SUMATRA. 
a great part of it will be reduced to dufl:. Pepper which has fallen to 
the ground over-ripe, and been gathered from thence, will be known by 
being deprived of its outer coat* It is in this ilate, an inferior kind of 
white pepper* 
Cuirkwbo of In the cultivation of pepper, the fir ft circumftance that claims at- 
tention, and on which indeed the i^'hole depends, is the choice of pro* 
per ground. The experiments hitherto made by Europeans, have not 
been JufEciently accuratCj to determine the particular foil that fuits it 
beft; but it appears to thrive with nearly equal vigour in all the different 
kinds, between the two extremes,' of fimd, which prevails through the 
!ow country near the fea coaft; and of the barren, yellow elay, ot which 
is formed the greater pan of the rifing grounds, as they approach the 
hills. The latter indeed^ at greater or lefs depth, conftitutes generally 
the bafis even of the bell foils; but when covered by a coat of mouldy 
not lefs then a foot deep, it is fuffic'iently fertile for every purpofe of 
this eukivation. The level ground, along the banks of rivets^ if not fo 
low as to be flooded by the frellics; or evf n then, if the water does not 
remain upon it above a day; affords in general the moft eligible fpors, 
both in point of fertility, and the convenience of water carriage for the 
produce. Declivities, unlefs very gentle, are to be avoided; as the 
mould, loofcnd by culture, is liable in fuch fituations, to be fwept 
away by the heavy rains. Even plains, when covered by long grafs only, 
will not be found to anfwer, without the nfUftauce of the plough, and of 
maTiute; their long expofure to the fun, exhaufting the fource of their 
fertility. How far the produce in general might be encreafed by the 
introdudbn of tbefe improvements in agriculture, I cannot take upon 
me to fay, but 1 fear, that from the natural indolence of the people, 
and their averfenefs from the bufinefs of pepper planting, owing in great 
meafure to the fmall returns it yields them, they will never be prevailed 
upon to take more pains with it than they now do. The planter, there- 
forcj depending more upon the natural qualit)- of the foil, than on any 
improvement it may receive from his labor, will find none to fuit 
Uifi purpofe better than that covered with old woods; whofe rotting 
trunks 
