315 



practice which has been, of late, carried to such 

 an extent in the Residency of Rhio» as to cause 

 the gambier of that settlement to fall greatly out 

 of repute, and lhat of Malacca is considered the 

 most i^entiine. 



In 1825, however, the Bintang gambier was 

 superior in quality to» and higher priced than, 

 any other, being at lhat time thirteen guilders a 

 picul, and the exports of that year to Java and 

 Siam amounting to 74»43G piculs, exhibiliog an 

 increase over the preceding year of 21,733 picula. 

 The leaves used in the manufacture of gambier, 

 are employed afterwards as manure for the pep- 

 per plants, for which they are admirably adapt- 

 ed as they prevent the sprin^ring up of grass and 

 weeds. The m mufacture of gambier is at pre- 

 sent entirely in the hands of the Chinese, who 

 were originally employed by the Malay <!*wners 

 as laborers, onacoount of their superior skill, and 

 who have eventaally contrived to engross the 

 whole to themselves. 



The pepper cultivation of Bintang is very in- 

 sicrnificaiit, as the soil of the island is by no means 

 adapted for this article of produce. What plants 

 there are, are to be found scattered amongst the 

 gambier plantations, and are cultitated merely 

 in the leisure hours of the owners. 



They are very weak and sickly, and produced 

 only 9,404 piculs in lb25, which exhibited a de- 

 crease of 50 1 piculs over the preceding year, 

 (vide comparative statement, &cO; and, in 1826. 

 there was a further decrease of 1,777 piculs, the 

 produce being only 7,627, 



In the foUowiug year, also, there was such a 



