September i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
213 
the latter was re-exported to different parts of Europe, 
I firmly believe that the largost portion of it was 
sold and shipped to the United States, and this 
belief I base upon what I heard here from reliable 
Bources. For the rest, our own trade statistics of im- 
ports from the United Kingdom and other ports 
of Europe will give decisive information in the 
premises. 
As to white pepper, though its export is much 
smaller (about one-fourth of the black), because 
much dearer, the same remarks hold good, and perhaps, 
with regard t > shipments from English ports to our 
own, were more so. I will only mention the exports 
of it from this colony in 1884 and 1885 to the United 
States and the United Kingdom, leaving out countries 
in Europe and quoting from the same authorities 
as iu black pepper, viz.— 
From Singapore to 1884. 1885. 
United States 818,758 05 $6,666 06 
United Kingdom 496,068 DO 492,670 00 
From Peuaug to 
United States $3, 100 00 817,200 00 
United Kingdom 253,594 00 345,608 00 
1 would mention heio that the trade statistics of 
Singapore as to this spice do not agree by great odds 
with those of this consulate based upon declared exports. 
This, 1 hardly think, is the fault of the statistician, but 
of the parties engaged in the said exports by not re- 
porting in accordauce with actual facts (deception in 
trade or strategy arising from trade jealousy among 
themselves). 
My statistics, as above §18,758 65 §6,666 00 
Port statistics 17,865 00 13,644 00 
Less 893 65 
Over 6,974 94 
As a merchant exports here on ship to his agent in 
London, and instructs him to try the markets of England 
aud the United States, to sell in that which pays the 
most, such discrepancies are easiiy accounted for, but 
could not occur if any consul there refused his certifi- 
cate. At the samo time this tends to mislead other 
exporters here as to actual shipments to America 
and Eugland. Tho exports, as actually or not 
actua'lv intended (a port of destination must he shown, 
but not under oath or solemn declaration), aro re- 
ported to the port export office, and by the latter to 
the Chamber of Commerce, for general information iu 
its market report. The consul has no remedy to prevent 
such deception, as he can only certify to the invoices 
presented to him. 'Ihero his jurisdiction in the premises 
practically ends. It is only after the publication of the 
port statistics by the local government that he can dis- 
cover and expose such deception or "differences." 
They are not deceptions, in his commercial report. 
I have often had inquiries, "Did such a (inn ship 
such goods by such a steamer via Loudon to 
America?" but I nover yot answored them iu a single 
instance, and instead told them to find out at the 
export office or chamber of commerce. The trade 
statistics nowhere agree with my own statistics — based 
upon duly declared exports in this consulate — and 
no one, before their official publication, ever fame 
to ask me whether they agree I. 
As I have been reporting on white pepper. I would 
briefly sav that it is produced from fully I ipe hurries 
(ligli! crimson in color and iu s to about ilie saom 
as an average currant), from the same vine that \i i i- 
black pepper, the latter being plucked green, before 
maturity. 
NI'TMKGS. 
This spice, at least, experience I only slight fluctua- 
tions during the last two years, being at tim s .is 
low, if not a little lower, than duriug tho li rfcl Few 
years of my resilience here, and a', timed a little 
higher, and DOW they are again u about normal 
quotations The sizu of the net his much to do 
with market quota' ions, tho smaller the nut the 
lowrr tho priro. Between largest and smallest) II 
in sound condition, there is a murgin of from 816 
to S -' 1 per picul, those of 110 to the English uoun I 
being the highest priced. XhojM exported iron Singa- 
pore come essentially from tho Moluccas (Uauda L.slaud», 
Amboyna, aud even from New Guinea, where the 
nutmeg grows will). Those exported from Penang 
are the actual pro luct of L'ena:ig Isla d and imme- 
diate vicinity on the main laud, where the nutmeg 
tree largely cultivated, with increasing teudi ncy and 
does well. During my long residence here, I have 
by close observation and statistics discovered what 
may not be generally known. 
Our country buys aud consequently consumes more 
nutmegs than the whole continent of Europe taken 
together, aud before the rental by our Government of 
the 10 per cent, discriminating duty on Eastern good 
imported from places west, of the Cap ; of Good Hope 
(referred to in my part), the colonial statistics showed 
that far fewer nutmegs were exported to the United 
Kingdom than to our country. Since the repeal of said 
act, the tables have turned, and judging fr.,m the same 
statistics and my own, wnich I quote beiow, it would 
seem that the British have become enormous nutmeg 
consumers, beating us badly. But that is not it. 1 
have no doubt that they are shipped from there to our 
oountry, tho Sime as pepper, tin, and other Straits 
produce upon consular invoice certificates obtained 
there, and I opine that they are a remunerative arti- 
cle of commerce with a imrgin of 15 to 20 per cent., 
depending on the sizes of the nuts, with speculation 
thrown in. 
I quote from the same authorities, as in pepper, the 
exports of nutmegs iu 1884 and 1885 from Singapore 
aud Penang to our country and the United Kingdom, 
viz : 
To United States. To United Kingdom, 
From 1884. 1885. 1884. 1885. 
Singa- 
pore §150,611 61 §172,769 19 8102,100 §63,510 
Pen- 
ang 43,295 00 49,185 00 225.9 11 172,453 
Total 193,906 61 221,954, 17 3^8,041 235,963 
There was an increase iu 1885 to the United States 
and a decrease to the United K ngdom, but it will be 
fouud hereafter that in 1886 the reverse was the case) 
None of the nutmegs (or any other St- > its produce, 
exported hence to England were canted in American 
bottoms and those exported the Uuited S ates were 
largely carried by foreigu vessels, prominently British 
Steamers. 
The nutmeg cultivation is on the increase not only at 
Penang but in various parts of the Straits Settlements 
and adjacouts Malay states under British protection. — 
Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter. 
INDIAN CAOUTCHOUC. 
Though at the present time of writing, stocks are 
plentiful and visible supplies forthcoming to meet 
all requirements of consumers, when we reflect that 
the major portion of the rubber-yielding vines 
throughout Indii are located in the mountain 
districts, iuhabited by semi-civilised tribes, ut- 
terly incapable of understanding the importance 
of husbanding resources, and whose cupidity, 
moreover, is being constantly stimulated by col- 
lectors — thems -Ives concerned only with the present 
— resulting iu the merciless tapping of all plants, 
without th* slightest re, ard to size or ago, it is time, 
WS think, at 'eutiou should he dir cted to the necessity 
ol t iking measures for s •curing gteid , peruaueut 
supplies by all such as a'O chiefly interested iu the 
muttter. 
Wo do not wish to p s as alarmists, but a 
perusal of the administration Keports of those pro- 
vinoel of British India in when the three vines, 
/■'/ ■us rliKtica, 1'. 1'i'frtjtit, no I t.'htit'itiHUatlM MClifmta, 
aro iudigeuous, lend lo sh W that a marked fading 
olf in out-turn is becoming annually apparent That 
such falling off iu the kuoA-u pro Hieing distrctsdoes 
not ttlly with the amount exporte I, wo «dmit, but 
the cause of the discrepancy is du • to tin fid tint 
fresh tracts, hitherto untouched, arn beiu,' exploite I, 
and t .ough the yield from thes- ro iv l> ■ e-.p-d'd 
to increase the output for a year ur two, thuso uuw 
fields aro being nixed with the sumo ruthless dis- 
