38 
REPORT BY THE BRITISH RESIDENT OF SUNGEI UJONG. 
[ No. ] 
British Resident’s Office, 
Sungei Ujong , April , 1892. 
Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 12,869 of 
the 1 8th December, 1891, regarding the extension of the cultivation of padi and other 
grains. 
2. The information gained from personal enquiry and from the reports of the 
District Officers of Port Dickson and Jelebu affords little hope of extending the culti- 
vation of padi with the present population. On the' coast, the land available is prac- 
tically unlimited. From Cape Rachado to Port Dickson there are large tracts well 
adapted for padi-fields. In some parts the land stretches right away to the neighbour- 
hood of the Linggi Road at about the 15th mile. In the neighbourhood of the Lukut 
River, too, there are large tracts of suitable land, and also in the Linggi District, but 
the population is not large. 
3. All the foreign inhabitants of the above-mentioned districts and most of the 
Malay population live upon imported rice, and where the country-grown rice is used 
the padi is prepared in such a careless way that even if more of it were grown it is 
doubtful whether it would have a market. An improvement might be made in this 
direction, if planters could be found, by the supply of first class seed by the Govern- 
ment. Padi-planting, however, could only be carried out on a large scale'with a sur- 
plus or an imported population. The present population of the coast consists largely 
of immigrants from Malacca, who are planting coco-nuts and fruit trees, and especially 
gambier, for sale to the neighbouring Chinese pepper and gambier estates. The 
ryots do the same thing, and they all hire themselves out as day labourers to the 
Chinese and the Railway Company. So long as they can command from 30 to 50 
cents a day, they will not plant padi which, on a small scale, Is a difficult product to 
cultivate successfully. In Linggi, now that nearly all the road traffic has been attracted 
to the Railway, the people are again directing their attention to padi-planting, having 
neglected that industry for cart-driving hitherto. As, however, they have various occu- 
pations, such as boat-building, taking contracts for felling, etc., it is not probable that 
they will cultivate more than actually necessary ; it is doubtful if they will produce 
enough for their own consumption, 
4. In Seremban and its neighbourhood, there is more chance of success in en- 
couraging padi-planting. Setul and Lenggeng are inhabited by Menangkabau planters, 
who grow sufficient for thefr own consumption and have generally sufficient to supply 
almost entirely the Chinese mining population in the neighbourhood, but whenever in 
past years, I have tried to induce them to extend their cultivation, they have invariably 
asked for advances which, when given, I have had trouble in getting back, sometimes 
not being able to obtain repayment. Another drawback in this district is that it is 
also a rich mining district, and Malays are induced to sell the land they have leased 
for padi to Chinese and remain idle for a long time on the proceeds. 
5. In Pantai, enough is planted for the consumption of the inhabitants, but as 
they are fairly well off and have plenty of buffaloes and extensive orchards, I have 
found it hopeless to attempt any improvement on their present system as they have 
ample to live upon. 
6. In Jelebu, the natives of the country plant rice enough for their own con- 
sumption, and the crops are mostly good. They will, however, plant no more, and even 
if they did the sort they grow. is not such as is consumed by the Chinese, who, as Well 
as the floating Malay population, live upon imported rice. 
7. The only way I can see is for the Government to assist immigration largely, 
both with land and capital. It is a question for consideration what sort of immigrant 
would pay best — whether Siamese, Tamils or Northern Indians. I understand that 
Tamil families assisted by the Government have taken root in Lower Perak, and the 
same system might be followed here. Easy terms might be given for re-payment of 
advances, and conditions could be made as to planting. 
8. I propose at the next meeting of the State Council to have a date fixed for 
the simultaneous commencement of padi-planting at the next season, and to try if 
some of the planters can be induced to make use of a better sort of seed. Hitherto 
the Penghulu of each mukim has fixed the date of planting, but if the whole country 
commence at once it may have the effect of inducing the whole of the population to 
plant their padi-fields, and will certainly save the crops to a great extent from rats etc 
I have, &c., 
W. F. B. PAUL, 
British Resident . 
