October i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
267 
realizing the transformation of labour. The ulti- 
mate objects are certainly good, but like nearly 
all such efforts in Brazil the means to be employed 
arc altogether ill-timed and visionary. There is 
abundant labour in Brazil for all immediate re- 
requiremcnts, but this is invariably overlooked for 
the untried, assistance of the immigrant. Up to 
the present moment we have not seen one serious 
discussion or plan in regard to the future status 
of the freedmen in Brazil. There will be a million 
and more of them — all poor, homeless, friendless, 
and able to work. They will not die from cold 
and hunger in Brazil, for nature will be an in- 
dulgent mother to them all ; but they will be 
vagabonds, idlers, beggars, thieves and assassins. 
What else can be expected. Without experience 
and knowledge of the world and with the vaguest 
ideas of what liberty and self-support mean, they 
are to be cast oil and left to shift for themselves. 
No one thinks of providing colonies for them, no 
one thinks of arranging labour for them at fair wages, 
no one even dreams of providing them with homes 
upon the unsettled lands of the nation. Thoy are 
accustomed to the climate and the methods of 
labor in vogue, but no one dreams of employing 
them ; they arc tractable and trustworthy, but no 
one cares to befriend them. It does not occur 
to their masters that the enforced labor of these 
people has enriched the country, and that there are 
but few families aud fortunes that have not 
been built up on foundations laid by their humble 
hands. All this is forgotten. Tho slave is accused 
of being ungrateful ; but where is the gratitude of 
his master '? And whore is the justice — to say 
nothing of the injustice of slavery itself — of cx- 
peoting industry, ambition and good conduct from 
an ignorant, debased race thus treated ? We 
firmly believe that kindness and generous treat- 
ment will retain a majority of the freedmen in 
the country and develop them into trustworthy 
laborers and orderly subjects. We are confident 
that Brazil has far more to hope from them than 
from I he majority of the Italians which specul- 
ators are now introducing under the aid and protec- 
tion of tire State. If now the Centro wishes to 
do a really patriotic: and benelicial work, let it 
turn its attention to this one great problem : — 
the establishment of the freedmen on the soil, in 
homo- of their own, and with all the protection 
which law and the generous sentiments of the 
public can accord to them. Let them not be 
taken from under the lash of the master to be 
plundered and driven by magistrates and police and 
sooiety, but let them be encouraged to labor for 
themselves, to educate their children, and to respect 
and obey wise and just laws. 
♦ 
PLANTING IN DELI. 
(Translated fur the Straits Times.) 
Of lat-, heavy rains have been continually fulling in 
Deli. Tiie tobacco crop runs every risk at turning Out 
to be a p.ior one. 
The news of the success attending Borneo tobacco in 
Holland ami the favourable opinion entertained of that 
art c >■ by experts there, ha-s opened tho e-yon of tho 
Deli Courant to the need for planters in the neighbour- 
ing Dutch colony doing their utmost to keep up its re- 
put, tio 1 for turning out excellent cover tobacco for 
cigar factories 1 . The praise . bestowed on the article 
troughtto market by the British North Borneo Com- 
pany sum- th.it dangers threaten from that island, 
Five year-, mil .-lip-,, brtoiv N,.r: h V, rum can turn Out 
tobacco 11 q em 1 1 les lurno enough to tender it a fi.rii.i.l- 
»t lo r.val to Deli, Planters there, howev. r. will <i.> well 
to take »t'n k of tlu tr position ami prospect*, aud in- 
quire how tar they oau host mak. Ilea l i„-ainst th • 
Merit bio competition. The Netherlands ludu Guv- 
eniiuuut too, sUouJd Uko wjruiug by the (tftoction tho 
current of planting enterprise is setting in. Hitherto 
the Government in Deli has been rather working against 
the planters, in forgetf ulness of the fact that the future 
prosperity of the colony depends on mutual co-operation 
now more called for than ever owing to North Borneo 
competition. The only way to meet it is for both the 
Government apa planters to work together in develop- 
ing to the utmost, the productive resources of Deli. 
The danger is heightened by the sundry points of re- 
semblance between North Borneo and the Kast Coast of 
Sumatra. Themost prominent is fertileland whichawaits 
cultivation but with a scattered and indolent popul- 
tion. In both countries, European planting outer- 
prise has to depend on imported labour — Chiuese 
especially. In Deli, the Government has hardly done 
anything to encourage increase of population during 
the '20 years tobacco planting has been going on. 
Private enterprise has to meet requirements in this 
direction. In North Borneo, the Government has 
fostered and extended encouragement to immigration 
of a desirable kind. In Deli, the Government has 
neglected the duty of laying out the country, by 
making roads, opening out means of communic- 
ation, and executing topographical surveys. 
Quite the contrary distinguishes the North liorneo 
authorities. They exert themselves to facilitate set- 
tlement by road making, .Vc. An efficient police or- 
ganisation is still needed in Deli though a great im- 
provement in this respect is manifest. The same 
branch of administration in North Borneo has more 
attention paid to it by the local Government. In Deli, 
official moves in these three directions are required 
to enable the Colony to attain that stage of advance- 
ment which its resources entitle it to reach. 
PLANTING IN MANILA. 
(Translated far the Straits Times.) 
The Comcrcio having advised the mercantile com- 
munity at Manila to take to the copra trade in the. 
Carolines, a correspondent called attention to the 
difficulties in the way. It is admitted that with pro- 
per management the copra trade, would yield remuner- 
ative returns but not in the Carolines, owing to their 
remoteness and scanty production. 
The Philippine authorities are taking steps to pro- 
mote the colonisation of the island ot Palawan by 
encouraging emigration from the Philippines proper. 
An 1 migrant thither in arrears with taxes will be 
exempted from payment. Ordinary emigrants will 
be exempted from any taxes whatever for ten 3 ears. 
They and their familes will be entitled to free pass- 
ages. Land will be given to them on condition of 
cultivating it on pain of forfeiture. The Government 
undertakes to supply them with rice and a small 
allowance of money daily for six months. The charges 
will be met out of local funds. These terms are liberal 
enough, but it remaius to be seen whether they will 
attract settlers to that remote island. 
ASSAM TEA. 
The Loudon merchauts whose windows for the last 
six months have exhibited black pyramidal piles bi- 
sected by gigantic placards bearing the inscription 
'• I ibilee'Tca" have for once in a way committel 
themselves to an advertisement which is uo more 
than the literal truth so far at least as a large por- 
tion of their stock is concerned. Though uo oue 
seems to hove noticed the Fact, Assam tea is one 
among the many more or less notable persons and 
thiug enti led to hold .fuhiloe synchronously with Her 
Gracious Majesty. The fust experimental plautnttou, 
indeed, was nude in Assam towards the l it ter end 01 
1835; but it was uot till 1837 that tho attempt met 
with any success, ami it was then also that the first 
simple reached Minciug I. me. In that year is* lb. 
.d' Assam tea were sold in London by public audi >ii, 
tho average price realised for it being IDs. per It-. 
Tlo se sale* marked tho commencement of that strug- 
gle with thu product of thu further Ki.it which it *« 
mdgo (rum the experience of the last few year', 
destined to cud in ite couipletj subjection. It «*- 
