S'U'M A T R A/ 107 
trunks, and falling leaves, eoAire to him a degree of fertility, fupCTior 
to any that is likely to be given to other ground^ by a people, with 
whom agriculture 13 in its infancy. Such fpots are geucrally chofen by 
the indurtrious among them for their laddafigs (paddee or rice planta- 
tions); and though the labor that attends them is confiderable, and it 
may be prefumcd, that their fertility can fcarcely be fo foon exhaufled, 
it is very feidom that they feek from the fame ground, a fecond crop of 
grain. Allured by the certainty of confide r able produce from a virgin foil, 
and having land, fof the mofl: part at will, they renew their labor annu- 
ally, and defcrt the plantations of the preceding year. Such deferted 
plantations, however, are often favorable for pepper gardens; and young 
woods, of even three or four years growth (^baisokar), frequently cover 
ground of this nature, equstl to any that is to be met with. Upon the 
Uhole, where variety of fituations admits of choice, the preference is to 
be given, to level grounds; moderately elevaied; covered with wood ; 
as near as may be to the banks of rivers or rivulets j and the furface of 
whofe foil is a dark mould of proper depth. This is to be cleared as for 
a ladd^ng; the underwood being firft cut down, and left fon^e days to 
wither, before the larger trees are felled. When completely dry, and 
after fome continuance of fair weather, the whole is burned; and if 
effectually done, little remains to render the fpot as clear as is requifite. 
' ' ' The garden ground is then marked out, in reg^Jlar fquares of fix feet 
©r five Malay covits, tlie intended dUtance of the plants of which there 
are ufually a thou Hind in each garden* The next bufinefs is to plant 
the cliff kareens* Thefe are to fcrve as props to the pepper vines, (as 
the Romans planted elms for their grapes), and are cuttings of a tree of 
that name, put in the ground feveral months before the pepper, that the 
ihoot may be llrong enough to fupport the plants when it comes to twine 
round it. Sometimes the chinkareens are chofen fix feetlon^, and the 
tine is then planted the fame feafon, or as foon as the former is fuppofed 
to have taken root: but the principal ohje<ftions to this method are, that 
in this ft ate, they ere very liable to fail, and require renewal, to the 
ptejudice of the garden; that their fhoots are not fo vigorous as th^^e of 
the 
