jfULV I, 1890.] 
THF. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
3 
judiciously distributed amongst the employees and 
as a consequence, it had not made suoh progress 
as might otherwise have been expected. No special 
censure could, of course, be passed upon the indi- 
vidual though the system inaugurated at the mines 
could not altogether merit his approbation. Such, 
we take it, will probably be the tenor of the re- 
marks with which Sir Lepel Griffin will meet the 
shareholders at the approaching half yearly meet. 
Ing ; and are only suoh as could well be expected 
by any one who has had the opportunity of 
gathering information from time to time since 
the commencement of operations in Upper 
Burma, The question of ultimate and brilliant suc- 
cess as a mercantile venture was one on which (of 
course) we cannot expect him to be explicit, but 
we imagine he will have to tone down to a con- 
siderable extent the confident tone in which the 
prospectus of the company was primarily put 
forward. 
We learn that Mr. Kirby who accompanied Sir 
Lepel Griffin to the Euby Mines was more inclined 
to take a serious view of the dangers and diffi- 
culties of a trip to Mogok than did the Chair- 
man himself. The latter certainly made light of 
the journey, while as an Engineer, Mr. Kirby no 
doubt bore in mind that material as well as men 
have to be transported along what he termed “a 
wretched road.” In regard to the staff of Euro- 
peans employed by the Buby Mines Company, it 
would appear probable that there would shortly be 
a reduction rather than an increase in numbers. 
Europeans, for some reason or another not apparent 
to a casual visitor, seem to suffer very greatly in 
health, and a considerable percentage become phy- 
sioally useless in a very short time. This has 
been his invariable experience in regard to all large 
undertakings in India — and the Euby Mines by 
no means proves an exception :)o the rule. Trained 
natives have eventually to be entrusted with the 
work — and it is with this class of men that it 
is completed. He, however, admitted that 
acclimatised Europeans would have to hold 
control over the natives, evidently being of opinion 
that something beside physical energy and endurance 
was required by those in command. People in 
England could not possibly comprehend the difficulty 
— in fact the impossibility — of the transport of the 
machinery and other material from Tabeitkyin to 
Mogok until the road was completed, and that 
was only within the last month or two. Then 
again the constant sickliness of the ntative work- 
men, as well as their European superiors, created 
a difficulty almost as superlative as that of the 
want of roads and means of transport. It was 
only now that there was any chance of being 
able to make a commencement with the search 
for gems, and as the machinery was got to work 
no doubt rapid progress would be made. 
Taking a general view of the country, and 
judging of course from what he has seen during 
the flying visit up to Mandalay and Mogok, 
he had not formed a very high opinion as to its 
immediate future. He did not see what there was 
to be done with a country of such immense pro- 
portions and no population, and with but exceedingly 
small provision for transport. Anything in the way 
of agriculture would naturally be attempted in the 
hills more immediately adjacent to the seaports 
or at any rate, as near to them as the nature of the 
country and the measure of rainfall would allow. 
One point in Mr. Kirby’s remarks must not be for- 
gotten. In mentioning the delay that had taken 
place in forwarding the machinery sent up to 
Thabeitkyin over a year ago, he pointed out that 
this machinery was not sent out by the Company, 
but by Mr. Streeter himself before the Company 
1 . 0 
was formed, and was afterwards purchased by 
latter. We leave it to our readers to consider 
whether this in any way affects the question, our 
own idea is that it may be classed as a distinction 
without a difference. If the Company’s agents did 
not want the machinery they should have left it 
alone. In taking it over, they at the same time, 
took over the responsiblity of its utility or otherwise. 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENT, PERADENIYA, 
IN 18.38 AND SUCCEEDING YEARS. 
{From Official Records.) 
[Continued from Vol. IX., page 835.) 
His Excellency the Rt. Hon’ble the Goveenor, 
Sir, — I have the honor to forward per this oppor- 
tunity the ‘‘Melon seeds” required by Your Ex- 
cellency for Mr. Dyke, also (enclosed) the interesting 
letter from that gentleman, and I beg to return Your 
Excellency my grateful acknowledgement for the 
kindness of transferring it for my perusal. 
I have the honor to be. Sir, Your Excellency’s 
very faithful Servant, 
J. G. Lear 
Eoyal Botanic Garden, 31st August 18.39. 
His Excellency the Et. Hon’ble the Governor, 
Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the 
receipt of your Excellency’s note of 25th instant, 
and the “ 40 copies of orehidea drawings (which 
prove the same that I had the honor to request 
of your Excellency), also of two packets of “ Cape 
and American seeds ” which shall have my par- 
ticular attention. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s 
most obedient faithful Servant, 
,T. G. Lear. 
Eoyal Botanic Garden, 26th September 1839. 
His Excellency the Et. Hon’ble the Governor, 
Sir, — I have the honor to inform Your Excellency 
that I could forward the plants required for the 
Queen’s House whenever the border there is prepared 
for their reception, but I beg to suggest that they 
had better wait until at least a short continuance 
of rain could be depended upon. With respect to 
my tour via Nuwera Ellia and Badulla, I have 
written Captain Kelson on the subject, agreeably to 
Your Excellency’s wish, who is prepared to see me at 
any time ; that gentleman has also written Captain 
Eogers, and in the event of an answer from the 
latter gentleman before that time, I shall proceed 
to Nuwera Ellia on the 4th proximo. 
If Your Excellency requires the evergreens imme- 
diately, I will put them in readiness before my 
departure from Peradenia. 
I have the honor to be. Sir, Your Excellency’s 
most obedient faithful Servant, 
J. G. Lear. 
Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Oct. 30th, 1839. 
Memorandum called for by His Excellency the 
Et. Hon’ble the Governor. 
Eoyal Botanic Garden Establishment. 
Superintendent, Clerk, Draftsman and Storekeeper’ 
2 Kanganies, 1 Gardener, 1 Plant Cnllsctor and 
Specimen Maker, 2 Lascoreens, 30 Coolies, 8 Boys. 
Cost of Establishment . . . . £.52 
Artificers’ work and other contingencies 4 
£56 
per month. 
Mr. Lear thinks it but just to himself to add 
that after collecting what is due to the Establish. 
