February 2 , i8gi.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. S 
Tt^w-CBX?rr2^2'!5»9!yw«fc*i(r^s^t* - :• 
powder in wooden mortars, and then washed. It need 
hardly be pointed out that in this last method there 
is much gold lost : in the first place, the sorting of the 
ore is done by the eye; secondly, the appliances are 
of the roughest kind aud very inefficient ; thirdly, it 
is only practicable to a very little depth. 
The European engineers will manage matters better. 
A large quantity of machinery has already been intro- 
duced. That the gold strata are frequently rich is 
evidenced by the amount of gold produced with very 
defective appliances and most clumsy methods by the 
Chinese, who obtain as much as yields about 200,000 
guldens (or guilders) a year. With the method 
described they get 0'012 per cent of gold from the 
quartz. 
If the above data are not exaggerated, colossal 
results may be looked for; even if the proportion 
of gold should turn out to be only one-third of what 
it is said to be, the mines will be well worth the 
trouble and expense of workiug, and with good man- 
agement will yield considerable profits. 
Agiucultubal Undebtakings. 
Thus far we have confined our observalione exclusively 
to mining enterprize ; we now propose to consider 
the question of the application that have been made 
with reference to the extension of cultivation iu these 
regions. 
The number of persons desirous of obtaining land 
for agricultural purposes is also great. The news- 
papers from India give us the names of those who 
from time to time continue to swell the list of pro- 
posed ag' ioulturiats, and so it will go on until all the 
western division shall be parceled out. 
In Sambas alone 55 concessions have been granted, of 
which 25 have been confirmed by contract entered into. 
'J'hat more contracts have not been made is explained 
by the fact that within a year after the completion 
of the contract, the rent becomes due for 10,000 bouws, 
2,000 guldens is the sum that has to be paid as rent, 
for the second year 4,000, for the third year 6,000, 
for the fourth year 8,009, and for the fifth year 10,000, 
without any regard to the fitness of the land for the pro- 
posed cultivation or to the circumstance of its being 
uncultivated. [The contractor has to pay the 
stipulated rent whether he cultivates or not. — N'ote by 
Trunslator-I 
Of the twenty-five eoncessioniats who have passed 
over this difficulty, many of them are members of a 
Syndicate at Singapore, the name of which does not 
appear in connexion wi'li tiie undertaking. The cou- 
tracts are in favor of the person who enters into them. 
Amongst these there are several who have begun to 
work on their own account. 
The produce of the cultivation thus begun is up to 
the present time not very satisfaotory. The reason 
for this is to be sought, not so much in the constitu- 
tion of the soil, as in the great difficulties which the 
planters have to overcome. In proof of this, may be 
mentioned that two persons who are members of the 
Syndicate have produced tobacco of excellent quality, 
which was received in town with high approval, 
but that an outlay of 80,000 guldens was made before 
the result was obtained. 
Another concessionary established a tobacco enter- 
prize on a large scale, which according to Heer K. 
{Hat. Ntcumshlad, 15th July 1890), promises very well, 
but he had his full share of troubles. In tlie first 
place he could not obtain sufficient labor. The Chinese 
coolie.s displayed gross ignorance as cultivators, as 
well as unwillingness, and when at last help came 
from Singapore, it was found to be of little use. Shoe- 
makers, tailors aud clerk.s were sent, but no people who 
knew anything of plaiiliiig. These were soon found to 
bo very difficult to manage, and were continually de- 
serting. To trust exclusively to Dayak laborer.'!, 
Beemed to him to offer as little hope of sucooss- He 
has therefore endeavoured to engage a better class of 
Chinese work people. 
But all this does not disprove the assertion that 
Sambas has very certainly a good future, if these 
difficulties can be removed out of the way. More than 
once has the soil of this region heon examined, and 
the conclusion has always been arrived at, that it must 
be regarded as in every respect most favourable for 
cultivation. Ihe soil has been found well adapted for 
the planting of sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, rice, 
pepper and many other products, whilst there is a 
great variety of good timber ready to hand, which will 
amply repay the cost of felling and transport. 
We furnish the above as explanatory of the map 
which accompanies this number. 
_ As will be seen by the map, Samba.s is very favourably 
situated. It should be remembered that the divisions 
there marked indicate chiefly the lots where permis- 
sion has been awarded for mining inspections, or for 
which requests have been tendered for concessions for 
cultivation. Only ono contract has been entered on to 
the south, 20 miles from Sambas, when Heer P. van 
Dijk has commenced operations. Further south, near 
Mentrado, Mr. Gordon has brought a tract of land 
under cultivation on similar terms, and a little further 
north Mr. Liddelow has in like manner commenced 
operations near Benkajang ; whilst twenty-five culti- 
vators have contracted. 
Too much importance should not bo attached to tho 
absence of the names of many of the concessionists ; 
in a latter map of concessions, for it is more 
than probable that many of those whose names 
now appear ou the map, may withdraw from the un- 
d.;rtaking3. Our readers are not to consider this article 
as written for the purpose of urging the cultivation of 
Sambas, or for encouraging the enterprize. Our 
only object is to convey a correct idea of the present 
condition of the country, and nothing more. It is 
certain that great e.xpectalions sra entertained regard, 
iiig Sambas. It is said even that applications have 
been mdo to the Sultau for the formation of a rail- 
way, but we are not in possession of any particulars. 
CULTIVATION OF FIBROUS PLANTS 
IN CEYLON. 
Our correspondent, W. A. D. S., mentions in his 
last letter the fact that the stem of the Bandakai 
yields a good fibre. We think that fact is well known, 
but what is necessary to turn it to useful account is 
the quantity and cost of the fibre produced by the 
plant, lu other words, the information wanted is the 
economic value of the plant for the production of 
fibre. Capital is a scarce commodity in Ceylon, 
especially amongst those people who are most in need' 
of new industrial resources. Such persona are not 
likely to be attracted to risk their slender means in 
experiments with plants of which they know only 
vague and indefinite possibilities. They want some fair 
prospect of gain, based upon ascertained results, not 
on mere chances. In countries where there is a large 
amount of unemployed capital seeking investment 
tho case is different, but even there it is not easy to 
induce people to make experiments otherwise than 
upon definite estimates of profit. In this country the 
only chauce of obtaining a satisfaotory trial of a new 
product rests with the School of Agriculture, or other 
similar institutions possessing means of experimenting 
independently of a remunerative result. It is quite 
possible that the Baudakai plant might yield fibre pro- 
fitably, but our correspondent', W. A. D. S., does not 
give any data for estimating the economic value of the 
plant for its fibre, and therefore leaves the matter 
practically just where ho found it. 
The same may be said of the Sunflower plant as 
of Baudakai, namely, that it yields a strong and 
serviceable fibre, as well as an abundant crop of nutri- 
tious seed, but the fact that both tliese plants are 
exteiKsively cultivated for their fruit, aud not for the 
fibre they are well kuo'U’n to contain, tends to show 
that the fruit is a more valuable product thau the 
fibre. We think the School of Agriculture would do a 
good service by testing tho value of both these plants for 
the fibre they yield. The result of their experiments 
would be valuable, if not conclusivo as to the question 
whether either would pay for fibre cultivation in Oeylon. 
In the meantime, wo could not advise the e.xpend* 
