106 BRITISH BORNEO. 
preface to the second edition of his “Life in the Forests of 
the Far East,” lays great stress on the suitability of North 
Borneo for the immigration of Chinese on a very large 
scale, and prophesied that ‘‘should the immigration once 
commence, it would doubtless assume great proportions 
and continue until every acre of useless jungle is cleared 
away, to give place to nce, pepper, gambien meu 
cane, cotton, coffee, indigo and those other products which 
flourish on its fertile soil.” No doubt a considerable impe- 
tus would be given to the immigration of Chinese and the 
introduction of Chinese as well as of European capital, were 
the British Government to proclaim® formally a Protectorate 
over the country, meanwhile the Company should try the 
effect of the offer of free passages from China and from Singa- 
pore and of liberal allotments of suitable land to bond fide 
agriculturists. 
The sources of the Company’s revenues have been 
referred to ona previous page, and may be summarised 
here under the following principal heads:—The “Farms” 
of Opium, Tobacco, Spirits, and of Pawnbroking, the Rent of 
the edible birds’-nest caves, Market Due$, Duties on Imports 
and Exports, Court Fines and Fees, Poll Tax on aborigines, 
House and Store Rents, profit accruing from the introduction 
of the Company’s copper or bronze token coinage—a consider- 
able item—Interest and Commission resulting from the Bank- 
ing business carried on by the Treasury pending the estab- 
lishment of a Banking Company, Land Sales and Quit-rents 
on land alienated, and Postal Receipts. 
The Poll Tax is a source of revenue well-known in the 
East and not objected to by most of our natives, with whom 
it takes the place of the land rent which the Government of 
India imposes. ‘To our aborigines a land rent would be most 
distasteful at present, and they infinitely prefer the Poll Tax 
and to be allowed to own and farm what land they like with- 
out paying premium or rent. The more civilized tribes, espe- 
cially on the West coast, recognize private property in land, 
the boundaries of their gardens and fields being carefully © 
* Now accomplished. 
