S34 
THE TROW DHL AtSWK»LTOR18T. [February i, i8 9 o 
Otjer reliable testimony could be produced to prove 
the truth of the foregoing remarks, which are based 
upon f ;tual experience rather than upon mere theory 
and nearly every circumstance that comes under our 
r otioe points to the same result. But the trade are 
row running the risk of falling into anew danger by 
the threatened scarcity of common teas, through China 
Monings and Kaisows not arriving here in the same 
abundance as hitherto, and the reports from India are 
not so satisfactory as they were regarding the outturn 
of the present season's crops, most of them stating the 
yield to be about 5,000,000 lb. lighter than orignally 
estimated, or not beyond 96,000,000 lb. to 100,000,000 
lb. at the outside. It is however, the more gratifying 
to know that the production of tea in Oeylon betrays do 
sign 8 of diminution; on the contrary, it progress more 
favourably than ever, and is likely to reach between 
42,000,000 lb. and 43,000,000 lb. in the coming year 
Last season's crop yielded abont 33,000,000 lb., and in. 
1887-88 it oomprised nearly 21,000,000 lb., so that the 
present one is double that in 1888-89. This is an 
encouraging fact for the dealers and retailers, who 
may rely upon a further increase in the supplies of 
their favourite description of tea, if those from China 
should disappoint them ; and while the public demand 
a particular class of tea it is the duty of the trade 
to serve them with the artiole they require, so long 
as circumstances render this possible. — Grocer. 
* 
A CINCHONA AND QUININE FACTORY IN 
SOUTHEKN INDIA. 
The Wynaad Planters' Association allude in their last 
annual report to a disease that is killing out young 
cinchona clearings wholesale in many parts of the dis- 
trict, and propose to address Government for the ser- 
vices of Mr. Lawson to investigate the matter. If it 
is a disease it is not novel, as the unaccountable dying 
off of cinchona seedlings has repeatedly occurred on 
the Nilgiris and the cause is veiled in mystery. We 
trust the Director will be able to throw some light on 
the subject, as from his annual reports it would appear 
the phenomenon is not unknown on the Government 
plantations. The probability of the Wynaad planters 
starting a quinine factory of their own, for the treat- 
ment of bark grown in the district, depends they say on 
the absence of competition by Governmeri,and the rich- 
ness of the bark in alkaloids. If by united effort such 
a factory could be established, we think that much 
benefit would result to the planter, the freight on a 
large quantity of useless matarial transported would 
be saved, and the duty on the 6 ug be put into the 
grow 's pocket, ins ad of goirj into the revenue. 
The Neddiwuttum factory should be able to furnish some 
idea of the cost of maohinery, and if it proves success- 
ful there ought to ts data available for the other ques- 
tion needing solution. — South of India Observer, 4th 
Jan. 1890. 
♦ 
THE SEASON IN INDIA. 
The weekly summary of the provincial reports on 
the weather and prospects of the crops is as fol'ows : — 
Madras. — For week ending December 28th. — Rain- 
fall good in Godavari, Madras, Chigleput, North 
Aroot, Nilgeris and South Oanara ; none in Bellary Kur- 
nool, Tinnevelly ; slight in Kistna, Tanjore, Madura 
and Coimbatore, and moderate elsewhere. Crops im- 
proving after the recent raim, but withering in 
parts of South Arcot, Madura, Tinnevelly, Coimbatore, 
Salem and Ellore. Prices generally falling or sta- 
tionary. General prospects much improved. 
Bengal.— For week ending December 31st.— Bain- 
fall during the week very slight, and confined to 
a few districts only. Kioe harvest for the most part 
over, and the general outturn for the whole Province 
is expected to be average or nearly so. 
Buema. — For week ending December 28th. — There 
was slight rain in Bassein and Amherst in Lower 
Burma, aid Blight rain generally in all districts of 
Uppper Burma, except Pyinmana. The price of paddy 
has fallen slightly in Thongwa and risen slightly in 
Prome ; elsewhere in Lower Burma, there are no 
fluctuations. In Upper Burma, a full is noticeable in 
Katba ; elsewhere prices remain unchanged. With the 
exception of part of the Prome District where some 
crops were damaged for want of late raiue, the crops 
throughout the Piovince promise well. The food supply 
is sufficient. — Pioneer, Ja.i. 7th. 
THE BRITISH EAST AFRICAN COMPANY. 
From an independent and perfectly reliable source 
a London correspondent bears that the British 
East African Company are already taking measures 
for the settlement of their territory. They are 
importing labour extensively from Persia, and the 
correspondent's informant recently met at one of 
the Indian ports a batch of the men en route for 
the East African littoral. They are described as 
fine, stalwart men, and splendid specimens of the 
Persian agriculturist. Among their impedimenta 
were their native impliments, which, it is believed, 
they will find more serviceable than the more 
modern productions of the West. Their future is 
very much in the hands of the local officers of 
the company, but it is settled that they are to 
have a free grant of land and assistance in other 
ways, and it is probable that they will devote 
themselves to the cultivation of tobaooo and opium, 
for which the soil of East Africa is admirably 
adapted. — P. M. Budget. 
+ 
PLANTING IN DELI: SUGAR AND TOBACCO. 
(From the Straits Times, Jan. 7th.) 
The Deli Courant learns, on good authority, that 
the Netherlands India Government intends to liberalise 
the land laws in its outlying possessions. The object 
:'s to give the local authorities greater discretionary 
powers in the matter of granting waste land for settle- 
ment. Hitherto, applications of this kind have been 
dealt with at Batnvia, where delays of office do not 
ail to hamper planting enterprise. 
The new Coolie Ordinance Bhows several shortcom- 
ings which the Planters' Association have not been 
long in laying their fiugers upon, to such purpose that 
its amendment will shortly be taken in hand. As the 
law stands, one chief defect lies in allowing coolies to 
leave estates in a body, unpunished, provided they 
turn out on the pretence of laying their real or fancied 
grievances before the nearest officials. Peaoe and order 
on plantations will be imperilled as soon asthe coolies 
find this out. 
The negociations for an inflow of Tamil immigrants 
for estate labour in Deli have entered upon such a 
stage that there is every prospect of a satisfactory re- 
sult. The Netherlands Indian Government has yielded 
the main point urged by the Indian Ciovernment in 
consenting to the appointment of a Protector of Tamil 
coolies. 
Meanwhile, the Chinese coolies in the land give the 
planters trouble enough. The Simpang Tiga, Sunghie 
Silam, and HessaEstateB in AsBahanhave been recently 
scenes of disturbance. On one of them a row among 
the labourers narrowly led to their marching off in a 
body, and it took a large body of police to restore 
order. On another, differences about pay nearly 
brought on a riot. On the third, the coolies raised a 
disturbance which resulted in a couple of assistants 
being illtreated. They then left theestute, and appeared 
before the nearest magistrate, to whom they behaved 
bo threateningly that he had to overawe them by armed 
force. With great difficulty they were induced to return 
to the estate. 
On the Tandem Hilir estate in Lower Langkat, 
a coolie riot last month reached such proportions that 
armed police had to intervene. They found themselves 
obliged to open fire on the rioters, who soon quieted 
down on a volley, killing six of them and wounding 
. five more. The polioe, thus set at defiance, mastered 
