709 
AGRICULTURE IN MALACCA. 
in the Straits, independent of its historical interest. It has not the 
humidity of Singapore, nor the arid atmosphere of Pinang, and 
possesses soil equal in fertility to any, and capable of producing 
all the kinds of tropical plants known in the Straits. The only draw¬ 
back is, that being an ancient European settlement, no choice spots 
could he obtained within six or eight miles from the Govern¬ 
ment House. This distance would be of no consideration in a 
place whose peasantry are as peaceful as are those ol Malacca, if 
the roads were in good repair, the swamps properly trenched and 
drained, and the streams cleared of obstructions which have been 
allowed to accumulate for years. I have seen beds of streams so 
obstructed with logs of wood, which have been felled across and 
have disappeared under an accumulation of mud and rubbish, as 
to be in dry weather on a level with the banks. In consequence 
of this state of things, for a succession of years, there have been 
complete failures of the Paddy crops, and the government as well 
as private individuals—both the planters, and the capitalists who 
have advanced them money for grain cultivation—have become 
sufferers: the government, by adding a nominal rent to eight or 
ten years arrears without the prospect of realizing more than one 
half, except by causing additional distress to an already indigent 
and depressed peasantry,— the capitalist, by the loss of capital 
from the inability of the cultivator to repay the loan either in pro¬ 
duce or money,—and the cultivators by the debt thereby incurred, 
and the difficulty of obtaining advances for the succeeding season, 
with no option but that of closing with the money lenders upon 
exorbitant terms, or abandoning their fields until better times. It 
not unfrequently happens that these revert to government from 
long neglect, and are given away to applicants, who have neither 
bestowed labour nor expended capital upon them. Such is the 
condition of the generality of the native population, who but for 
the disregard shewn to agricultural improvement, might be a happy 
and a prosperous people, under the British government. They 
are, however, greatly indebted to the able and zealous exertions of 
the Honorable Mr Blundell, the Resident Councillor, supported 
by the Honorable Colonel Butterworth, the Governor of the Straits, 
for improvements which have of late been made, and are still 
being made for their benefit and the advancement of the true interest 
of the government. Could the government of India be persuaded to 
take the subject into their serious consideration, and sanction the 
improvements recommended by the local authorities (which would 
cost them perhaps a few thousand rupees) they would not only be^ 
amply compensated by a better revenue, but a steady payment ot 
it; “Drainage” says Mr George Robertsonf “lies at the bottom of 
almost every amelioration j and it is [in great Britain] prosecuted 
t Author of “ Rural Recollections, or the progress of improvement in Agricul¬ 
ture and Rural affairs." 
