I. 
Krian, gtk January , 1892. 
To the Secretary to Government, 
Taiping. 
Sir, -I have the honour to inform you that if I am permitted to cut about nine 
miles of drain, and form a foot-path with the soil excavated, I can open up some 
thousands of acres of valuable padi land in this district, which will be unoccupied for 
ever unless means of getting at it are provided. I send this in view of the recent 
letter from Singapore on the subject of rice culture ; a full report of the area cultivated, 
available and alienated in my district will be sent to you as soon as possible. 
•2- The cost of the nine miles of bridle-paths would be trifling. No new roads 
have been’ made here since I was in charge in 18841 so no new jungle opened, Banjer 
Malay settlers, seeing last and this year’s excellent crops, will get their friends over 
from Sumatra in hundreds, , with their families. I strongly recommend the Government 
to favourably consider this scheme, and I can guarantee an enormous increase in 
population, cultivation, and, in consequence, a considerably improved fixed annual 
revenue. Clearing the jungle will commence as soon as the path is begun, and the first 
crop will be taken off the land next padi season, and it will provide a lot of work 
for new settlers meantime. 
I have, &c., 
ED. J. BREWSTER, 
Collector and Magistrate , Kinta . 
II. 
Krian, 19 th January , 1892. 
To the Secretary to Government, 
Taiping. 
Sir, —I n reply to your memorandum No. C. S. with a copy of His 
Excellency the Governor’s letter to the British Resident, Perak, No. dated 7th 
January, 1892, and 18th December, 1891, respectively, on the rice culture question, 
I have the honour to report that in my district some 40,000 acres are now under 
cultivation, and that last year and this the crops have been* excellent, the best land 
producing 1200 gantangs to the orlong. 
2. I have, approximately, 60,000 acres of available land for rice-growing 
unopened for want of means of access. I have already written you on this subject 
letter No. |. J 
. 3 - When in charge of this district in 1884-85, I opened up three or four roads 
(bridle) of 8 to 10 miles each; land on either side was immediately taken up, and 
now has a permanent population growing rice. I believe I am correct in saying that 
not one hundred yards of new road through jungle have been opened since then. 
4 - I have recently, in company with the Assistant Indian Immigration Agent, 
travelled over many miles of the district, through the cultivated and unopened por- 
ions, I have given him a map showing the various roads and principal points 
earing on this question, so I will not trouble you with another copy here. 
5 * I think it would be a very good thing if this Government would allow me to 
° u y some 5,000 gantangs of seed padi from Kedah, Siam and Burmah, to be distri- 
cted for planting next season. The introduction of new good seed is, of course 
always wise. 
6. . On the question of ragi and dholl culture I cannot give much information : if 
Th 7 f Wi11 gr ° W in l0Wj flat ’ swam P> r land then 1 should say Krian would suit them. 
ae former is grown here in small quantities on drier land near dwellings, but not to 
any extent. _ I believe the price of it is about 13 cents a chupak ; in an ordinary 
season rice is about three and four cents here. 
7 - In conclusion, it should be borne in mind that Krian and Kurau are essen- 
tially padi-growing districts, and that wherever Government has provided means of 
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