63  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST.  [July  i,  1892. 
which  tlia  Government  of  this  Empire  at  times  ad- 
ministers to  the  wants  of  its  best  supporters.  Left 
to  find  a means  of  communication  through  the  juDgle 
as  best  he  can,  and  hampered  by  wtll-meaning  but 
burdensome  restrictions  regarding  the  engagement  of 
labour,  history  will  jet  have  to  extol  the  indomitable 
force  of  character  that  was  displayed  by  the  British 
planters  who  engaged  in  the  early  cultivation  of  tea 
in  Assam,  and  Government  will  not  be  accused  of 
having  been  an  indulgent  father  to  the  industry.  The 
manner  in  which  lnrge  factories  have  been  established 
and  equipped  with  heavy  machinery,  transported 
thriugn  jungle  and  aero  3 roadless  traots,  is  noth- 
ing short  of  a marvel.  With  this  in  evidence,  it  is 
strange  to  have  to  add  that  even  now,  in  the  year 
of  Grace  1892,  the  province,  at  all  events  on  the 
Surma  Valley  side,  con  iuues  to  be  roadless.  How 
different  to  the  experience  of  the  Western  world, 
where  a commercial  Government  leads  the  van  with 
railroad  and  telegraph  wire.  The  district  of  Cachar, 
in  area  as  large  as  oDe-sixth  of  Scotland,  cannrt  boast 
of  one  good  road  of  a mile  in  length.  How  can  it  when 
the  Provincial  grant  for  road  construction  is  about 
Rl,600  per  annum,  or  probably  less  than  the  sum  ex- 
pended in  putting  eoorkey  round  Government  House 
before  his  Excellency  returns  from  the  Hills?  1 do 
not  complain,  sir,  of  the  latter  expenditure,  but  of  the 
inadequacy  of  the  former  contribution.  When  riding 
during  the  rains  of  1890  from  Silcbar  station  towards 
Luckipur  1 was  advised  to  make  a detour  through  rice 
lands  rather  than  continue  on  the  Government  road, 
although  tie  horse  was  thereby  plunged  to  the  girths 
in  mud  and  water.  There  is  surely  reason  to  complain 
of  such  continued  neglect.  The  projected  railway  will 
doubtless  materially  assist  through  communication, 
but  to  he  thoroughly  useful  there  must  be  auxiliary 
roadways  leading  to  the  line,  and  the  age  and  impor- 
tance of  the  industry  has  surely  earned  for  it  the  right 
to  press  upon  the  administration  the  necessity  for  these 
communications.  Not  earth  heaps  but  cart  roads,  made 
fit  for  traffic. 
Our  fine  teas  should  no  longer  bo  subjected  to  risks  of 
exposare  while  in  transit.  It  can  he  no  excuse  that  the 
Assam  District  is  waterlaid  during  the  rains.  Bengal  is 
equally  submerged  and  the  difficulty  can  be  overcome. 
The  staff  and  establishment  of  the  Public  Works  De- 
partment stationed  at  Shillong  should  be  capable  of 
devising  measures  to  overcome  this  drawback.  ADd 
I would  have  introduced  in  parenthesis  the  remark, 
that  while  the  Public  Works  Service  is  supported  by 
many  excellent  and  well -qualified  native  Engineers, 
Assam  with  its  rough  climate  may  not  be  the  most 
appropriate  province  for  their  administration  and 
employment.  Tho  Euiopean  Engineer  when  on  toue 
during  the  rains  finds,  through  the  hospitality  of  the 
residents,  accommodation  with  which  the  native 
Engineer  cannot  suit  himself  equally  well.  And  the 
European  coming mto  closer  contict  with  the  planter 
ascertains  the  want  of  the  district  better.  I don’t 
think  it  is  too  much  to  say  that  bad  Government  deve- 
loped the  province  in  the  most  energetic  and  enticing 
manner,  welcoming  the  investment  of  British  capital, 
being  solicitous  for  a profitable  return  thereupon,  it  is 
probable  that  Ceylon  would  never  have  arisen  as  a 
powerful  competitor  iu  the  production  of  tea  for  the 
resources  of  Assam  and  the  Himalayas  are  capable  of 
producing  the  world’s  consumption  of  tea  as  it 
is  at  present  known,  both  as  regards  the  quantity 
and  the  quality  required.  The  latter  consider- 
ation causes  me  to  revert  to  the  labour  question 
with  which  administration  is  so  closely  identified. 
To  cultivate  tea,  and  especially  to  produce  the 
fine  quality  now  required,  an  adequate  supply 
of  labour  is  essential.  To  do  so  economically,  a 
settled  population  is  desirable,  or,  failing  this, 
the  employment  of  harvesters  would  be  suitable. 
I hope  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  the  Emi- 
gration Act  of  1882  may  be  repealed,  to  be  sup- 
planted by  a simple  Contract  Act,  and  that  the 
Protector  of  Inland  Emigrants  may  be  promoted 
to  be  Census  Adviser  to  the  Government  of  India. 
Since  we  last  met  the  consus  of  Iudia  has  beeu 
published,  showing  that  Assam  has  only  112  prr- 
ous  to  the  square  mile  as  compared  with  734 
Bengal,  413  in  the  North-West  Provinces,  and 
old  persons  in  Oudh.  Those  engaged  in  the  tea 
industry  are  too  painfully  aware  that  under  the 
present  system  it  costs  R125  per  adult  to  pass 
coolies  from  Btngal  to  Assam,  and  this  too  while 
Government  is  perplexed  regarding  the  welfare 
ot  the  surplus  population  in  the  provinces  just 
named.  This  Association  might  approaoh  his 
Excellency  the  Viceroy  on  the  labour  require- 
ments of  the  tea  districts  and  their  value 
as  a field  for  emigration.  It  is  well-known  that 
tmmigi  ants  emerge  from  poverty  to  competency 
when  they  pass  Dhubri.  Is  it  not,  therefore, 
a mj  stery  that  a paternal  Government  makes 
no  attempt  to  populate  Assam  ? In  addition  to  em- 
ployment to  be  derived  from  the  tea  industry,  there 
are  large  tracts  of  lands  and  churs  on  tho  Brahma- 
putra most  suitable  for  tbe  cultivation  of  jute,  rice 
wheat,  and  seeds;  valuable  mineral  deposits,  and’ 
vegetable  products,  abound.  This  additional  produce 
our  Docks  are  waiting  to  teceive,  and,  I might  almost 
add,  require.  Droughts  are  uukcowD,  aud  if  the 
lauds  of  Aeeam  were  brought  under  cultivation 
famiues  in  Eastern  India  would  in  all  probability  be 
no  louger  formidable.  Railway  and  road  communi- 
cation with  Bengal  would  facilitate  immigration, 
and  a'tbough  the  lea  industry  has  survived  existing 
difficulties  I hope  this  Association  will  not  sneoumb 
through  loDg  delay  to  Indian  lethargy,  but  press  for 
their  removal.  For  it  looks  as  if  it  has  become 
necessary  to  export  our  teas  at  a co3t  not  exceeding 
3d.  per  lb.  to  uphold  profits. 
The  opening  of  the  Chit(agong-A>sim  Railway  must 
herald  a new  era  for  the  province,  and  let  us  hope 
this  may  be  only  a foretaste  of  the  goed  things 
Government  intends  to  provide.  The  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce has  been  favoured  with  an  interview  with  the 
agent  of  this  railway,  and  I am  pleased  to  be  able 
to  state  that  Mr  Buyers  has  expressed  himself  fully 
alive  to  the  interests  of  the  tea  industry.  He  has  deter 
miued,  as  far  as  it  lies  iu  his  power,  to  protect  planters 
against  annoyance  and  lo3s  in  having  their  labour 
enticed  away  by  contractors  to  construct  embankments. 
He  proposes  to  insert  a clause  that  the  engage- 
ment of  euoh  labour  will  cancel  the  eontraot.  At  tbe 
same  time,  Mr.  Buyers  will  be  happy  to  offer  con- 
tracts of  earthwork  to  planters,  or  hire  their  surplus 
labour  during  the  cold  weather  mouths.  I feel  sure 
that  this  announcement  will  be  received  with  much 
favour  and  appreciation  by  both  planters  and  by  Cal- 
cutta Agents.  Mr.  Buyers  further  stated  that  he 
proposes  to  commence  work  simultaneously  all  along 
tbe  Ohitlagong-Comilla-Silchar  section,  to  endeavour 
to  complete  it  within  two  or  at  most  three  years. 
This  he  stated  in  reply  to  an  appeal  made  by  the" 
Chamber  for  the  construction,  first,  of  the  section  to 
connect  Fenchuganj  with  Silcbar  station,  and  admit 
of  easy  communication  between  Calcutta  Bnd  Silcbar 
throughout  the  year.  Mr.  Buyers  does  not  at  present 
coris'der  that  tbe  latter  portion  could  be  constructed 
more  rapidly  were  special  endeavours  to  be  devoted  to 
this  section.  Another  important  consideration  has  been 
disclosed,  viz.,  that  with  the  extension  of  the  Central 
Bengal  Railway  beyond  Jessore  through  Madanpur 
to  a point  opposite  Chandpur,  produce  from  Assam, 
Cachar  and  Syltut  might  reach  Calcutta  without 
breaking  bulk,  the  importance  of  which  those  present 
at  this  meeting  will  fully  appreciate.  The  train  would 
be  ferried  acioss  from  Chandpur.  The  Jute  Manu- 
facturers’ Association  has  already  considered  the 
extension  to  Madaripur  necessary  in  the  interests  of 
that  trade,  and  this  Association  will  doubtless  now 
become  interested  in  the  matter. 
MOTES  FROM  OUR  LONDON  LETTER. 
London,  May  27. 
ME.  ELWOOD  MAY'S  INTENDED  DEPARTURE — PCBHING 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
Very  much  to  my  astonishment  it  was  told  me 
a day  or  two  back  that  Mr.  Elwood  May  had 
secured  his  return  passage  to  New  York  for  the 
6{h  June.  It  has  not  been  possible  for  me  to 
