l62 
from what I learn by the newepapere have cot 
been paying as well as they did a few years ago ; 
competition by other countries is beginning to tail 
unfavourably, so that except for threa or four 
months in the year, before the home grown fruits 
Ibcgin to come in, the demand in the United States 
becomes slack, and much smaller prices have to 
be accepted by our local growers. 
The most paying occupations in Jamaica appear 
to be PEN KEEPING 
as stock sell well and where the property also 
grows Pimento and Logwood trees: giving quite 
a park-like appearance to the pastures, all the 
more protit is made by the foituuate owDers of 
these properties which do not require a large force 
of labour for the upkeep, as is the case with coffee 
and sugar. 
EUOAB PLANTEBS 
have a "boom " this year, because of the partial 
failure of the Beet root crop; if present [rices 
were to be maintained many of the old time pro- 
perties would probably be re-opened, and more 
coolies indented for and were the system of central 
factories (or Usines) adopted, running the most 
improved machinery, sugar might yet give the 
Jamaica planter a very good return for his in- 
vestment. 
As to Cocoi OK Chccolatb, as the natives here 
will call it, a great deal more could be grown as 
there is plenty of land for it at 500 to 2,500 feet 
above the sea ; but unlees it is prepared Ceylon 
fashion, it is not likely to fetch higher prices than 
it does at present; lately more alttution has been 
paid by one or two growers, and the result has 
been most satisfactory and now the Botanical Depart- 
ment have published the Ceylon mode of curing, 
it is hoped Jamaica cocoa will come to the fore fur 
the quality is good enough, it was the curing that 
was defective. 
The two batches of 
COOLUS 
last arrived appear to have satisfied sugar and 
banana planters for the present, as there were not 
sufficiently numerous applications to enable Go- 
vernment to order another shipment this year. I 
am told that the coolies which came last, are 
physically a stronger set of men and women, and 
came not from Bengal, but from Oudh. and the 
neighbourhood of Luckaow. Our local Legislative 
Council bad rather a long eiiting and passed a 
good many laws rather rapidly. A new feature 
was that the Governor no longer presides over the 
Assembly, but an outsider has been appointed 
by the Secretary of State to fill that honourable 
and responsible poet. Dr. Phillipo, is already a 
member of the Governor's Privy Council, and a 
well-known and respected member of the community 
very long resident in Kingston. There were some 
rather unruly proceedings; notably that the members 
positively refused to appoint a Vice-President and 
more scrupulous order might have been maintained 
had the Governor presided as before. Amongst the 
laws passed, is one authorizing whipping for the 
practice of "Oheah," which "sub rosa " is still 
very prevalent, and proves how little comparatively 
fifty years of freedom and Christianity have yet 
served to eradicate this heathenish belief, and 
what is still more sad to contemplate, is that 
many respectable and educated people apply for 
assietance to the Oheah man. Our member for St. 
Thomas and Portland named William Andrews, a 
awyer spoke and voted against the fogging as 
degrading to human nature, and so forth ; but 
fortunately the other membere held a different 
opinion. It is known that Obeehiem bas oansed 
many deaths by poisoning, I'urrly flogging ia not 
too severe for the perpetrators of such a orime. 
At home it was only the " cat-o-nin tail " that 
stopped "garrotting," and were it lawful to use 
fire-arms ageinst burglars who have broken 
into your house, I am sure there would be 
fewer burglaries. Floggine is also to ba ad- 
ministered for crimes against the person. 
Education has been made free, and may become 
compulsory in certain towns, or places if it is ho 
proclaimed by the Governor, the retult has been 
a large increase in 
FCH0IAB8. 
To meet the education expenditure an extra houae 
tax has been imposed which of course is nnt 
popular. There were some unp'easant scenes al>o 
over the railway extension ; now that it is too 
latp, the misteke of having banded over the rail- 
way to an Amerian Syndicate and Improvement 
Company is being found out, and when we shall 
hear the last nf it '° no fellah can tell." A 
Mfljor York, B.E., railway expert bae been sent 
for. and is now reporting on the two completed sec- 
tions, and the Amrricane have he d an expert on their 
own account. The colony is still responsible for the 
£700,000 due on the old Government Railway on 
which interest has to be paid out of general revenue, 
and can only be pnid o£f gradually by a Sinking 
Fund ; Jamaica sold the railway, which was paying 
wdlsnd doing better every year for £100,000 ossb 
and £700.000 visionary secocdiry Debentures; the 
interest on which is not payable until 3 per cent 
has been paid on the first Debentures representing 
the cnpital expended on the new line. The Go- 
vprnment hss guaranteed this three per cent, so 
that until the line pays that return it will have to 
I pay the interest on the new line, as well as on the 
old above stated ; and it seems a bad lock-out. 
Jamaica, has as it were given away a paying railway, 
which it could have retained, and have made the 
extensions, by employing Contractors like David 
Beid, on capital easily borrowed in England, at 
Si per cent on Government Guarantee. 
The Governor, Sir Henry Blake has had a very 
sharp attack of quinsy, his throat had to be lanced 
Eeveral times : he is now convalescent, but the 
doctors have ordered him a sea voyage, so be is 
leaving very shortly via New York, ard will only 
be at home a few days, waiting for the first Boyal 
mail St amer. Lady and Miss Blake remain in 
Jamaica. Msjor-General Black c. b , will act as 
Lieut. -Governor ; be is the officer who commanded 
ti e party of H. M. 24th Rpgt., which recovered the 
colourB, after the death of Lieut. Coghill and 
Melville, who it will be remembered so nobly saved 
them after Isandhlwana. W. 8. 
♦ 
EAMIE IN JAVA. 
Mr. B. S. Bairden, U.S. CodbuI at Batavia writes ae 
follows oathis subject: — Ramie imported from Chios, is 
giown in Java and cultivated on tbo same principle 
as paddy. The temperature of the c'imste where it is 
cultivated is about 70 degrees in tbe Eommer months 
— from Notenjber to April — and 60 degrees in the 
winter months — from April to November. There is 
only one crop a year, jtrown during the rainv season 
— from November to April. Before sowing the seeds, 
which is done usually in Decemb**r, the soil mast be 
Willi dressed with miuure. The feeds are sown on 
the top of the ground and covered ^rith mats, which 
mast be kept well watered, so as to be always damp. 
As Boon as the stieds have tiken root the mats are 
removed, and the plants are allowed to grow till 
