184 TlMEHRI. 
Rice farmers made their appearance here again a few 
months ago. Half a dozen mongoose were released in 
the plots where there were most signs of rats, and there 
are now very few signs of them. I may mention inci- 
dentally that six months ago we had a plague of rats on 
this estate. In the cane fields they were killed by 
thousands by rat-catchers' dogs. The Hospital was 
almost taken over at night by enormous field rats. One 
night a sea punt moored in a trench near the Faclory was 
boarded by them and some of the sails cut to pieces by 
them. 
As they appeared in great numbers first in the Rice 
fields, I fear they were attracted to the estate by that 
cultivation and that it favoured their propagation. About 
two dozen mongoose were brought from Barbados and 
let loose in different parts of the estate. The result has 
been very satisfactory to me as manager of the estate, but 
the poor rat-catchers have been done out of a living. 
Rice paddy is selling here at present at six to seven 
shillings per bag of ioolbs. It is very difficult to get 
clean rice to buy as the weather is so unfavourable for 
sunning the paddy. The nominal price of well cleaned 
rice is a shilling a gallon, but it is necessary to offer 
more if any quantity is desired. I have had careful 
experiments made in cleaning rice and find that two 
strong men and a child can turn out a bag of 160 lbs. of 
clean rice from 2 bags of 100 lbs. each of paddy in 
twelve hours. The cost of this labour is about five 
shillings. It is hard work for the three people and the 
mortar used must be a good one to enable them to do the 
work in the time I name. — A. R. Gilzean, 
