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marked periods of advancement in the development of the com- 
munity. Hitherto most of the world outside and even those of 
themselves had been content to regard this as a land where they 
depended on the rich natural harvest of the earth which they gather 
without cultivation. He did not think hitherto in the eyes of the 
world or the merchants of the world that the products of the earth 
had bulked very largely in an estimate of the wealth of the Malay 
Peninsula, and whilst the natural harvest of tin, and jungle produce 
was still very rich and plentiful, it was very gratifying and interest- 
ing to find that while that was so, and appeared likely to be so 
for a long time, our planters were turning themselves with energy 
and resolution to the permanent cultivation of the soil. So 
long as we were entirely dependent on the natural harvest of the 
earth, we could never expect to have any really permanent and 
abiding community in this part of the world, and he was sure that 
when they found they were beginning to take themselves seriously 
as an agricultural community, they should find the world beginning 
to look to them as a field of some of its most valuable products. 
They could feel then they were laying the foundations of a legiti- 
mate stability of a trade from which Penang and Singapore, the 
gates of the Peninsula, must reap a great share. When they were 
privileged to go round this Show they would find much to interest 
them, and much to profit by. They would see the results of the 
methods of the European planter, which had been brought to the 
highest state of perfection possible at present, and they well know 
the high value put upon the products of that work in Europe. 
But they would see something if possible more interesting, the 
results of those native cultivations which had been going on from- 
time immemorial ; these included not only the exhibits of paddy and 
other crops, but also models of the implements used in producing 
those crops. And they would also see numerous specimens of every 
interesting native art and craft. It had always been a matter of 
great regret that these native arts and crafts were to such an 
extent a matter of history, and in spite of efforts made by some 
energetic officers in different parts of the Peninsula, they were still 
far from being in a healthy condition. He hoped the result of 
this and previous exhibitions would be to give a great impetus in 
that direction. ‘When the native artisan discovered there was a 
really good and profitable market for what he produces it would do 
much to epcourage the production of those beautiful specimens of 
Malay silver and weaving, which were now too much things of the 
past. He thought in that way the people of Singapore could do 
much to encourage those officers who had been so unselfishly 
trying to develop these arts. And if it resulted in giving such a 
stimulus and revival, those officers would feel that they have 
reaped a very rich reward. The people of Singapore would recog- 
nize the debt they owed to the splendid work which has produced 
the result before them, and the generous co-operation which had 
been offered to them in the matter not only by the sister Settle- 
ments, but by the F. M. S. also. They had here he believed 
something like 350 Penghulus who had come in charge of various 
exhibits, some of them from very long distances right away on 
the northern borders of Perak, and it would be a great stimulus 
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