Feb. 1, 1902.1 . THE TROPICAL 
comes under the former category^ that of Thurs- 
day Island under the latter, while Singapore may 
be cited as an instance where the Imperial and 
colonial interests are about equal. However these 
stations may be protected, and from whatever 
source, Imperial or colonial or joint, the neces- 
sary funds may come, we have to recollect before 
everything that coal — ubiquitous coal— is as the 
breath of life to our naval power and activity. 
MALARIAL INSECT TRACKED. 
A DISCOVERY OF VAST IMPORTANCE TO COLONI- 
SATION. 
It is now stated, on the authority of Sir 
Alfred Jones, who is so well known for other 
public services that many people may forget that 
he is chairman of the Liverpool School of Tropical 
Medicine, that a new cause of malarial fever 
has been discovered. It is well known that Major 
Ronald Ross has attributed a good deal of the 
malaria which is the curse of the -West Coast 
of Africa — and many other coasts — to the bite of 
malarial mosquitoes. And now Major Ross is 
able to announce that Dr. Dutton, who is one of 
his assistants, has made the important discovery 
that there is yet another parasite which brings 
fever to the unhappy white man on the West 
Coast. It is said to be like the insect which 
causes "fly disease" among horses in South 
Africa, and, if so, the discovery will be of twofold 
importance. On the news being submitted to a 
medical expert on tropical disease, a somewhat 
chilling reception was given to it. This gentle- 
man said that it might be true, but that .he 
preferred to wait before expressing an opinion. 
But of one thing he was quite certain — if the 
cause of malarial fever in man or of fly disease 
in cattle had been found, then it was one of the 
most beneficent of the discoveries of the age. 
The reason why the discovery would be of such 
importance is that it would make possible the 
colonisation of vast regions of the British Empire 
which are now the white man's grave — Daily Mail, 
Jan. 10. 
RUBBER SUPPLIES IN I90I. 
{Messrs. Figgis 4 Co.'s Annual Revitw, — ) 
London, January 3rd, 1902. 
We have to report fewer fluctuations in prices 
during 1901 than previous years, but at the close all 
rubber is cheaper than a year ago. Fine Para 3d., 
negrohead barely id, but Cametaa 2d. Peruvian ball 
and slab about Id per lb. 
The supply of all medium rubber has fallen off con- 
siderably and nearly the whole of the old stock has been 
disposed of at very low prices ; resulting in great 
losses to holders as has been the case with many fresh 
imports. Our stocks of these kinds are now greatly 
reduced and we look for an improvement in values 
shortly and should encourage imports. 
The year has shown a continued increase of demand 
for the finer rubbers at relatively high prices, and the 
European consumption of fine Para considerably 
exceeds any pievions year. English manufacturers 
have been very busy. Continental fairly bo. American 
were less occupied till the last three months. On the 
Vfhole the year has been a very active one. 
A&RICULTUEIST. i5l 
The Continental stocks are very much reduced, but 
America holds fair stocks of Para : — 
Visible supply now of Para and Peruvian 4,618 Ions 
against 4,100 tons last year (including America 2,005 
tons against 1,200 tons). 
There is a further increase from Brazil — about 3,200 
tons from the Amazons (including Peruvian via Iqnitoa 
and Manaos, 4,000 tons against 3,100 tons). The 
Peruvian fine has been better as a whole, but should 
be cut and selected before shipment. The ball has 
been fair and som^ nice hard clean brown lots realised 
very high prices ; weaks labby and dirty sells cheaply. 
The slab was good. Of Bolivian we received less, but 
probably as much was produced and qunlity was satis- 
factory. Of Moleudo increased supplies during the 
latter months of the year ; quality good. From Vene- 
zuela via Orinoco the supply was less and rather poor 
quality. Ceara more bat only good clean wanted. 
Manicoba — Fair supply of improved quality. Per- 
nambuco and Assare was in fair supply and realised 
much lower prices. The Mangabeira supply declined 
enormously ; very good clean sold well, common at 
a great decline. Mattogrosso has rather in- 
creased ; some parcels were rather dirty and badly 
prepared, 
From Central America the supply has been con- 
siderably declined, and again owing to war only small 
lots from Colombia ; these Ecuador, Tumaco, Guaya- 
quil! sell readily and scrap only Id lower than a year 
ago : inferior and mixed much cheaper. Some from 
the Cauca, Magdalena sold fairly, also Nicaragua and 
Gautemala, 
Of Honduras Mexico and Panama very small lots. 
African shows a serious falling ofi probably 1,500 
tons — Angola 250 less ; say Benguela 1,250 tons ogainst 
1,550 tons in 1900. Loanda 730 tons against 678 tons 
(besides 200 tons Thimbles). Quality has been hardly 
so good. The Congo hag slightly increased but the 
quality has seriously declined ; about 5,300 ton» 
against 5,000 tons in 1900. The average price shows a 
very considerable decline because so much was poor 
quality. Quite an extraordinary decline in supply of 
Gold Coast, Accra, Lagos, etc., and only moderate from 
Cameroons, Sierra Leone, Gsboon, etc., and small of 
Senegal. Prices of nice hard only about 2d 
lower, but soft common and Lagos fully 4d decline for 
the year. — Indit, Rubber Trades' Journal. 
CEYLON RUBBER. 
Messrs. S Figgis & Co, have the following 
in their latest Report: — "Of Ceylon small 
lots sold at high prices. We again urge 
planters to give attention to this valuable 
product. Ceylon is much liked and sells 
readily. We obtained 3s 9fd recently for fine 
and 2s i^d for negrohead grown from Para seed." 
The Sugar Crop of Hawaii for 1901— has 
exceeded the most liberal estimates, having been 
.360,000 tons. Fine harvesting weather and an in- 
creased supply of water for irrigation from artesian 
source*, have been the chieffactors in producing this 
result. Under like condition*, the next crop will 
be fully as large. The largest production of re- 
fined sugar in the United States for any single 
year was that of 1899, which was 1,773,870 tons. 
The production of 1000 was 1,566,038 tons. It 
is estimated by those in the trade best qualified to 
judge that the American Sugar Refining Company 
produced about eighty per cent of the output 
in each of those yta,r3.-~Hatvaiian Planters' 
Monthly, Dec. 15, 
I 
