548 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST.  [Feb.  i,  1896. 
Ceylon.  It  must  bo  l)onio  in  mind  that  the  labour  here 
is  very  dil'ferent  to  tlu'  Tamils  in  Ceylon,  they  are  an 
ignorant  lot,  and  it  is  a case  of  sheer  necessity  to 
stand  by  them  all  day,  otherwise  they  will  not  work. 
The  language  is  easily  learnt,  hut  the  very  fact  of 
a European  in  the  field  keeps  the  niggers  at  work, 
to  that  an  assistant  would  be  useful  immediately  he 
arrived  here.  There  is  no  experienced  labor  out 
here  ; they  come  for  a short  time  and  then  go,  hence 
the  gieat  necessity  for  an  assistant.  If  I might 
suggest  either  of  the  following  gentlemen  both  of 
whom  expressed  their  aesire  to  come  out  here,  and 
at  the  same  time,  both  have  had  a certain  anicunt 
of  experience  with  coffee,  and  certainly  could  show 
good  testimomals,  viz.,  Mr.  tf.  C.  Morris  of  Mahadowa, 
Madulsima,  or  Mr.  Ch.  Pinches,  Naybeddy,  Bandara- 
wela.  Mr.  Morris  I havc’known  for  some  time, — he 
is  a thoroughly  conscientious  and  hard-working  man 
and  would  be  well  adapted  for  this  life.  I mention  this 
as  it  would  be  useless  to  s(uid  a man  out  here,  un- 
less he  is  prepared  to  lead  a very  lonely  life,  and 
at  the  same  time  groat  patience  is  required  to  work  the 
niggers  successfully,  and  the  latter  is  of  great  importance 
as  you  arc  aware  opening  up  land  is  any  thing  but 
healthy  work  and  in  consequence  it  would  be  advisable 
to  let  him  have  furlough  at  the  end  of  four  years, 
living  out  here  is,  I find,  very  expensive,  the  prices 
charged  by  the  African  Lakes  Co.  for  tin  things  are 
exorbitant,  and  unfortunately  they  are  the  chief  food, 
so  I would  suggest  to  start  him  on  tT50  with  a 
T‘25  rise  for  each  succeeding  year.  I might  men- 
tion that  the  lowest  paid  man  in  the  African  Lakes 
Company  gets  TlOO  a year  and  his  food  found 
by  the  Company.  Coffee,  judging  from  the  appearance 
of  the  coffee  I have  seen  at  Milange,  has  e.xcellent 
prospect  ; the  trees  are  healthy,  and  have  lots  of 
strong  wood  about  them  and  yield  well.  I have  as 
yet  been  unable  to  gather  many  satistics  with  regards 
to  Milange  coffe-s,  but  ^Ir.  Ihichanan  of  Blantyre 
told  me  a field  of  his  (1  years  old  gave  7 cwt.  an 
acre  last  yeai'.  I saw  the  field,  and  from  appearances 
it  could  not  be  compared  to  Milange  coffee.  I noticed 
that  what  few  fields  have  been  carefully  planted 
are  doing  considerably  better  than  the  majority  of 
fields  which  have  been  hurriedly  done.  In  most 
cases  the  coffee  has  been  topped  too  high  and  the 
maiden  crops  (which  arc  generally  very  heavy)  have 
taken  too  much  out  of  the  trees.  A considerable  amount 
of  empty  berry  is  found  in  the  Blantyre  coffee 
but  not  in  Milange,  w'here  the  soil  is  undoutedly  better. 
Company’s  Land. — Although  I have  not  been  able 
to  go  over  much  of  the  land,  yet  what  I have  seen 
is  undoubtedly  very  good,  and  ought  to  grow  splendid 
coffee.  The  land  is  very  undulating  and  is  thickly 
wooded,  but  there  is  not  much  virgin  forest.  In 
places  the  land  is  indifferent  and  i.s  not  good  enough 
to  plant,  but  taking  it  all  round  there  is  a large 
percentage  of  very  good  land.  The  soil  is  of  a dark 
chocolate  colour,  and  is  veiy  free  ; there  is,  however,  an 
absence  of  rock  or  stone.  From  what  I can  gather 
the  rainfall  averages  about  fiO  to  70  inches  and  the 
elevation  about  2,000  feet. 
Artizans.— There  are  very  few  trained  native 
artisans  in  Blantyre,  and  they  are  all  engaged,  so 
in  the  meantime  I have  engaged  an  European 
carpenter  to  assist  in  building  a house  at  a salary 
of  i'7  a month.  He  is  new  to  the  country  and  is 
unable  to  speak  the  language,  so  is  not  of 
much  use.  It  would  undoubtedly  be  a saving  to 
the  Company  if  they  sent  out  an  artizan  for  a 
year  or  so — a man  who  understands  masonry  as  well 
as  carpenter’s  work,  for  in  addition  to  building  a 
permanent  bungalow,  a pulping-house  and  cisterns 
will  be  necessary,  bricks  can  be  made  in  the  property, 
but  lime  is  very  expensive.  In  my  opinion  a Malay 
would  be  the  best  man  to  send  out.  If  an  artizan 
does  come  it  would  be  advisable  for  him  to  bring  a 
good  supply  of  rice,  as  it  is  very  expensive  here. 
BinmuNOS.— 1 am  at  present  putting  up  a small 
thatched  hut  which  will  do  for  a few  months,  but  a 
permanent  bungalow  will  be  necessary  next  year, 
in  the  meantime  I will  try  and  train  some  men  as 
flawvers.  Owing  to  the  exhorbitant  charges  out  here 
it  would  be  advisable  to  send  all  necessary  articles 
Hiich  as  nails,  screws,  tools,  otc.,  from  Ceylon.  I 
enclose  list  of  articles  necessary.  I find  the  prismatic 
compass  has  not  been  .sent.  I will  require  one  to 
survey  the  blocks  of  land  w ith. 
FuiiNiTciiio. — Beyond  a small  camp  table  and  a 
chair,  I have  no  furniture,  and  so  I would  be  ob- 
liged if  the  Company  would  send  out  some.  It 
can  bo  obtained  far  cheaper  in  Colombo  than 
out  here  including  freight.  Following  are  the  necessary 
articles  required I almirah,  I dining-room  table, 
1 chairs  with  arms,  1 office  table,  1 sideboard,  2 beds, 
2 washhaud  stands  and  any  other  articles  the  boy 
may  think  necessary.  The  furniture  can  be  taken 
to  pieces  and  packed  in  long  cases  and  I can  put  it 
together  out  here. 
Labor. — At  present  labor  is  very  scarce  ; there  has 
lately  been  a war  close  to  Milange,  and  in  conse- 
quence local  labor  is  very  scarce ; there  is  also  very 
little  labor  coming  down  from  the  lakes  at  present 
owing  to  the  country  being  in  an  unsettled  state 
about  these.  An  expedition  has  already  been  sent  off 
to  quell  a disturbance.  However,  there  is  not  the 
slightest  doubt  that  as  soon  as  the  country  is  more 
settled,  labor  will  find  its  way  here  in  large  quan- 
tities, and  that,  I am  told,  will  be  soon.  The  men,  as  I 
have  before  mentioned,  are  very  ignorant  and  have  to 
be  looked  after  like  a lot  of  cattle.  They  are  a lazy 
lot  and  the  only  way  to  get  work  done  is  to  stick 
by  them  the  whole  day,  hence  the  great  necessity 
for  an  liluropcan  assistant.  Labor  is  almost  entirely 
paid  by  calico  and  I think  it  would  be  a considerable 
saving,  if  the  (Jompany  imported  their  calico  direct  from 
England  in  the  future.  On  this  subject  I will  write 
jnore  fully  in  my  next  report.  In  the  meantime  I 
can  get  all  I i-equiro  from  the  African  Lakes  Company. 
Cdeaiuxc!  and  Nuuseuiks. — The  rains,  I am  told,  do 
not  commence  till  the  middle  of  November  so  a.s 
soon  as  I complete  my  hut  I intend  starting  a clear- 
ing, also  to  open  up  large  nurseries.  I have  written 
to  the  Manager  of  the  African  Lakes  Company,  ask- 
ing him  to  send  me  some  more  labor,  and  if  I 
can  possibly  manage  it  I will  open  20  acres  this 
year  ; in  any  case  I will  start  it.  I have  made  ar- 
rangements about  buying  plants.  I have  also  booked 
.WO  lb.  of  seed  from  Mr.  Buchanan,  but  he  says  he 
cannot  giiarmitee  it,  although  he  thinks  it  will  come 
up  well.  This  will  be  sufficient  to  start,  and  later  on 
I will  get  more.  If  you  have  received  advice  about 
the  Brazil  seed  I would  be  glad  if  you  would 
let  me  know  as  soon  as  possible  to  enable  me  get 
nurseries  made  for  it.  It  is,  of  course,  impossible  for 
me  to  say  what  average  I will  be  able  to  open  next 
year,  as  so  much  depends  on  labour,  but  with  the 
aid  of  an  assistant  I think  I could  manage  to  open  uji 
1.70  acres  well.  I will  start  clearing  early  in  the  year, 
so  the  sooner  an  assistant  is  sent  out  the  better. 
Stationery. — I would  be  obliged  if  the  Company 
would  send  out  a case  of  stationery  with  the 
Company's  address  printed  on  the  paper.  I have 
bought  sufficient  in  Blantyre  for  the  meantime  ; I 
will  also  require  a copying  book  and  press  (see  list). 
General. — Chiromo  is  the  nearest  port  on  the  river 
to  Milange,  it  is  about  80  miles  distant,  so  that  all 
goods  will  have  to  come  that  way.  When  you  send  out 
an  assistant  advise  him  to  stop  at  Chiromo  and  he  can 
send  a messenger  across  advising  me  of  his  arrival 
and  I will  then  send  down  men  to  bring  his  boxes 
up.  He  ought  also  to  be  advised  to  stick  by  all 
his  luggage,  as  the  African  Lakes  Company  are 
very  careless,  and  if  a box  is  left  behind  it  will 
probably  not  be  seen  for  months.  All  cases  ought 
to  be  labelled  Chiromo,  B.C.A.,  and  carefully  num- 
bered, I might  add  that  I have  got  all  my  tools 
with  me,  but  I omitted  to  bring  a list  of  them  from 
Ceylon,  so  would  be  obliged  if  you  would  ask  Messrs. 
Walker,  Sons  A Co.,  to  forward  one  on,  to  enable  me 
to  see  if  they  are  correct.  I regret  Mr.  Owen’s 
necessity  to  leave  the  country,  I presume  another 
man  from  Ceylon  will  be  sent  out  in  liis  place.  If 
I can  be  of  any  assistance  to  him,  I will  gladly 
do  so.  I enclose  an  order  for  some  goods  on  Messrs. 
Cargill  Co  , and  would  consider  it  a great  favor 
if  the  Company  would  settle  the  account  in  the 
meantime  and  on  receipt  of  the  amount,  I will 
forward  a draft  through  the  African  Lakes  Co.  The 
goods  might  be  brought  out  by  the  assistant. — I am, 
dear  sir,  yours  faithfully, 
(Signed)  G.  Mortimer  Cuarre, 
