corn . — Hen/* — Capital 



155 



down to (hat which will only now give 100 gun tangs, 

 may and probably will lie, cultivated during such 

 term as it may be given rent free, or perhaps after, 

 at a small rent ; because, estimating his labor as it 

 suits his caprice, the ryot will repay himself tor it in 

 produce, will have the collateral advantages of a land- 

 owner or settled fanner, before noticed, and have the 

 chance of its rising in market value by the applka- 

 tioa of new modes of cultivation to it. 



That large importations of grains into this settle- 

 ment, where labor other than agricultural can find 

 but scanty employment, would, if that grain were to 

 be soM at a price considerably below the average 

 market price of graiu grown here, and to be of a 

 qqpljty equal with, if not superior to thjs last, fend to 

 throw out of cultivation, to a certain extent, such laud 

 ns could not yield more than 200 gunnings of rice in 

 the husk, — may be true. Yet, if w e look to the {rifling 

 effects which large importations have already had 

 in reducing prices, and fo fhe inferior market worth 

 of the greatest portion of these imports, compared with 

 that of grain grown here, np reasonable cause ot alarm 

 would seen) to exist, As no country is exempted from 

 tbe evil of a failure in its crops, so it is an advantage 

 to have a resource at banc) even at the expense of di- 

 minished profits. In 1808, there was a great scarcity 

 in Kedtlah of rice, owing to the nmriain amongst the 

 cattle ; and in 182*2, there was another scarcity, In 

 and 1830 {here were severe droughts. In a li- 

 mited territory like this, rice cannot be permanently 

 in excess to. consumption, \ siuce, if cultivation did 

 not halt so as merely to keep the population 

 stationary, that surplus would, ju time, go io increase 

 population and consumption. Win n cultivation has 

 proceeded so far as to leave a surplus over the con, 

 sutpption of (he settlement, q thing which may happeij 



