Sometimes when the relations of Chinese labourers arrive from China, if they have no home to go to in Town they immediately proceed to their relations in the jungle, and take up their abode with them for a short time; then there may be a collection of as many as 20, but these temporary sojourners I do not include in my estimate. The plantations that have most men employed on them are those of persons who possess large capitals, and who are engaged in the cultivation of nutmegs, also the sugar plantations of the Americans.
It is very difficult to ascertain the proportion of healthy and sick persons in the interior; it is however supposed that the majority are healthy.
In the town it is difficult to find out how many die: it is still more difficult to ascertain the number of those who die in the interior, as the localities of the different groups are separated by distance and divided by rivers. Not knowing, were I to state any thing on the subject it would be tantamount to falsehood. However as the head of the Police has issued orders that the different tribes of Chinese shall give information at the Police office of the diseases of their countrymen who die, in order that the same may be registered in the Records; you will be able hereafter to obtain the desired information by applying to that office.
Those who plant vegetables and siri do not venture to work at midday, for if they do so they get afflicted with dropsy. The effluvia of decomposed substances in the marsh Payo lands inhaled by the people causes this. Although this disease may be avoided still it is of frequent occurrence. Those who plant gambier, in consequence of their having constantly to split wood, get their legs and feet hurt with splinters, the broken skin being disregarded, large ulcers are formed.
The Chinese in the jungle having daily to work very hard, are much oppressed by the heat in hot weather and affected with colds in cold weather. Would it not be considered a great virtue in those benevolent people who may pity their sufferings to provide them with medicines?
They have three meals daily, which consist of rice, fish, and
