SAQOi 
307 
THE TRADE IN SAGO. 
We have seen that a large portion of the sago imported into 
Singapore is the produce of the marshes of Siac and Indragiri, 
the low island of Rantau containing the most extensive plan¬ 
tations. It is purchased in Siac from the Malays and Orang 
Sakai by Malays, chiefly of Siac and Singapore, who resort 
there in small boats for the purpose. In their hands its cost 
is enormously enhanced, the Sakai selling it to them at about 
10 cents per picul, and they selling it to the Singapore manu¬ 
facturers at from 70 cents to one dollar per picul.* The price 
obtained by the latter for pearl sago was at first 6 dollars per 
picul. The Singapore manufacturers having succeeded in im¬ 
proving its quality by a more careful manufacture, and the 
demand increasing for export to Europe, the price rose in J824 
to 7 dollars. This caused the establishment of several new 
manufactories towards the end of that year, which at once 
brought it down to 5| to 6| dollars. In 1825 the supply 
exceeded the demand, two of the principal manufactories, one 
of which had employed 55 men, w r ere abandoned, and the 
price fell to 4 to 5 dollars. In 1826 it descended to 3| dollars 
to 4 dollars and by 1831 it was 2| to 2\ dollars. In 1838 it 
was so low as dollar li to H. After this it rose again. In 
1845 it was about 3 dollars. It is now about 2 dollars 65 
cents, and lias for several years remained between 2 and 3 
dollars. 
The importations during the earlier years of the Settlement 
were as follows :—■ 
1819— 22 boats, quantity not ascertained. 
1820— 5,684 piculs. 
1821— 10,694 
1822— 1,445 
1823— no imports. 
1824— 11,669 
1825— 25,612 
1826— 21,666 
* The plantations belong to Malays who employ the Sakai as serfs id planting 
tb e m and preparing the sago, allowing them one half of the produce. Ga thi 8 
an^ wil l animals they subsist, and the gago which they do not require they dis¬ 
pose ef to Malays in barter for cloth, tobacco &c. The Malays admit that by this 
mode of dealing the sago does not cost them much more thna 10 cents per pi- 
kul. This entirely agrees with the system adopted in their dealings with the 
Binut of Johore. (Jour. Ind. Arcb. Vol. I.) The Malays at the Siak islands, 
aand at ti e sago plantations between Kampar and Indragiri where they haye no 
erf*, sell the sago ou t'ao spot at about 20 cents per pikuU 
T t 
