26 



The Tamils here, as on the estates, take food before they pro- 

 ceed to their work, it may be good, it may be inferior (as has been 

 pointed out above); and it would appear perfectly feasible and 

 easy to institute a public kitchen wherever there are Tamils lines, 

 in order that they may purchase their portions of wholesome food 

 before proceeding to their work, as on the estates. They are now 

 on the ''rice ticket" system, are better paid than estate coolies, 

 and thus it appears superfluous to provide them with this meal free 

 of charge : the cost will be at least twice or three times the price 

 of the coffee. 



It is proposed to bring the institution of " public kitchens " into 

 practice as soon as possible. Caste prejudices will have to be 

 respected as on the estates, and it may be a little time before it 

 will come into general use. 



CHINESE. — With regard to the Sinkehs who live together in 

 kongsi houses, the " public kitchen " system has been introduced 

 and is working well. At first there was some grumbling, but now 

 all goes s moot hi v. 



The Chinese have a good meal of rice before they start for their 

 work, without the trouble of cooking it for themselves : at 1 1 a.m., 

 and at 5 p m., they also have good meals cooked for them. The 

 Chinese are also provided, free of charge, with pork on Sundays 

 (four tahils to each man), anything extra they can buy separately 

 in the kedei, and cook for themselves. 



These men are not provided with their morning meal free of 

 charge, so why should the Tamils be ? They work far harder and 

 do far more work than the Tamils. The wages of both are good 

 and there seems to be no necessity to provide the morning meal 



DESTRUCTION OP PARA RUBBER BY 

 CATERPILLAR. 



By Mr. F. W. Douglas, Forest Officer, Perak. 



In February this year a caterpillar made its appearance for the 

 second time at the Pondok Tanjong Plantation. The last occa- 

 sion being in 1898. 



The insect commenced feeding on the " Mengkirai " tree, and 

 then proceeded on to the Para rubber. Ah#ut 10 acres of young 

 and newly planted Para were stripped of all their leaves and young 

 shoots : notwithstanding this about 50% of the trees have recovered 

 and a still larger proportion would have done so probably, if it had 

 not been for the prolonged drought. 



It should be stated that Para is growing here under conditions 

 which do not obtain on the ordinary estate. The object of the 

 plantation is to grow timber, and Para is interplanted with the 

 young Chengal and Merbau, partly for shade but chiefly in order 

 to obtain some return from the plantation during the first 10 or 15 

 years of its existence, and before the timber can be of any value. 



