THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
253 
Oct,  I,  1895.] 
and  steep  gradients,  cum  mult  is  aliis,  are  resoi  ted 
to  as  making  for  cheai>ness.  But  these  expedients 
(and  the  fact  cannot  be  too  clearly  kept  in  mind), 
all  entail  some  sacrifice  of  elliciency,  sonie  in- 
crease of  operating  expenses,  and  are  justifiable 
only  as  the  alternative  to  no  railway  at  all — the 
predicament  of  most  projects  which  hinge  on 
trafiic  “in  sifdit.” 
Of  expedients  for  cheapening  first  cost,  curvature, 
as  we  liave  seen,  is  less  objectionable  on  narrow 
than  on  broad  gauges.  In  the  use  of  gr.adicnts, 
on  the  other  h.and,  all  gauges  enjoy  pretty  much 
the  same  facility  with  the  exception  of  those 
of  less  than  one  meti’e,  which  labour  under  tlie 
disadvantage  explained  in  an  earlier  article.  In 
all  cases  tlie  train  has  to  he  lifted,  and  the  extra 
work  tlius  thrown  on  the  locomotive  is  in  no  wise 
affected  by  the  space  between  tlie  wheels. 
When  however,  gradients  are  complicated  by 
curvature,  and  in  hilly  countries  the  one  is 
seldom  found  M'ithout  the  other,  then  gauge 
begins  to  tell,  and  the  metre  and  its  congener 
the  3'  6"  resume  their  superiority  in  this  res- 
pect over  the  4'  and  5'  6«.  It  is  customary 
to  represent  the  effect  of  curvature  on  gradient 
as  the  equivalent  of  an  increase  in  tlie  angle  of 
inclination,  according  to  a formula  devised  by 
the  late  Professor  Rankine  of  Glasgow.  But  the 
formula  does  not  square  with  the  observed  facts 
of  experience,  and  it  would  be  nearer  the  mark 
to  represent  the  combination  of  curve  and  gradi- 
ent as  equivalent  to  a sharpening  of  the  curve. 
CUOLY  LABOUR  IN  S.  INDIA  ANU  THE 
SUPPLY  FOR  THE  STLAfTS. 
EXTRACTS  FROM  REPORT  ON  A VISIT  TO 
SOUTHERN  INDIA. 
By  Mr.  E.  V.  Carey,  Chairjian,  Selangor  Planters’ 
Association. 
As  soon  as  I arrived  at  Negapatam  I at  once  went 
to  see  Dr.  Hardaker,  who  gave  me  application  forms 
for  four  licenses  (one  for  myself  and  three  for  ray 
Canganies)  and  a letter  to  the  Assistant  Collector,  a 
native  gentleman,  who  after  hearing  what  I had  to 
say,  sent  me  on  to  the  Port  Officer,  it  being 
apparently  the  custom  that  the  latter  official  should 
signify  his  approval  of  the  applicant  before  the 
licenses  could  be  issued.  Having  survived  this  ordeal 
I obtained  my  licenses,  free  of  cost,  but  before  avail- 
ing myself  of  the  privileges  which  they  conferred 
upon  me,  I had  again  to  take  them  to  be  counter- 
signed, by  the  Port  Officer  and  Emigration  Agent. 
The  time  occupied  by  these  proceedings  was  exactly 
live  days,  the  previous  record  having  been,  I was  told, 
a month,  so  I had  every  reason  to  consider  myself 
extremely  lucky;  but  I could  not  hcl])  thinking  that 
the  matter  would  be  much  simplified  if  licenses 
were  issued  direct  on  Dr.  Hardaker’s  recommenda- 
tion, which  surely  should  he  sufficient.  'There 
does  not  seem  to  be  any  other  objection  to  the 
system  of  compulsory  licensing,  which  to  some 
extent  prevents  irregular  rocruting  by  persons  vhose 
representations,  as  a rule  quite  false,  must  in  the 
end  do  considerable  harm  to  the  cause  of  emigration 
to  this  country. 
During  my  stay  in  Ni-gapatam,  whilst  wailing  for 
my  licenses.  I took  the  oppotunity  of  sounding 
IMessrs.  Adamson,  Maetugg.ai t & Co.  and  IMessr.s. 
Gauapilliiiy  Pillai  V Co.,  both  of  wdiom  recruit  in- 
dentured labour,  with  a vio\t'  to  ascertaining  whether 
tiiey  would  undertake  the  supply  of  tree  coolies 
also.  The  latter  firni  refused  point  blank  on  the 
ground  that  they  were  prevented  by  law  and  also 
that  they  could  not  work  the  two  businesses  harmo- 
niously. Messrs.  Adamson,  Mact.aggart  & Co.,  how- 
ever, acting  upon  my  suggestion,  addressed  the 
Goveruinent  upon  the  subject  and  endeavoured  to 
find  out  what  the  legal  position  was,  but  up  to  the 
time  of  my  depai’ture  they  had  received  no  reply  j 
they,  however,  expressed  their  willingness  to  recruit 
for  us  no  reasonable  terms  provided  no  legal  difficul- 
ties existed. 
After  some  trouble  and  a lengthy  search 
through  many  Immigration  and  Emigration  Acts 
and  Ordinances,  I unearthed  a Madras  General 
Order  dated  15th  May,  1888 — a copy  of  which 
I have  handed  to  the  Honoi-ary  Secretary  for  in- 
formation of  members — which  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  repealed  and  which  covers  copy  of  a Circular 
addressed  by  the  then  Acting  Indian  Immigration 
Agent,  Penang,  to  Estate  Managers  in  the  Colony 
and  the  Native  States.  This  Circular,  which  pur- 
ports to  have  the  force  of  law,  is  worded  as  follows, 
and  is  dated  Penang,  8th  November,  1887 ; — “ I am 
directed  to  inform  you  that  the  followidg  rules  are 
to  be  observed  with  reference  to  the  recruiting  of 
labour  in  India.  («)  All  recruiters  arriving  in  India 
w’ith  a letter  from  the  Indian  Immigration  Agent 
and  those  appointed  by  the  agents  of  the  planters 
there  shall  take  out  licences  in  India,  {h)  No  agent 
or  recruiter  shall  receive  any  commission  on  coolies 
not  entered  in  the  list  of  indentured  coolies  (Prom  A). 
“ 2.  I will  ask  you  to  be  good  enough  to  com- 
municate the  above  rules  to  your  Agents  in  India — ■ 
(Signed)  H A Thompson,  Acting  Indian  Iinmigration 
Agent." 
Commenting  upon  the  above  rules  the  Madras 
Government,  in  the  same  Government  Order,  p.  9 
para  5,  has  the  following  ; — “ The  proposal  that 
agents  and  recruiters  shall  not  receive  a commis- 
sion for  any  emigi’ants  not  entered  in  Form  A cannot 
of  course  be  enforced  by  this  Government." 
The  position,  briefly  summarised,  is  therefore  this : 
the  planter  may  go  to  India  and  recruit  free  coolies, 
he  may  send  his  native  agent  from  here  for  the  same 
purpose  providing  he  pays  him  no  commission;  but 
he  cannot  employ  even  the  most  respectable  and 
trustworthy  agents  at  Negapatam  to  do  the  same 
thing  because  he  is  not  allowed  to  pay  such  agents 
any  commission,  free  coolies  not  being  entitled  to 
have  their  names  entered  in  Register  A,  which 
is  reserved  for  indentured  labour  only.  This,  I 
venture  to  think,  is  an  exceedingly  anomalous 
and  untenable  jiosition,  and  I have  no  doubt  that 
when  it  is  pointed  out  to  the  Government  exceptions 
will  be  made  in  the  esse  of  firms  and  agents  of 
standing  and  position.  The  fact  of  the  Madras  Go- 
vernment declining  to  enforce  the  Order  referred  to 
does  not  do  away  with  the  difficulty  in  Penang,  which 
must  clearly  be  set  right,  for  such  enormous  and 
comprehensive  powers  are  conferred  upon  the  Immi- 
gration Agent  there  by  Indian  Immigration  Ordi- 
nance, No.  V.  of  1884,  that  it  is  conceivable  that 
coolies  recruited  on  commission  through  Indian  agents 
(the  fact  having  become  known  to  the  Penang  autho- 
rities) might  not  be  allowed  to  proceed  to  their  des- 
tinations in  Selangor. 
Leaving  Negapatam  I went  for  a 10-days’  round 
of  the  recruiting  grounds  at  which  I ho])ed  to  collect 
coolies, visiting  Madura,  Chittambaram,  Kumbolconum. 
Tirip.itooroo,  Tullikapetty  and  other  towm  and  vill.i.- 
ges.  Wherever  I w^ent  I found  the  coolies  willing 
enough  to  listen  to  all  I had  to  say  and  m Miy  of  them 
to  come  with  me,  though  somewhat  sceptical  as  to  the 
existence  of  such  a place  as  Selangor,  with  its  salu- 
brious climate,  high  wages  and  already  settled  Tamil 
community. 
I regret  that  I am  unable  to  announce  wluvt  the 
nett  result  of  my  t.ip  w’as,  as  the  (’angania-i  I left 
behind  have  not  com;  iu  yet;  but  I bedievo  ihat  I 
have  secured  100  to  150  coolies,  which  w.is  all  that 
I wanted,  and  lam  ceitiiii  that  had  I been  able  to  stay 
iu  In.lia  for  two  months  or  so  myself  I could  have  re- 
cruited 500  if  I In,  I Ij.mn  desirous  of  doing  so.  In 
one  or  two  villages  I found  coolies  who  had  been 
over  to  the  Straits,  but  under  indentures,  and  it 
was  only  when  I explained  that  I proposed  to  enter 
into  no  contract  with  them,  that  1 could  in  these 
cases  obtain  a hearing  at  all,  the  native  recruiters 
who  had  got  at  them  in  the  first  instance  having, 
according  to  their  own  accounts,  misled  them  not  a 
little. 
