November i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
309 
Coast of Sumatra. Ibc Netherlands Indian Gov- 
ernment proposes to send the Consul General at 
Singapore on a mission for the purpose accom- 
panied by a Controller from the East Coast 
Sumatra. The expense of the mission falls upon 
the Home finances. It is evident that the success 
of tie mission depends upon the tact and energy 
of the commissiomis select! d. Planters in Deli 
now feci n ore than ever the need for depending 
on otlur labourers than Chinese. The latter 
have become scarce and dear owing to the action 
of the coolie brokers in the Straits, who find it 
to their interest to keep up the price of labour. 
Tim brokers form a ring and dictate their own 
teems to the planters. The latter, at one time, 
cm biiicd ata>nst them, but had to give in owing 
to some of their i. umber breaking word and squar- 
ing matters with the brokers. A regular supply 
of cheap labour is acknowledged to be of vital 
importance to planting enterprise in the pioneer- 
ing clays of a Colony. Cne need not be thoroughly 
versed in planting matters to understand what 
will be the tato of estates which havo no com- 
mand of labour, or can seoure it with difficulty. 
Planters on the East Coast of Sumatra have to 
struggle with these hindrances. Hence, no wonder 
they longingly look forward to tho conclusion of 
a coolie convention with tho Indian Government. 
Such a state of things urgently calls for remedy. 
Difficulties have alwa>s attended the emigration of 
coolies from India. Their migration to Deli was 
looked upon with disfavour by the Indian Gov- 
ernment, owing to the Dutch authorities refusing to 
allow the appointment of a British official as 
their Protector in that colony. A compromise in 
the direction of appointing a Dutch official ac- 
quainted with the Tamil lunguage as Protector 
proved impracticable, owing to nobody with that 
qualification being available. Considering that the 
Indian Government has insisted on a Protector of 
Indian immigrants even in the Straits Settlements, 
it cannot be expected to waive this requirement 
in a foreign colony where their interests stand in 
greuter nerd of safeguarding. Planters in Deli 
have had good reason to complain of Government 
neglect of their interests in this respect. As far 
back as 1884, the subject was brought under the 
notice of the Governor General of Netherlands, 
India, who promised at the time to do everything 
in his power to further the end in view. It is 
not till now, that action has been taken in the 
direction of moving the Home Government in 
Holland. The difficulty lies in giving the Indian 
Government satisfactory security that its subjects 
will meet with justice and fair dialing. In by- 
gone years, in the early days of tobneco growing 
in Deli , that colony enjoyed an evil repute for 
lawlessness and harshness towards coolies. Now- 
adays matters have vastly improved in this res- 
pect. When common sense and sound judgment 
are once brought to bear on the subject, the 
difficulties in tho way of a convention will soon 
vanibh. It is to be hoped that tho Netherlands 
Government will see their way to come to some 
timing' nient admitting of tho stationing of a Coolie 
Protector in Deli. Anything short of this will doom 
the mission to failure. 
PLANTING IN DELI. 
(Traiulated for the Straits 'limes.) 
A correspondent of tho Java liode has been spy- 
ing out the land in Deli. He is not at all favour- 
ably impressed by Government arrangements thero 
which Bcern to ,bo mainly directed to levying 
taxes. The encouragement of planting enterpriso 
turns out to bu a matter of secondary importance. 
The first glimpse of the country caught by a travel- 
ler voyaging thither, does not convey a taking idea 
of the land of promise. Labuan Deli, the first 
coast port called at is nothing more or less than 
a Chinese village in the midst of mud, filth and 
all uncleanness. Fever stricken wretches creep 
about the shore. The houses stand in a swamp 
giving ( at pestilential exhalations too strong for 
the feeble vegetation to absorb. A railway soon 
takes one from this seat of disease to Medan 
higher up. This town yet in its infancy bids fair 
to attain large dimensions as time rolls on. Building 
operations are proceeding apace. Carpenters, ma- 
sons, and bricklayers display intense activity. Build- 
ings are rising up on all sides. A railway station 
forms a prominent feature in the view. Hotels 
and Government buildings meet the gaze. Outside 
the town, a racecourse adds to its attractions in the 
eyes of sportsmen of whom there is no lack there. 
Further inland, tobacco estates dot the country. 
Their produce bears brands that rejoice the hearts 
of brokers in the Amsterdam markets, and bring 
prices averaging sometimes two and a quarter guild- 
ers per pound. They yield dividends bringing joy 
and gladness to shareholders, Many of them belong 
to a few powerful companies. They set to work 
with that preponderance and dominating influence 
which, according to nineteenth century ideas, give 
every right to expect high market quotations. Sin- 
gular to say, it is just these companies which pay 
employees the worst. They make a point of en- 
gaging young fellows of no experience in Holland 
and Germany, who think it a great thing to draw 
a salary of eighty guilders or marks as the case 
may be. 'When too late they discover that a wage 
of that amount hardly keeps them going. In their 
agreement, increases of pay early are stipulated for, 
but these enhancements go upon the same econo- 
mical principle which counselled getting them out 
on low salaries. However high may be the dividend 
earned by these companies, thanks to the energy, 
activity, and conscientiousness of their em- 
ployees, the latter are none the better for 
them. On the other hand, on private estates, it 
is no rarity to find book-keepers and assistants 
who engaged at 100 to ISO dollars a month, 
draw a salary of $'200 on entering their third year 
of service. Sometimes, harsh judgments are passed 
upon these assistants calling in question their 
conduct. Sweeping condemnation is passed upon 
them, in forgetfulntss of the fact that a batch of 
individuals, take them from whateverclass of society 
one likes, will show the usual admixture of good 
and bad characters. Formerly, in tho early days 
of tobacco growing when, from the absence of 
effective police arrangements, a tight hand had to 
bo kept over the coolies, the assistants exercised 
rigour and strictness bordering upon ill-treatment 
and even cruelty. Nowadays, when law and order 
are more vigorously enforced, such instances of es- 
tate despotism have become rarer. An assistant's 
situation is no sinecure, especially for those who 
have to serve under hard masters. In that case, 
they must be in the fields and store-houses, work 
or no work, from early in the morning to 11 a.m. 
After a short spell, they turn to again in tho 
fierce heat from one to six o'clock. Some masters 
treat their European employees but little better 
than coolies. Others even grudge them the time 
spent in eating. They set spies upon them, and 
even keep watch on their movements in the fields 
with telescopes. Many more, however, treat their 
employees with every kindness and indulgence. But 
when sicklies-, or lever overtake-; a Km op an on 
the East Coast of Sumatra, he is in a very bad case 
indeed. Fiw i whites lie .so high among hills that they 
present the advantages of a sanitarium, batavis 
