December i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
389 
Of course Mr. Morrison had never heard of 
Messrs. Harrison & Lucas before, and for them 
to say that " Tnprobana " tea is only to be had 
from them and to sell it at a rate which incvi- 
tably means " mixing China " is rather too 
much. Of course they will say that " Taprobat a " 
is used as another name for Ceylon ; but, as re- 
gards tho " pure Ceylon " tea, Mr. Morrison's 
Agents should not let tho matter drop, but com- 
municate with Mr. Leake and see whether a test 
caso cannot be tried. 
TEA IN AUSTRALIA. 
I quote the following from a private letter just 
received from a fi iond settled in New South Wales : — 
" You are quite right about the people having chiefly 
the cheap rubbish from China: tl.e geuerul quality which 
I moet within my travels is innocent of the slightest 
flavor of the lent, and it has always been a marvel 
to me that rich men, bin squatters, bunkers and pros- 
perous hotel-keepers will buy such fearful stuff. 
Yot I am doubtful of any success iu introducing 
your tea, simply because habit has so overcome any 
antipathy. This is a town of 1,300 inhabitants, and 
a centre of supplies for at least 4,000 square miles, 
and there are some 3 or 4 large s'ores where tea is 
sold. I am afraul tho price would bo a little too high 
forgeoeial coiiHuniption,because tea which is consumed 
on runs and largo farms is bought wholesale, and 
sold in small quantities to the hands on the run, who 
will not give a high price, although they could 
afford it. I havo spoken to the principal storekeeper 
here, unci he says that the only persons who could 
Introduce it would be the large merchants in Sydney. 
Tea (so called) is drunk here at every meal. Wine, 
spirits and boer are taken between meals." — Cor. 
THE NEW BRITISH PROTECTORATES IN 
THE PACIFIC. 
It was recently announced from Auckland that the 
acting British Vice-Consul at Raiotonga had been 
instructed to proclaim a British protectorate over the 
Cook Islands. The proclamation is to be made on 
the 20th inst., at Harotonga, and as soon afterwards 
as may be possible at the remaining islands of the 
group. News ha9 since been received to the effect 
that Savage Island is also to be proclaimed a British 
protectorate. The accompanying chart shows the 
position of all the new protectorates. They aro 
situated, as will be seen, between the Friendly Islands 
of Tongas, an independent group, and the Society 
Islands, which belong to France. To the north-west 
the nearest islands are the Samoan group, or Navi- 
gator's Islands, where German influence is practically 
paramount. To tho south-west, tho only islands 
between the Cook gmup and New Zealand aro the 
Kermadecs, which were annexed by us in 1886. 
Cook Islands were discovered by Captain Cook, 
an ! have since been visited by, among others, Captain 
R. 1>. Bethune, of Hor Majesty's ship "Conway," in 
1837; Captain T. Harvey, of Her Majesty's ship 
"Havana," in 1857; Lieutenant A. Quentin of the 
Fnnch ship " 1 atoueho Treville," in 1861; and 
Captain K. H A. Maimvaring, of Her Majesty's ship 
"Cameleon," iu 1872. Tho group oonsists of the 
[elands of Rurotonga, Mangeia, Takuteu, Atiu, 
Uitiero, Mauki, Aitutaki, and the Hervey lb-; and 
possibly of one or two other islands the existence of 
which, th ngh asserted by Bcthune and others, is 
wn dou uul. Harotonga, tho history of which is 
intimately nssooittvd with that of the missionary 
John Williams, is a beautiful island, of volcanic 
origin, the central portions having an elovulion of 
2,000 fci t. It ia a 1 ' tit thirty miles in circumf icnco 
and is surrounded by a reef, but there is no anchor- 
age. Small craft may, however, lie within the reef 
off Avarua, which is the chief village in the place. 
The other villages are Atauia, Ngatangia, and Aro- 
gnani. The total population is now about 3,1 500 
souU; but in 1837 it was said to be 7,000. Cotton, 
coffee, and fruit are cultivated with great success. 
The island has hitherto been under the rule of an 
independent queen. Mangeia, or Mangea, is of 
ubout the same size as Rarotonga, and is also 
volcanic. Its highest summit does not never- 
theless exceed 700ft., and it is, upon the whole, 
rather flat. There are neither reefs nor anchorage, 
the surrounding sea being extraordinarily deep. 
The principal village, Oneroa, lies on the west. 
The island has hitherto been governed by an in- 
dependent king. As for the population, it was once 
fully 5,000, but is now not more than 2,000. 
Takutea, Atiu, and Mitiero (orm a confederation 
of petty kingships. Takutea, or VVenua-iti, is but 
three miles in circuit and has a very small popu- 
lation. Atiu, otherwise Vatiu or Wateeo, is twenty 
miles in circumference, and tho population numbers 
about 1,400. Mitiero is some sixteen miles in circuit, 
and supports 250 souls. Mauki, or Parry Island, 
is only two miles in diameter and is very low. 
The population does not exceed 300. Aitutaki was 
discovered by Bligh in 1708. It is rather flat, 
about eighteen miles in circuit, and dangerous to 
approach. It is governed by three chiefs, whose 
subjects number nearly 1,7C0. There is a jetty, 
but only small craft can lie alongside. 
Savage Island, which was discovered by Cook 
in 1774, and so named by him on account of the 
ferocious reception which he met with at the hands 
of the inhabitants, is properly called Nieue, or 
Iniue, or Felekaho. Its inhabitants, some 5,500 in 
number, are of a different race from those of the 
Cook Islands, and resemble rather the Samoans. 
Cook seems to have been the only person who 
found them savage. Captain Erskine, R.N., in 184!) 
found them perfectly trustful and harmless. They 
are, moveover, very industrious, and according to 
Mainwariug, have never been cannibals. The 
island, which is thirty-three miles in circuit, is 
low and of coral formation, Of late years it has 
been a favourite resort for German traders ; and 
the Messrs. Godeffroi, of Hamburg, established an 
agency there early in their business career. Thi.; 
fact is, no doubt, sufficient reason for the protest 
which Germany makes against the proclamation 
of the British protectorate. In none of the Islands 
does there nppoar to be any harbour of sufficient 
size to admit even a small man-of-war ; but was 
watering places, und perhaps as coaling stations 
on a small scale, the new dependencies may be 
useful when the opening of the Panama Canal 
creates a new route between Englaud and New 
South Wales. — St. Johms'b Budget. 
DRUG TRADE REPORT. 
London, October 18th. 
CvRDAMOMs. — At today's auctions only 88 packages 
were offered for sale, and the bulk of this sold at a 
sharp advance, medium qualities occasionally at 3d 
to l I beyond the valuations, but not quite so much 
higher for the best lot*. Ceylon Malab.irs, good 
medium yellow Is '.Id to Is Ml I ; small, r Is S 1 ; medium 
to small badly clipped aid dull Is Id to Is 5.1 peril).; 
small and brown lud ; split und husky 5 I pet II'. 
Mysore, medium to b< 1 I smooth heavy long 2- 2d to 
2s 3d ; smaller Is 8,1 ; long fair small to medium 
Is tid to 1» 3d ; yellow (peek* »' d split 1 Id. T. lucheiry 
good pa o Is 7d ; full bold brown Is 5,1; ordinary 
brown Is Id ; soed Is 8d to Is 7d per lb. Tl s fol- 
lowing figures ruler to the exports from Oeylou iu 
tl o periods between Oetober 1st nud September 20lb, 
