36 



Spices.™ There is only a small trade passing, and quotations are 

 unaltered. At auction on Wednesday, Cochin Ginger was 

 bought in at 65.9. per cwt. for medium and small native-cut, 

 at 5O0. for small cut, and at 38.9. for Calicut brown rough, a 

 few bags of slightly mouldy selling at 36s. 6d. per cwt. 



Jamaica mostly sold, with fair competition, at full prices to 

 is. per cwt. dearer, common to ordinary at 375*. to 42s., mid- 

 dling to fair, 425. 6d. to 459., and dull bold at 455. to 465. per 

 cwt. Zanzibar Cloves are steady at ^d. per lb. on the spot, 

 and at 3^. for future delivery. Black Pepper remains quiet, 

 with trade orders for Singapore at 6d. per lb., but there is 

 very little doing for speculation, only a few transactions being 

 reported at 6d. to G^d. per lb. for near and distant shipment. 

 Singapore White is quoted gd. per lb. and Penang 8-^*/. per 

 lb. The quarterly auction of Cinnamon will take place on 

 Monday next. 



Vanilla. — Although only a small supply offered at auction, the 

 demand was poor, and only part sold, at about is. decline, 

 as follows : — Seychelles, 7 to 8 inches 15.9. to 1 8.9., 3 to 7 inches 

 lis. to 15.9. 6d., and common splits 3.9. 6d. to ins. 6d. per lb. 

 Mauritius, good 7J to 8J inches 20s., 6\ to 7 inches 185-. 6d. 

 to igs. ; 6 to 6^ inches, 15.9. to 175. 6d. and common splits 10s. 

 to 15.9. 6d. Bourbon, fair 5 J to 7 inches 159. to 15.9. 6W. The 

 export of Vanilla from Mexico decreased considerably both in 

 quantity and value during 1900, as the frosts and rains in the 

 early ^>art of the year and the want of the latter at the proper 

 season spoilt the plants, and the crop was subsequently lost. 

 The quantity exported was 60,92 r lbs. as against 133,676 lbs. 

 in 1899, an d the values were respectively £62,565 and £181,547. 

 Vanilla is now receiving the attention of many of the American 

 Agricultural Companies whose properties are in the State of 

 Vera Cruz, and it is quite probable that the exports during 

 1901 will, under normal conditions, be greater than in 1900. 



The weather for August. 



August has been a dry month in Singapore and the Federated 

 Malay States. Malacca alone slightly exceeded the monthly aver- 

 age ; 1 1.58., having been registered at the General Hospital. The 

 least amount fell at Klang, the month's fall there being only 1.77. 

 Appended is the Abstract of the Readings taken at the different 

 Stations. 



