part of the world, and the exports are now very large; there are
immense quantities of valuable timber, such as teak, sandalwood,
and ebony. The climate is, except on the low land near the rivers,
very healthy; nutmegs, cloves, and other spices can be grown there,
and indigo, chocolate, pepper, opium, the sugarcane, coffee, and
cotton, are all successfully cultivated. Some day, probably, the
whole peninsula will fall under our protection, and when the constant
tribal feuds are put a stop to, the forests cleared, and the ground
cultivated, as is the case in our own settlement of Malacca, it will
be found one of the most valuable of our possessions. Any amount
of labor can be obtained from China, and it is probable that the
races who inhabit the mountainous districts, who are said to be
industrious and peaceable, will also readily adapt themselves to
the changed conditions. They are not Malays like the people of the
lowlands, but are a black race with curly wool, like the natives
of Africa, and probably inhabited the whole peninsula before the
arrival of the Malays."

"How funny that there should be niggers here," Harry said.

"They are not exactly negroes, but one of the races known
as negritos, having, of course, many negro characteristics, but
differing from the African negroes in some important particulars.
To them our supremacy would be an unmixed blessing; their products
would reach the coast untaxed, and they would obtain all European
goods at vastly cheaper rates. A minor benefit to be obtained by our
supremacy is that our sportsmen would certainly speedily diminish
the number of wild beasts that at 'present are a scourge to
cultivators; the tigers would be killed down, the elephants captured
and utilized, and the poor people would not see their plantations