Nov, 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 329 
NOTES FROM THE SEYCHELLES. 
ARRIVAL OF KING PREMPEH OF ASHANTI. 
It wa.s in the forenoon of 11th September 
that the B.I. .ss. "Dwarta" arrived at 
Mahi with King Prempeh of Ashanti, and 
King Asibi of Cocofai. Prempeh was accom- 
panied by three of his wives, his mother and 
one or two brothers and about iO followers. 
All sent from the Gold Coast to be interned 
in Mahe, and I suppose kept from further 
mischief. The usual apathetic view of life 
which prevails among the Creole and native 
population of the island was somewhat ex- 
ercised bv this 
ADVENT OF ROYALTY, 
to dwell with them and they gathered to 
some extent on the pier to see them land, 
but it was decided to take them in 
boats to the house which the Government 
had assigned for their residence near the 
Coast about four miles from the township. 
The landing of their Majesties was therefore 
very impretentious and it was nearly dusk 
before it was accomplished. The house rented 
IbytheGovernmentfortheiraccommodationis a 
plain, but rathernicelysituated building having 
about ten acres of ground round it, with 
flower garden and fruit trees. The party was 
accompanied by a Wesleya-n parson or 
teacher, also black, to act as interpreter. I 
had an opportunity of seeing Prempeh the 
day before I left, as he then, with the chiefs 
of his following, paid a visit to the Adminis- 
trator at Government House. Owing to his 
arriving too soon, he was taken to the ver- 
andah of a little house where there was a 
a merry-go-round, che wooden horses of 
which appeared to excite his curiosity as 
something novel. He was sitting there, an 
attendant holding a large purple umbrella 
over him, whether he walks or whether he 
sits. 1 understand this izmbrella is always 
held over him. Prempeh seems about 30 
years' old and for an African is fairly good 
looking, although his features give one the 
impression of violent ijassions subdued by 
circumstances. His lips are not over thick, his 
teeth are tine, regular and very white, and 
he has good eyes and nose. Kis dress is 
similar to the toga of the old Roman right- 
arm entirely bare with a loose white robe- 
striped with colors, one end of which is 
thrown over the left shoulder. A green 
ribbon circlet of an inch wide with patches 
of gold on it is his onlv head-gear. His 
walk is slow and not without a certain 
dignity. Two stools were borne by attend- 
ants, but I understand he sat on chairs it 
Government House, which he did not like. 
His Honor in uniform receiving him outside 
in the grounds. 
As regards matters generally in the 
Seychelles the visit of 
THE "eclipse" AND " POMONE " 
in July helped to make social life lively for 
a week or so. We had also a visit from an 
Italian man-of-war, and the English yacht 
" Victoria," chartered by the Prince de Broglie 
was there for some time, owing to the illness 
of the Prince. 
The last four months have been very dry 
the rainfall for that period being only 10 in. 
as against an average for eight years of 21. 
However, it seems to have suited the 
42 
VANILLA VINES, 
as rarely has there been seen such a promise 
of flowers as was everywhere apparent when 
I left. They were then commencing to come 
out abundantly and the total product of beans 
next year is variously estimated at from 
50,000 to 70,000 kilos. Several good planta- 
tions have been purchased by Englishmen, 
new arrivals within the last year or two. 
Liberian coffee is flourishing abundantly, but 
as the price is so low,(20 to 25 cents alb,) that it 
does not pay for the cost of preparation, and 
several planters are not taking the trouble to 
gather the berries. 
The B.I. Co. have, owing to the demand 
on their resources of steamers, thrown up 
their contract for the line between Bombay 
and Zanzibar calling at Seychelles. This does 
not suit the producers of coconut oil which 
will now have to find an outlet in and via 
Mauritius. 
It is much to be regretted that while one 
can get from Colombo to Mah6 in seven days, 
the only way of getting back thereto is by 
the long round via Mauritius.— Co?-. 
♦ 
CEYLON TEA IN PARIS. 
MR. R. V. AVEBSTUR TO THE FRONT. 
Mr. Jas. Westland has returned with a 
very high opinion of the extremely good 
work done by Mr. R. Valentine Webster at 
the Paris Exhibition, in Paris generally, 
and indeed throughout the world, on behalf 
of Ceylon tea. Mr. Webster has not only 
two central depots in Paris, but 20 Restaurants 
within and 52 outside the Exposition, 
besides 63 hotels and 256 The-Caft^s in 
the B'rench metropolis all taking Mr. 
Webster's Ceylon tea. In Switzerland he 
has also a large number of agencies and 
customers. Mr. Webster advertises freely 
in Paris by means of the motor cars, as 
well as in other novel and attractive forms. 
He has illustrated pamphlets and circulars 
in French and his sample packets now before 
us are got up with much taste and just 
in the way to attract French and other 
Continental customers. Mr Webster has sold 
as much as nearly 1,000 francs worth of 
tea in his Exposition standinoneday. Lipton's 
agent, although in a better position, did not aeem 
to be doing so much. — Mr. and Miss Westland 
spent sixteen days in France on the way out. 
INDIAN TEA "association. 
FIRE INSUKANCE-TEA PESTS-TEA IN 
TRAVANCORE. 
Calcutta, 25th Sept. 1900. 
The Nagaisaree Tea Company, Limited. — Con- 
sidered file of replies to the Committee's Circular 
No. 45 of 13th August, in which the views of memberi 
of the Association were invited upon the rates fixed' 
in the Fire Insurance Tariff on Tea Garden Buildings, 
which was introduced by the Calcutta Fire Insuranos 
Agents' Association in 1896. The principal items in 
this Tariff respecting which complaints had formerly 
been made were ; (1) The additional rate of 2 aunai 
per cent charged if the engine and boiler are inside 
the building, or in any building communicating there- 
with, except by doable fireproof doors. (2) The addi- 
tional rate of 4 annas per cent charged if fans ar« 
used. (3) The excessive rates fixed for withering and 
fermenting houses. (4) The excessive rates fixed for 
carpenters' shops. From the replies received it ap- 
peared to the Committee that the general opinion of 
members was favourable to the reduction of these rates 
