47 
and always falls far short of the fullest productive point. But the Malay is not stub- 
born ^though heis indolent and capricious. Example and prospects of gain, may 
in time as they now partially do, stimulate his dormant faculties to useful effo s. 
Malayan husbandry differs considerably from that practised by the ryots of Inrha, 
the former is not subject to the village system so prevalent in the latter region. I he 
British Malayan ryot or landholder, after having paid his rent or quit-rent, is qui 
independent, 'and his threshing-floor is never beset by those needy dependants, who 
take custom from that of the more enduring Hindoo; such -as barbers, watchmen, 
astrologers, brahmins, fakirs, and washermen. He is a mussulman, but can rarely, it 
ever, be charged with bigotry, fanaticism or intolerance. 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
It would be well for the orang Malayu of this coast were he to imitate the 
thriftiness, perseverance and foresight of the Hindoo. If he finds it difficult to get 
money, he finds it much more so to keep it when obtained. His habits are all o a 
lavish ora thoughtless cast, and may fairly be traced to the insecurity caused by 
native despotism, and to the creed which locks up his money by forbidding hini to 
take interest. .Trade and buying of landed property, are the only means left to him 
of partially evading this law. 
* * * * * * * 
The population of Kedah and Patani— from which ours has chiefly been drained 
off __has a decidedly agricultural character, and is not more disposed to locomotion, 
betwixt harvest and harvest, than any other people so situated would be. 
* * * * * 
* 
* 
The Malays are not, however, the only rice cultivators either in Penang or Pro- 
vince Wellesley, although they are in the proportion of about 41 to 4 of the other 
classes. 
* * * * * * * 
The Chinese, with the exception of a few of those from Macao, look with con- 
tempt on paddy-planters. Yet what but lack of a paddy-field forced them from 
their country ? 
******* 
Data are wanting from which a very precise estimate might'be formed of the 
quantity of rice grown on Penang. It is pretty certain that the quantity of sawah, or 
proper paddy land actually under cultivation, does not exceed 700 or longs. No 
prospective estimate can ever be formed of the quantity ,of dry, or uma land likely 
to be used for light padi crops, since the Malay can never, it he can avoid it, culti- 
vate such lands for two seasons successively. The quantity of jungle cleared for such 
cultivation for the ensuing season, may be rated at 200 orlongs. 
Neither can the actual extent of rice land, cultivated in Province WellesPy, be 
yet ascertained, owing to the quantity of new land constantly coming under tillage, 
and as such is not. surveyed until well cleared. But there are sufficient data for ena- 
bling us to rate it at not less than 15,000 orlongs, or twenty thousand acres, which is 
rather more than thrice the quantity which was under culture in 1825. At the latter 
period, Government was induced to advance cash to the cultivators and to give them 
rice lands at a rate of quit-rent almost nominal. This liberality was but ill repaid. 
Few of the Malays who received advances, cultivated the land allotted, or returned 
the loan; while the worst consequence was, that they began to think that their ser- 
vices could not be dispensed with, and thus a great incentive to exertion was removed. 
From the period that the ryots were thrown on their own resources, {1826) the com- 
petition for land, and as a sure consequence, its value, has rapidly increased. It is 
estimated that about 30,000 acres of land of every description are in cultivation with- 
in the Province 
The population of Penang and Province Wellesley combined, excluding troops 
and their followers — but including convicts — amounts to 84,500 souls, or very nearly 
so. The annual consumption of rice, by this number, will be presently estimated. . 
The average number of persons composing a family is assumed to be five, which, 
from actual observation, is pretty near the truth. The daily average consumption by 
each family is rated at 35 chupahs of rice. 
******* 
The Burmese and Siamese are the grossest feeders and the greatest consumers 
