THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. I, 1898 . 
560 
COFFEE AND CONSPIRACIES IN BRAZIL. 
After a considerable interval we have received 
an interesting, chatty letter — see page .r47 — from 
Ml. A. Scott Blacklaw, so long resident 
in Brazil, although he began life as a Ceylon 
planter. His introduction gives us a very graphic 
account of the curious disturbance in the State 
of Bahia — ilignified with the name of “Revolu- 
tion” through the persistent way in which the 
Government police and troops scut against the 
“rebels” home or stockade, got defeated over 
and over again. Mr. Blacklaw winds up too 
with a tragedy in the attempted assassination 
of the President and actual murder of the 
Minister at War. But in between comes the 
practical part of the letter in w hich our corre- 
spondent has to tell us about “coffee” in the 
great South American State. M^e should have 
wished to learn more particularly of the con- 
dition and prospects of the Dumont Company’s 
properties in which so many leading Ceylon 
men are interested ; but we learn instead the 
general prospects, and certainly these d > not 
indicate any cessation to the extension of coffee 
planting in Brazil, cheap though the ])roduce 
has lately been. If the Brazil authorities leally 
sold their State Railways and established a stable 
Currency, a new era of prosperity might be ex 
pected for their very rich country. 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
Bkazilian Rubber. — The British Consuls at Para 
and Manaos give in their official reports some in- 
teresting particulars regarding the rubber industry. 
Mr. Churchill, who is stationed at Para, says, in 
regard to the question of buying rubber forests, that 
he gathers from those engaged in the trade that it 
would be possible to buy forests, and probably whole 
islands, producing the best rubber, but excessive 
prices would have to be paid, as rubber is the chief 
industry at Para, and yie'ds comparatively large 
profits to the greater part of the population It is 
believed that it would be quite impossible to com- 
pete successfully with Brazilian and Portuguese forest- 
owners, who exploit their estates in the most economical 
manner, and can stand the climate, which is deadly to 
Northern Europeans. It appears that the trade is 
practically in the hands of a class of traders called 
aviadores, who establish themselves at various points 
on the Amazon, and advance food and other require- 
ments to the collectors of rubber, and in exchange 
they receive all the rubber collected, which they 
send down the river for sale at Manaos or Para. 
Through the credit system the aviador makes the 
collectors of rubber permanently in his death. He 
is enabled to accomplish this all the more as the 
rubber districts do not produce any foodstuffs, and 
all payments for rubber are made in kind. It is said 
that it is not customary to buy forests, as they are 
worthless to the owner unless he can get the pro- 
duce, and he certainly does not get it unless he lives 
on the spot and acts in the same way as the 
aviador. This would appear simple, but, so 
far as Europeans are concerned, it appears to 
be rendered impossible by the climate. There is no 
doubt that the climate most suitable for rubber is 
the least suitable for human beings, especially white 
ones. But given reasonable comforts, and proper food, 
which it is possible to have on the banks of the 
Amazon, a Britisher, with proper organisation, might 
perhaps stand the much-dreaded climate. Tne best 
means of working a large rubber business would pro- 
bably be to employ a large number of aviadores, and 
to make their centre at Manaos. 
Pi.ANTiNO IN British Centrai. Africa. — Up to the 
present the exportation of coffee to Europe from the 
Nyasaland Protectorate has been little more than an 
experiment. There was no question about the high 
quality of the berry there produced ; all experts pro- 
nounced it to he quite of the old Mocha standard. 
But before going farther with the venture it was 
essential to ascertain whether transport charges 
would not sivallow up all profits. The voice of the 
pessimist uttered that dismal prophecy freely enough, 
while the doleful Little Englander refused to believe 
that any good could come out of British Central 
Africa. Remembering these mournful predictions, it 
is pleasant to learn that the planters are entirely 
satisfied with the financial results of their plucky 
experiment. A greatly extended area has been 
brought under cultivation, and the time seems 
not far distant when the Proctectorats will 
become a dangerous rival to Brazil in the European 
market. The planters also look forward to the time 
when the Zambesi branch of the Bechuanaland Rail- 
way will bring Nyasaland into touch with British South 
Africa. That is no longer a dream, hut, thanks to Mr. 
Rhodes, on the way to become a realised fact at a com- 
naratively early date. Tea of high quality is also pro- 
duced in the Protectorate ; indeed, so rich is the soil 
and so propitious the climato that it is very difficult to 
say what crops could not be cultivated. There is, too, 
an abundant supply of very cheap labour, and although 
newcomers are apt to pick up fevers before they become 
Hcclimatised, the old Scotch planters and missionaries 
are said to enjoy excellent health. When the Zam- 
besi branch of the Bechuanaland Railway is completed 
there seems to be no reason why planters should not 
supply Mincing lane with both tea and coffee. — 11. and 
C. Mail, Dec. 31. 

GOW, MTLSON A STANTON’S INDIAN 
AND CEYLON TEA SHARE REPORT. 
London, E.C., Dec. 31. 
It IS only during the last few years that invest- 
ments in Tea Producing Companies have been ex- 
tensively made by the public. Until lately', they 
were looked upon as difficult of sale, an opinion 
which was certainly correct some years back, but is 
far from being so at the p--esent time. Shares have 
lately become so widely distributed that their market- 
ability has considerably increased. 
The past year has been noticeable for its increasing 
number of comparatively small investments, rather 
than large amounts ; and for the distribution of Tea 
Shares over a more extensive area. 
Tea production was carried on under greater draw- 
backs than during the past two or three years. In 
the first place, Exchange ruled at a higher average. 
This enhanced co«t of production, which was further 
raised by the high price of rice, owing to the recent 
famine in India ; the average price was also some- 
what below that of last year, while the earthquake in 
India has also, either directly or indirectly, affected 
several Indian Companies. 
The average price of all Indian Teas sold in Lon- 
don since commencement of season was 8’99, against 
9T3d same period 1896. 
The average price of all Ceylon Teas sold in Lon- 
don during 1897 was 7'71, against 8‘2ld same period 
1896. 
It may therefore be doubted whether the result of 
cultivation will be as satisfactory as during the two 
previous seasons ; still many of the best Companies 
should be making fair profits, although such as have 
not accumulated a solid reserve, may, and in some 
instances have to, distribute less in dividend. 
The growth in consumption was larger than in pro- 
duction, new markets, as well as the home trade, 
having shown a substantial advance. 
There appears, therefore, no likelihood of imme- 
diate over-production, while the fact that India and 
Ceylon together subscribe some £18,000 per annum 
for the purpose of fostering the use of their Teas in 
new markets, is sufficient evidence that Plante-s are 
on the alert to prevent actual danger menacing the 
Industry, through lack of energy or forethought upon 
their part. 
