267 
PARA RUBBER ESTATES NEAR MALACCA. 
Free Press , June 22nd> 1904, 
( By a Correspondent.) 
The enterprise and forethought of local planters, both European 
and Chinese, has probably never had a better and happier esult 
than in the determination some five, six and seven years ago to 
commence rubber planting on a cultivated and scientific system. 
The pluck and judgment then displayed has, it is very pleasing 
to note, proved what we all hope and anticipate will be a veritable 
“Goldmine” to those who had the capital, both in money and 
brains, to embark on what was at that time, a trial of patience in 
every sense of the word. Note — when I speak of “Gold-mine” I 
am not referring to the local article. 
This last week-end I took a most interesting visit to an Estate 
which it appears to me must be one of the largest self-contained 
cultivated Rubber Plantations in the world. When I draw this 
comparison, your readers must understand that 1 am particularly 
referring to “cultivated” estates, i.e., estates which have been 
planted simply for rubber, and cultivated up to maturity. There 
are doubtless both in the Congo and in South America vast tracts 
under the s way of any one man or corporation, but they are totally 
different to the estate under notice, they are merely vast extents of 
forest or jungle which contain large number of rubber trees, and 
moveover the trees are tapped as so much jungle produce, and are 
not cultivated, and looked after as are estates in the Straits. 
The estate I visited partly on pleasure and partly on business, is 
the Bukit Asahan Estate, owned by a kongsi of Chinese, with a 
well known and respected Malacca Chinaman at the head, Tan 
Chay Yan, of the well known family of “ Tans. ” 
The history of the estate, I found from the correspondence, was 
most interesting. About nine years ago Tan Chay YAN had a 
private estate at Bukit Untang, 6 miles out from Malacca, on which 
he grew coffee. Coffee was not giving all that was anticipated from 
f it and Mr. Chay Yan bethought himself of rubber, greatly, l am 
glad to say, owing to the initiative of the Government. Para and 
Rum bong rubber was therefore planted, and at the end of three 
years, it had shaped so well, that a larger scheme was embarked 
upon. 
At this stage the interesting correspondence with Government 
began, Tan Chay Yan on behalf of his Kongsi applied for 4,000 
acres at Bukit Asahan, 33 miles out from Malacca, which was virgin 
jungle. Owing to his asking for permission to plant Tapioca as a 
catch-crop and also owing to his determination to plant the 
Rubber “ 15 by 15” (the Government demanding ro by 10) Tan 
Ciiay Yan lookeM very much as though he had no chance of ob- 
taining the concession of the land. He therefore “cried off” 
