The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-04-10
SUGAR CULTURE.

We are enabled by the kindness
of Mr.. Arthur T. Robinson, sugar
planter himself and gentleman
fully cognizant of the details of the
cultivation and manufacture of
sugar in Mauritius, to give some
important points of comparison be-
tween the methods, expenses and
details of sugar production, here
and elsewhere.
The island in the Indian Ocean
known as the Mauritlus is situated
as to latitude nearly as far to the
south of the Equator as we are to
the north. The area of the island
is little less than that of Kauai,
yet it maintains population of
376, 900 people, or about 500 to the
acre, and exports 100 to 100000
tons of sugar per annum.
uo sui VI Iuc MduElCiuo 10, iih0
ours, volcanic, but having been
longer under cultivation requires
more artificial fertilizer than is
needed here-as yet. but taking
plant cane and ration together
yields an average of three tons per
acre.
Mr.. Robinson finds that the Gull
tivation in the Maurltius is quite
equal to the practice here, but the
bringing to the mills and the sys-
tenn of manufacture here is superior
to that IN the Mauritius, especially
striking in the system of fuming
across wide gulches.
In regard to the cost of labor, the
Mauritian planters have a great adj
vantage over the Hawaiian. The
cost of the out-of-door laborer in
Mauritius amounting to about II
Rs. per month, including wages,
rations, quarters and medical at
tendance.
The laborers are mostly British
East Indian, from the three Presi-
denotes. Hindus and Lascars. These
are vlgllantly watched over by in
spectors who examine into wage
accounts, housing, hospitals, medi-
cal treatment and every mutual
arrangement between employer
and employed, much to the relief
and satisfaction of the former, and
the ever-present knowledge of the
latter that they are under efficient
protection.
The work is all done on the task
or job principle q. e.), so many feet
or rows of cane to be stripped or cut
or whatever may be on hand fol-
the specified wage, 80 that, in fact
a clever workman beginning al
daylight has probably finished bis
days work between noon and :
o'clock P. NJ, and the Indian la.
borer at the expiry of his engage
ment, probably re-engages for one
year at time, or finds himself in {
position to become a small land
holder, grows cane, vegetables OF
starts small dairy farm, and il
this position generally manages t.
make himself source of endless
trouble and annoyance to thu
neighboring plantations. Never
theIess, the planters are as a rail-
on the best of good terms will
their men, who give little trouble
and are on the whole sober, homes
and generally satisfactory.
One wide difference in the man
ner of disposal of their produce i
not unsavorable to the Mauritial
planter. He sells bis sugar in thu
island, chiefly to Arab merchant
from Bombay and is thus relieves
at once from all further expense
care or anxiety.
Mr.. Robinson has come to thes
islands after experience gathere,
not only IN the Mauritius but il
other sugar growing colonies, 70
the purpose more particularly, Q
comparing the merits of diffusion
as compared with grinding, an
takes away with him specimens Q
, the varieties of cane most appreci
ated in these islands.
Our traveller speaks in tn
warmest terms of the hospitalitie