48 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 17, 1884. 
aboriginal tribes, and consist of Chinese, who migrate there in 
large numbers; Malays, who are supposed originally to have 
-come from Sumatra; Dyaks, Kyans, Malinowes, Punans, Paka- 
tans, Ukits, and others. 
The Chinese constitute the principal trading and labouring 
part of the population. They have established bazaars in many 
parts of the Sarawak territory; they purchase produce from the 
natives in all parts of the country, and do all the export and 
import business. Some of their merchants are very wealthy, 
and have lived many years in the country. 
The Malays also do some trading, chiefly along the coast and 
with adjoining islands, but they are mainly occupied with agri¬ 
cultural pursuits, such as the cultivation of Sago, Tapioca, and 
Rice, and are the most numerous race in the country. 
The Dyaks are of two kinds, Laud Dyaks and Sea Dyaks. 
The Land Dyaks, so called from their living in the interior, 
are principally engaged in working gutta percha, which they 
obtain from the trees, which are indigenous and grow in the 
jungle, and sell to the Chinese merchants. They also do some 
planting, but mostly Rice for their own consumption, though 
they sometimes sell the surplus. They are a somewhat feeble 
race, and are thought to be gradually dying out. 
The Sea Dyaks are a finer and stronger race, living on the 
rivers and by the coast. They also work and sell gutta and 
plant Rice, but in addition weave cloths for apparel, work in 
brass, and make for their own wear rings, anklets, and other 
ornaments, being very fond of decorating their person. 
Of the other races inhabiting this interesting country the 
Kyans come next for notice, and form a marked contrast to the 
Dyaks. They are more peaceful in their habits, live more in the 
interior, and construct dwellings which are models of cleanliness 
and comfort. These dwellings are built of bilian or ironwood, 
and often of large dimensions, many possessing as many as 
thirty or forty “ doors,” a term used to signify a part of a house 
•occupied by a separate family. These, and nearly all dwellings 
in the country, are built on piles from 0 to 12 feet or more from 
the ground as a protection against snakes and other vermin, and 
in olden times from night attacks ftom hostile tribes. They 
consist of only one fioor with sometimes a loft over. 
The Kyans are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, but 
some of them are clever in brasswork, and others in wood and 
ivory carving. The women have a curious custom of wearing 
heavy rings with leaden weights attached in their ears, until the 
lobe hangs down on to the shoulder, which is considered a mark 
of great beauty. 
The Malinowe race is nit very numerous, and they are ch efly 
occupied in the cultivation of Sago and Rice. They are very 
peaceable, but have a curious custom of flattening the heads of 
their newly born children by fixing heavy boards upon them in 
such a way as to prevent the rounder formation of the cranium 
which we think more preferable. 
Of the other races I have mentioned but little is known, and 
the only peculiarity calling for notice is that the Ukits, who 
inhabit a remote part of the country, and are as yet in an un¬ 
civilised state, may be said to possess no earthly habitation— 
that is, they build no houses or other dwellings on the ground, 
but construct their domiciles on the branches of trees. My 
brother, the late Alfred Robert Houghton, who lived amongst 
them as Resident of the district for some time, and did not find 
them at all a savage race, but rather amiable than otherwise. 
He endeavoured to teach them to construct buildings more 
■adapted to human wants, but he did not stay among them long 
enough to make much progress with the work, and I have not 
Beard what has been done in the matter by his successors in the 
residency. 
The climate on the whole is extremely healthy though warm 
.and moist, and Europeans may reside there with comfort and 
retain their health for many years, as evidenced in my own case, 
with care and proper precautions suitable to a tropical country. 
The temperature ranges from 69° to 80°, except in the hottest 
seasons, and then it seldom exceeds 90°. There are two mon- 
sions—the N.E., which commences in November and lasts till 
March, and is the wet monsoon ; and the S.W., which commences 
•in April and lasts till November, when the weather is usually 
fine and dry, June and July being the hottest months. 
The agricultural products are Sago, Rice, Tapioca, Gutta 
Percha, Indiarubber, beeswax, edible birds’nests, Gambia, Pepper, 
Ac. An attempt is being made on an extensive scale to grow 
Cinchona in a locality thought to be suitable, which promises to 
succeed under the auspices of the Government and the able 
superintendence of a planter from Ceylon, but the trees are not 
yet sufficiently grown to yield any product of quinine. They 
are doing, however, remarkably well; the climate and soil seem 
to suit them, and there is every prospect of the plantation 
becoming the nucleus of an important addition to the already 
rich produce of tbe country. Experiments are also being made 
to grow Cocoa and Tea, but only at present on a small scale, 
though both are promising well. Liberian Coffee has lately 
been extensively planted, and is also likely to succeed. The soil 
and climate seem to be suitable, and when I left Sarawak the 
trees were growing well and showing much promise. This 
experiment is watched with much interest, and the cultivation 
is likely to extend over large areas if it prove a success. 
The fruits indigenous to the country or found to grow there 
well are Mangosteen, Durion, Lancat, Pumillo or Shaddock, 
Mangoes, Rambutan, W. E. Pines, Oranges, Lemons, Custard 
Apple, Jackfruit, Breadfruit, Banana, Roakam, Papaya, Kay- 
minton Nut, Gadus or Cachu Nut, Katapong, Melons, Limes, 
Ac. Most of these I have grown in my own plantation to great 
j erfeetion. 
I have also tried and succeeded well with the following vege¬ 
tables from seeds supplied me from England by Messrs. Sutton 
and Sons. Vegetable Marrow, Celery, Broad Beans, French Dwarf 
Beans, Cabbages, but without hearts, Lettuce, Watercress, Peas, 
Kohl Rabi, Onions, Radish, Endive, Asparagus, Beet, and some 
others; but the climate does not suit Crapes, Peaches, Plums, 
Apples, Pears, or the English bush fruits or Strawberries; nor 
among vegetables do Scarlet Runner Beans, Brussels Sprouts, 
Scotch Kale, Seakale, Savoys, or Artichokes grow well. 
The flowers I have grown are of Roses the Tea sorts, includ¬ 
ing Marechal Niel, Gloire de Dijon, and many others, all of 
which did well and flowered in great profusion. The soil, how¬ 
ever, being sandy, had to be strengthened with burnt earth and 
cowdung for the better sorts; but there are many beautiful kinds 
growing almost wild which attain a great size both of flower and 
tree, and whole hedges may be seen covered with a profusion of 
flowers scenting the air with their perfume. 1 have also grown 
from English seeds or bulbs plants of Portulaca, which does 
splendidly, Phlox, Lobelia, Petunia, Pelargonium, Gladiolus, 
Begonia, Gloxinia, Eucharis, Coleus, Bougainvillea, Balsam, &c., 
besides native flowers innumerable, the names of which it would 
take too long to enumerate, and others imported from India and 
elsewhere. The Pitcher plant or Monkey Cup grows in great 
variety and to a large size, some of the flowers holding as much 
as a pint. Tbe Caladium also grows well, and Coleus and 
Begonia are found growing wild on some of the mountains. 
Ferns I need not say grow in immense variety and to perfection, 
while Orchids of every kind and hue flourish in abundance, 
having found there a natural home. 
ALTERIXG THE NAMES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
I AM glad to find that this unjust practice of re-naming Chrysan¬ 
themums is being exposed, and I am quite certain many cultivators will 
hail your correspondent’s letter as a very useful one, touching as it does 
upon a subject which requires ventilation ; still it is somewhat surprising 
that no further correspondence has appeared in your valuable paper 
upon tbe matter. I quite agree with Mr. Payne that unless some steps 
are taken to check this fast-growing evil great disappointment will be 
caused both to the professional and amateur grower. 
It is, for various reasons, most essential that when once a new variety 
has been named by the raiser it should always be catalogued and sold 
under that name. For instance, an exhibitor may be disqualified for 
having two flowers alike on one stand, both of which he has purchased 
this season at different houses under totally different names ; for the 
one he has to pay 5s., and the other he obtains for 1.?. 6 d. I have before 
me several catalogues of the leading dealers in Chrysanthemums, and 
regret to say there are very few of them that are correct. 
It would be a great convenience to all Chrysanthemum growers who, 
like myself and the members of the Society to which I have the honour 
to belong, are desirous of having their plants true to name if a complete 
list could be published of all Chrysanthemums which have been re¬ 
named, or had their names altered in any way, and I for one should 
have very little difficulty in pointing out a very large number that have 
been treated in this way. 
One French firm informs me they have succeeded in raising forty-one 
new varieties, which will be sent out this season, and I trust that when 
they reach the English market and appear at the various exhibitions in 
the autumn we shall find them under the names given them by this 
French firm. I may say that our Society has resolved to ignore this 
re-naming, and exhibit our plants and blooms as far as practicable under 
the names given them by the raisers.— Geo. S. Addison, 22, Pechham 
Grove, S.E., Hon. Sec. Lambeth Amateur Chrysanthemum Society. 
Mr. Harman Payne’s remarks in your issue of the 20th December 
appear justified by the facts of the case as it is stated, but seem to me 
to be incomplete, conclusive evidence being needed of the existence 
of the transactions indicated. Changing the names of plants is unfair 
to purchasers, and must result in utter confusion and prove inimical to 
trade. Messrs. Delaux et fils are deprived of their proper and well- 
| earned reputation if the names of their varieties are altered. Are these 
