set at distances, varying from half a foot to one and a half foot. In the richest soils 
even two feet might be allowed, as the bushes expand sufficiently to cover the inter- 
vals. The owner afterwards inspects his field occasionally, sees that it has the requi- 
site quantity of water and destroys weeds and vermin. As the year begins to fill, 
he stretches ropes over the field and attaches scarecrows to them, and he erects a 
high covered perch in which one of his family constantly watches — at the imminent 
risk at night of being picked off by a tiger. Birds and rats, which occasionally ap- 
pear in great numbers, contrive, notwithstanding, to take heavy custom out of the 
crops. 
Newly occupied land near forest, is most subject to their inroads: several insects 
also infest the rice fields. It is almost incredible the swarms of rats which overran 
the plains and paddy-fields of Province Wellesley last year. They did much partial 
damage to the young grain, but the crop was nevertheless most abundant. It is pro- 
bable that such an uncommon invasion was from the interior. These swarms disap- 
peared nearly as sudden as they came ; yet they are sufficiently numerous at all times 
to form one of the legitimate subjects for grumbling to the farmer. They are most 
destructive in rainy nights, such, say the ryots, protecting them from their enemies, 
the owl, snakes, &c. The Malays are obstinate in believing that they swam across 
from Penang because a great many had been observed floundering in the mud after 
the retreat of the tide ; but the most current opinion with them is that these rats were 
produced in oyster or other shells ! 
As the year of the rice appears, the water is generally allowed gradually to drain 
off to hasten its filling, but it will fully ripen without this precaution. The ryots 
assist each other both in sowing and reaping. The grain is cut with the sickle* when 
it has been laid down by its own weight or by wind, or is otherwise in jeopardy. 
But as the straw is here of little or no value, grass being abundant throughout the 
year, and as the grain is often, from perhaps an intermixture of different sorts, not all 
ripe at once ; and as the ryots do not readily walk out of the path which their fore- 
fathers followed, recourse is generally had to the most dilatory and expensive method 
of cutting by renggam, by which only enough of the stalk is left to admit of its being 
grasped by the hand and tied up in bunches. 
Viewed with the eye of an economist, it is a beautiful object, a ripe waving paddy- 
field of ten miles or more in extent. The whole air is perfumed by the mellow 
aroma. The Malay then is in his glory, and all the old women and elderly matrons 
are seen with conical straw hats plucking the ears of corn ; the married women and 
spinsters under a certain age are left at the distaff and loom and other household 
duties. 
The Malays hold sacred the first three days of harvest, and the presiding spirit of 
the grain is again evoked and propitiated. These days are pantang or under an 
interdict; or tabooed, as f jie African would express himself; and until they are past, 
the cultivator is careful not to permit any thing to be removed from his house. 
******* 
MODES AND, EXPENSE OF CULTIVATION. 
No uniform system of culture has yet been adopted, owing to the varying quality 
and condition of the land. 
The most approved system is, of course, that which includes the free use of the 
plough. But some years must elapse before all of the land shall have been sufficient- 
ly cleared of stumps and roots of trees and other impediments to admit of its being 
general Iv employed. Even now many lands, fit for the plough, are cultivated in the 
less efficient manner employed by the Malays on new lands. 
CULTIVATION. 
BY THE PLOUGH ON 20 ORLONGS OF FOREST LAND. 
Plough 
Harrows 
Roller 
Ploughmen 
be very stiff 
First Year. 
Drs. 
@ 20 drs. per orlong, 
... 400 
• @ 9 » each, 
••• 45 
• @ 5 „ 
... 15 
■ @ 4 >> >j 
1 
3 
4 ,, 
assistant for 
Clearing 
5 Buffaloes 
3 
2 
1 . • • ■ ■ ■ • 4 >) >j 
2 Ploughmen and one assistant for 80 days work ; 
should t’>e land be very stiff and not well flooded, the cost of this 
labor will be enhanced by ^th. The land is ploughed four times and 
harrowed thrice. 
Preparing | orlong as a nursery for rice plants 
1 Cart ( light construction J ... 
80 gantangs seed paddy 
Planting @ 60 cents per orlong 
o -75 
24 
1.20 
*5 
3 
12 
Carried forward , ... 5 16.95 
* Penggiau or Sabit. 
