316 



decline in !lie price of gatnbier, probably owjng 

 to the system of extensive adulteration, tluit the 

 planters did nut more than cover their expences 

 and entertained thoughts of removing to some 

 other country. Another cause ^vhkb undoubt- 

 edly powerfully co-operated in paralyzing the 

 gambler trade of Rhiu. was the injudiciuus impo- 

 sition by the NetheiiamU government of anexor- 

 bttant tax upon tfiis staple of Bin fang, as noti6ed 

 to the planters by a proclamation dated 26th 

 April 1826, which, rendering tliem incapable of 

 competing with the British settlements on equal 

 terms, drove them fairly out of the market. To 

 remedy this, the local government proposed that 

 the duty should be lowered to one florin on each 

 picui exported to Rhio, and four up<m all sent 

 to Java, but lam not aware whether the su<r^ 

 gestton were ever acted on, 



Bintansr produces no cattle whatever, and the 

 only animals of that description, which ut all 

 thrive there, are a few hordes : the neighboring 

 island of Pulo Piiligad, on the contrary, produces 

 cows, buffaloes, aud goats, in abundance. The 

 reason generally as^igned for the great mortality 

 o» cattle at Bintang is the presence of a poisonous 

 species of rush which is to be tbund growing 

 amongst the grass, the extirpation of which 

 would involve great difficulty attended with a 

 considerable expeuce of time and labor. 



The numerous rivm which intersect, and the 

 bays and slraiL*. which surround, the Residency 

 of Rhio, abound in very excellent fresh and salt 

 water fi.h, but they appear to be generally ne- 

 glected by the natives, who subsist principally 



