Rice. 103 
but the whole gang became disorganized. They stowed 
away the rice, tied in bundles over the collar beams of 
their cottages, until one or two fell in, and there was the 
mischief to play all round ; and what was a short time 
previously considered a grand industry was now de- 
nounced as a perfect curse ; for, African-like, while the 
rice held out, it was a case of pounding rice, and en- 
tirely neglecting the cane piece. I need not say that 
rice growing was put down, and the Timinians soon 
after removed to some new location. 
I have gone somewhat fully into these my early recol- 
lections for two reasons. First it explains how rice may 
be induced on dry land to produce two crops per annum, by 
simply burning off rough herbage in the dry weather and 
sowing the seed with the first rain, say in May, in which 
case the crop is ready for reaping in October ; and in the 
same way, rice planted in first rains in November would 
be ready for the sickle in April. The rapidity of the rice 
growth chokes off all other indigenous weeds ; hence 
there is no call for expensive weedings. Secondly, it 
shows what in my opinion has kept back the spread of 
rice cultivation, viz: sugar. While sugar commanded a 
high price in» the markets of the world, the fact of this 
colony having unlimited room for the extension of sugar 
cultivation, and having a sparse population, most of 
whom preferred the planters' cash on the weekly pay 
day, to the insecurity and time required for rice or other 
food products to mature, besides risk of robbery, accoun- 
ted for the small attention given to Minor Industries. 
At the present time, with a supply of labourers more 
equal to the demand, and a dying-out of all gambling in 
connection with sugar, and when many of the introduced 
