June i, 1889.] THE. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 823 
Goschen refers, and by the public pn ference (due in 
some measure to legislation) for grosser and less palat- 
able drinks. A letter by last mail from the honorary 
secretary of the North Myoore Planters' Association in- 
forms me that they feel strongly, and are acting in con- 
cert with other associations of British planters on this 
question. Ot all household beverages coffee, when pure 
and well made, is, by its properties, the most attractive 
substitute for spirituous liquors, and their most formid- 
able rival. And now that public attention has b9en so 
pointedly called to it by the revenue returns, I hope 
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, aided by the able 
officers of Excise, will consider whether something can- 
not be done to promote the consumption of coffee by 
stricter enactments regulating its sale. 
Your obedient servant, 
FREDERICK CLIFFORD, 
Chairman of the Coffee Association, 
Plowden-buildings, Temple, April 16th, 
JAPAN TEA BOXES. 
Mr. H. D. Deane of Maskeliya has some reason 
to write with authority on the subject of tea boxes 
from Japan; for he was the originator of a trade 
which undoubtedly has conferred considerable 
benefit on the Ceylon tea planter. Apart from 
the merits ot the boxes, it is clear that if 
it were not for the competition of Japan makers, 
the price of locally made boxes would rise con- 
siderably. On the merits however, there can be 
no question that Mr. Deane, and the present agents 
— Messrs. Mackwood & Co. — of the earliest Japan 
exporters to Ceylon, have an exceedingly strong 
argument in the fact that although within the 
experience o£ the latter some 12 to 14 million lb. 
of Ceylon tea have been shipped in their boxes, not a 
single complaint has ever reached them of the tea 
so shipped, being tainted or in any way injured. It 
would be well if the case referred to by Messrs. 
Rucker & Bencraft could be traced and steps are 
being taken to this end. 
o 
BURMAH : A GENERAL GLANCE AT— LOWER 
AND UPPER. 
(Communicated.) 
BtJSV SCENE AT THE PORT OF RANGOON DURING RICE 
SEASON — AGRICDLTDKE AND RAINFALL IN UPPER 
BURMA — INTRODUCTION OF CAPITAL — ECONOMIC PRO- 
DUCTS AND RAILWAY COMMUNICATION THE GOVERN- 
MENT LAND GRANTS REVENUE AND ANNEXATION TO 
INDIA — LABOUR— MINERALS. 
The appearanoe of the port of Rangoon during the 
rice season— December to April — is suggestive of a 
high state of prosperity. The river is crowded with 
native boats of all sizes loaded with paddy, whilst large 
numbers of ocean-going steamers are continually pas- 
3iug up and down ; those outward bound being laden 
up with rice for Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, 
not forgetting the Australian colonies. The rice 
husking mills by the bank of the river and along the 
creeks are working day and night, week days and 
Sundays, and the streets are thronged with Indian 
coolies, who having come over from the Coast to 
reap the paddy crops, remain to work in the mills. 
The bankers tell of so many lacs of rupees per day, 
paid out in silver currency only and the carts at 
the doors of the banks for transport of so much 
silver attest the truth of what they say. There is 
a lively air about the passers-by, as if to say " now 
we are making money — long may it last." Later 
on, however, the season will be closed, the mills shut 
up, and the steamers and coolies departed, and 
people will complain of the dulness of the times 
and want of business. Nevertheless, the timber trade, 
the necessities of Upper Burma and the supplies to our 
troops and police there and a number of other opera- 
tions — export of cutoh for instance, — keep things 
moving, and in spite of a few grumblers, who are 
never altogether wanting in the best regulated com- 
munities, it may be said with confidence that Ran- 
goon is now in a flourishing condition. 
There is a general idea abroad that Upper Burma, 
our latest annexation in that quarter, will develop into 
a great agricultural country, but I cannot help thinking 
there is a great mistake somewhere. The want of rain 
precludes any idea of cultivation of such products as tea 
coffee, cocoa, &c. ; the fall at the capital (Mandalay) 
being only 30 inches, and in some localities in that 
quarter not more than half even of that small amount. 
All the hills that can be seen from the railway line 
or from the river, are very sparsely covered with trees 
standing amidst coarse grass, which is regularly burnt 
off by the natives, and the country left dry and 
denuded. True there are the Shan hills 40 or 50 miles 
away from Mandalay, which have more rain and a 
better description of jungle, but who wants to go 500 
miles and more to grow these things where there are 
plenty of more favourably situated localities available 
close to a seaport? For such economic products as 
those mentioned above, it would be far preferable to 
cultivate them on the Pegu Yoman ranges compara- 
tively close to the seaport, and clothed with dense 
jungle which incontestably proves the prevalence of 
plenty of rain, Rangoon itself getting from 75 to 90 
inches yearly. It is only natural to suppose that the 
neighbouring ranges of hills would get considerably 
more. Moulmein a little to the eastward of Rangoon, 
has from 150 to 200 inohes per annum. It is difficult to 
say what could be grown to a profit in a large part of 
Upper Burma. Without resort to irrigation rice culti- 
vation proves very precarious, Mandalay being only 
about 450 feet abov ^ sea-level, at a distance per rail of 
386 miles. The only thing I know of just now would be 
cotton, and at present a considerable quantity is grown 
at no very great distance from Mandalay and shipped by 
boat to Bhamo, only a short distance from the frontier 
of China, and thence forwarded on pack mules and 
ponies to the interior of Western China. Whether 
Bhamo is to remain the chief frontier town for trade 
toYunan and China seems rather problematical at 
present, our Government having cast eyes on another 
place, more approachable by rail from Mandalay and 
in some respects more adapted for a great caravan 
route than is Bhamo. Another product which might 
perhaps be made to pay in upper Burma would be to- 
bacco for local consumption. Small patches of tobacco 
are now grown in some places and especially on the 
banks and islands of the Irrawaddy river when the 
water has fallen during the dry season. The rise and 
fall of the river averages some 30 feet, though in some 
places it is 60 feet, whilst in others where the bed 
widens out to 5 miles, of course it is not so much. Large 
areas of mud banks are consequently left exposed and 
the natives rent them from the Government and grow 
a number of different grains and variety of vegetables, 
gourds, melons, pumpkins, &c, &c.,and a little tobacco. 
This tobacco is cut and dried in the sun without any 
fermentation and made into the enormous cheroots that 
are commonly smoked by the Burmese. That tea and 
coffee will grow well on the Karenne Hills has been 
amply proved by the success of an enterprising indi- 
vidual who established himself there some years 
ago, and produces both tea and coffee. But then 
this estate is a long way south, not far from Toun- 
ghoo, and only establishes what I have advanced 
above as to the necessity of settling nearer Ran- 
goon and the sea coast. The railway so rapidly 
constructed from Teunghoo to Mandalay has been 
built for military purposes not for the developement 
of an agricultural interest that cannot exist. There 
can be no doubt, however, that this line will be of 
the greatest possible benefit to the inhabitants of 
the country through which it passes, facilitating the 
petty local trades and general traffic of the country. 
There appears to be but little inclination on the part 
of the Indian Government to encourage European 
enterprise and the introduction of capital into Burma. 
True land is offered for a term of years without 
payment, but only far a term, and can then be re- 
