582 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [March i, 1889. 
"pays the grower, his Agents, and himself handsomely 
(the grower of course least)." What is done, and has 
been done by him for over two years, could be done 
by others on a grander scale, for hundreds drink 
pure Assam daily in certain sections operated in, 
swear by it, and pay for it, and well too. In one 
city alone his three Agents and two grocers all sell 
"Assam," and make a good clear profit. Yet with 
this I am repeatedly told " Indian teas are so dear 
that people can't afford them." Whereas experience 
has taught that the poorer and most economical class 
are the very ones who do buy and appreciate 
" Assams" the most. — Indian Planters' Gazette,Ja,n. 8th. 
■ 
THE PUSHING OF INDIAN TEA. 
(By the "Peripatetic Planter.") 
The " Associated Indian Tea Planters, Li- 
mited," held their meeting, at which they were 
introduced to Mr. McGregor of New York; 
and it was, I understand, decided to draw up an 
Agreement with that gentleman for the " represen- 
tation" of Indian teas in America. So there are more 
preliminaries yet, it appears, to be gone through before 
this vast mountain brings forth its mouse. Meanwhile, 
big rats are breeding galore, over there, to eat up this 
mouse's portion, ere it arrives. 
The arrangements already referred to for placing 
Indian teas at the Paris Exhibition, have been com- 
pleted, and the £2,000 have been subscribed. Mr. 
Walker, the Agent in charge, will start a depot in 
Paris simultaneously, for the sale of Indian tea over 
there. The I. T. D.A., or subscribers to the guarantee 
fund, bad it proposed to them that Indian coffee should 
also be represented at their stalls, &c. ; tn this, however, 
the more conservative members objected, and the pro- 
posal was not accepted. The subscribers have reserved 
a right to take over the Paris dep 6t at a valuation here- 
after, if they so please ; it is not however, thought 
likely that they will exert this power, but that they will 
be only too pleased if they receive back their £2,000 
intact. — Indian Planters' Gazette, Jan. 8th. 
COFFEE, TOBACCO AND PEPPER 
IN CEYLON. 
Benewed interest in Coffee and Coffee planting 
is becoming a sign of the times. Our neighbours 
in Southern India show us a good example, ■ for 
with the wonderfully steady crops from the Mysore 
and Coorg coffee plantations under shade, they 
feel strong encouragement in other districts to go 
on with old king coffee. From Wynaad even, we 
have reports of grand appearances "in Bpike" ; 
while we have also inquiries directed to us by 
gentlemen who are anxious over the way to try 
their luck again with "Liberian coffee." Our 
answer to the planter who has asked our opinion 
in respect of this disappointing variety will be found 
in another column and is very much the same aS 
Punch's advice to those about to marry, — " Don't." 
There is more to be said for the cultivation of 
Arabian coffee under shade wherever a soil and 
climate similar to that of Mysore can be secured. 
Uva is the district affording these most nearly 
in Ceylon and in view of the Haputale railway 
extension now under construction, we are very 
hopeful of seeing experiments in gardens, and 
clearings say up to 100 acres, attempted in the 
forest and chena reserves of that province. 
Meantime as regards our remaining coffee fields 
in Uva, Udapussellawa, and parts of Dimbula and 
Dikoya, there is still great hope that " green 
bag " may disappear leaving the coffee to do some 
good yet under careful treatment. From some 
parts of Uva, we are bound to say that the opinions 
supplied to us by planters are of a very gloomy, 
riding character; but these are counterbalanced 
by those of other planters who declare that bug 
has nearly disappeared from thoir fields and that 
it looks as if Dr. Trimen's hope of a sudden col- 
lapse of this pest would be fulfilled. There is no 
doubt that everyone owning decent fields of coffee 
will endeavour to do them justice in view of this 
prospect, as also of the full assurance of very fine 
prices for their berries. There is no chance now 
of coffee being in excess supply, whatever may be 
said of tea. 
The cultivation of Tobacco, too, is likely to be 
undertaken energetically, under the- auspices of a 
local Limited Company, mainly supported by plan- 
ters of tried sagacity and prudence. A capital of 
B500,000 has been already subscribed, it is under- 
stood, and with Messrs. Eutherford, Christie, 
Armstrong and other gentlemen of their stamp on 
the directorate, successful results are generally 
looked for. 
Still more widespread is the interest taken in 
Pepper cultivation, since we have agitated for its 
revival among the natives and for its more general 
adoption by European colonists. We are are very 
anxious to see Ceylon export a large and annually 
increasing quantity of pepper, for which there is 
certain to be a good market and we have reason to 
believe that the coming south-west monsoon will 
see an appreciable area planted with pepper vine 
cuttings in different districts. There is one great 
advantage in planting pepper, namely, that it is 
not likely to be overdo'ne— considering that the 
demand is in excess of supply — which can hardly 
be said of tea. 
HOW WATEB WAS OBTAINED IN " THIEST- 
LAND." 
At the meeting of the Geographical Society, a 
paper was read by Mr. F. S. Arnot, entitled 
" Journey from Natal to Bihe and Benguella, and 
thence across the central plateau of Africa to the 
sources of the Zambesi and Congo." The reader 
of the paper was led to make his expedition, which 
was that of a missionary character, from witnessing 
as a child a distribution of prizes in 1864 by Dr. 
Livingstone on his return from the Zambesi ex- 
ploration. Mr. Arnot started from Natal in 1881, 
and made for the Transvaal with very slender 
resources. This, it appears, was not an unmixed 
evil, as he owed escape to that fact from 3ome of 
the troubles that befall travellers furnished with 
a large stock of goods. This method of proceeding, 
however, was accompanied by many inconveniences. 
The travellers had to traverse the " thirst land " 
on Livingstone's route, and the only means 
of obtaining water was that adopted by the 
wandering bushmen of the Masaroa race. 
How Mr. Arnot obtained water may best be des- 
cribed in his own words : "A few wandering bush- 
men of the Masaroa race, however, came to our 
relief, and to their kindness we doubtless owed 
our lives. Digging pits in the sand, they sank 
long reeds to the bottom of these, and with an 
unusual power of suction, acquired by long practice, 
they slowly drew up the water from the sand, 
discharging it from their mouths into tortoise shells, 
and so great was our thirst that we eagerly drank 
the frothy liquid. Morning and evening we were 
sustained by a little of this turbid fluid." Mr. 
Arnot's oblique journey across Africa corresponded 
on the whole with that of Major Serpa Pinto. Mr. 
Arnot's object in going to Africa was to establish 
a healthy missionary station in the interior, and 
it was accomplished after seven years. Although 
he travelled without a white, or even a black com- 
panion, he never received any ill-treatment. Guns 
were carried by some of the party, but only for 
hunting purposes, 
