so if a shortage really becomes in- 

 evitable, the Department of Agriculture 

 will be able to incubate another infant 

 industry. 



THE GLORY OP VENICE AND THE DRUG 

 TRADE 



The story of Venice is so essentially 

 romantic that to mention commerce in 

 connection with it seems out of drawing. 

 Yet it was as merchants that the Vene- 

 tians were famed. The traffic in spices 

 and aromatic drugs began to assume vast 



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