SUMATRA, 
iflancl, where the people are numerous and their parts good, they are 
found to be indcpcndant a!fo, and refufe to cultivate plantations, upon 
any other terms, than thofe on which they can difpote of the produce 
of them to private traders. 
The pepper plant being fcientifically arranged hi our catalogues, and ^'^^^ 
accurately defcribcd by good writci^, it is aim oft unneceiTary for me to 
fay^ that it is a vine, or creeping plant, with a ligneous ftalk, and dark 
green leaves, heart ihaped, pointed, not poignant to the taile, and having 
but little or no fmelU The bloffom is fmaU and white, and the fruit 
hangs in bunches refembling thofe of the currant tree, but longer and 
lefs pliant. It is four or five months iq coming to maturity. The ber- 
ries are at firft green, turning to a bright red when ripe and in perfcifUon, 
and foon tall off, if not gathered in proper time. As the whole clufter 
docs not ripen at once, pare of the berries would be loft in waiting for 
the latter ones ; it is therefore neceffary to pluck the bunch, as foon as 
its firft berries ripen ; and it is even ufual to gather them green, when 
they attain to their full growth. Small bafkets flung over the Ihoulder, 
and a triangular ladder are ufcd in colledling the fruit ; which, when 
gathered, is fpread out upon mats, or fmooth fpots of clean, hard ground, 
without the garden. It there ibon dries, and lofes its color, becoming 
black and fhrivellcd, as we fee it in Europe. That which is gathered 
at a proper age, will ihrlvel leaft : if plucked too foon, before the berry 
has acquired the due deg^rcc of hardnefs, tt will in a {hort time, by re- 
moval from place to place, become mere duft. When fpread to dry, 
the berries in a few days begin to loofen from the ftalks : it is then 
rubbed by hand, to clear it from thefe latter ; and when thoroughly dry, 
it undergoes a kind of winnowing, to render it perfectly clean. As 
there will ftill, however, be light pepper among it, the planter being 
willing to throw away as little as poffible, it muft again be garbled at the 
fcale, by machines for that purpofe. A common trial of its goodnefs, 
is by rubbing it hard between both hands : if this produces little or no 
effe<ft on it, the pepper is found ; but if it has been gathered too young, 
or has been fuffered to lie too long upon the earth, in moift weather, 
E c a great 
