(each doon being 6.35 acres), or 115 square miles, are cultivated with rice; miscellaneons culture occupies about 8 square miles more; there being thus not a 133rd part of the country brought into tillage.

While the cultivation of rice has increased throughout the district, that of tobacco appears to have fallen off. Many large spots in the Sandoway district which in former years were covered with the "fragrant weed," are now devoted to the other staple. The tobacco of Sandoway has fallen somewhat into disrepute of late years, in consequence, it is supposed, of inferior descriptions having been mixed with the superior. But although a difficulty would now be experienced in procuring a large supply of the best sort, there is little doubt the quantity would soon equal the demand, were that demand to be steady; and it is somewhat surprising, considering that few parts of India can produce so delicate a tobacco, that it is not better known and more sought after.

Of the ordinary description of Sandoway tobacco, which is also an article of excellent quality, several thousand maunds, we are informed, can be procured at the proper seasons: indeed, that district alone is capable of supplying immense quantities. But it is not the only part of Arracan which produces a superior tobacco--every stream in the Province does the same; and if the Home Government could but be persuaded to reduce the duty on this article, or at least of such portion as is not the growth of slave labour, and the Local Government would consent to a reduction in the assessment of lands on which it was cultivated, there is little doubt but that that one portion of our territories would yield cigars enough for all the smokers in England.

The chief farmers are the Mussulmans, the Mugh tribes subsisting generally by hunting and fishing.

We have been favoured with a valuable paper compiled from official returns, showing the Grain Exports for the last thirteen years, and the number of vessels loaded at Akyab in each year, with their tonnage, the quantity of rice and paddy exported, and the price paid for the same. The paddy crop last season was an exceedingly fine one throughout Arracan, and in Akyab in particular there was an abundant harvest. Paddy may now be quoted at Rs. 8 per 100 baskets of 12 seers each, equal to 30 Bengal maunds, and rice at from Rs. 18 to 19 for the same quantity.

No import or export duties of any kind are levied-Akyab is entirely a free port; but the sum of four annas per ton is levied as portdue, for the expense of lighthouses, buoys, and pilots-the last scarcely required. Excellent charts of the coast and harbour are procurable at the office of the Superintendent of Marine, and the booksellers' shops.

STATEMENT of the Grain Exports of the District of Akyab.

3,54,791

1836-37

64575 17,37,841

1,83,726 17,04,810

415 47090 8,48,922

4,15,164 | 19,56,702

6,33,710 17

a great extent.

The sugar-cane grows very luxuriantly, and might be cultivated to Sesamum and mustard-seed are cultivated on account of the oil which is extracted from them and largely used. Black pepper of a good quality grows wild near Aeng, but it is nowhere cultivated. Fruit is plentiful, and of excellent quality. The pine-apples and plantains are perhaps the finest-flavoured in the world, and are produced in the greatest abundance. Mangoes, jack fruits (Artocarpus integrifolius, Linn.), sweet limes, and cocoa-nuts are also plentiful; but oranges are scarce. Of the vegetables raised, the principal are onions, garlic, and turmeric; but bhangans, red pepper, cucumbers, water-melons, papeyas, and rahtalus are also abundant.

While on the subject of the vegetable products of Arracan, we may allude to the circumstance of a piece of teak having been very lately sent to the Agricultural Society of Calcutta, and which is stated in the published Report of their Proceedings to be equal, if not superior, to that of Moulmein. This timber was cut not far from the banks of the Kuladyne River, a noble stream which falls into the sea at Akyab. The existence of teak at the locality (about 100 miles from Akyab) where this was found has, we are aware, been known for some time; and not long ago an enterprising merchant at Arracan conceived that it would be practicable to form a settlement amongst the hills and fell teak timber at a remunerating profit; but he has been disappointed in his expectation-for it has been found, by a late careful survey of the spot, that instead of a large forest, the trees are few in number, much scattered, and generally too small to be of much value; moreover, that the natural obstacles opposed to their removal to the river-side are of too formidable a nature to warrant the hope of any real benefit being derived from the teak of the Kuladyne. Thus the cheering anticipations which were lately entertained, of a new source of wealth having been opened up to the Province, have been thoroughly dissipated, and the forest proved to be still a thing to be planted. Independent, however, of the teak, we understand there are many valuable descriptions of timber procurable in the interior of Arracan which may be felled and exported with advantage.

The following communication, addressed to the Calcutta Englishman in August last, furnishes a good deal of new and useful information regarding the Province:

"The capacities of this infant Province, as they are brought to light, cannot fail to interest many of your readers, particularly those whose attention has been engaged by the many encouraging accounts which have lately appeared, with a desire of inducing merchants to embark in the profitable grain and other exports of Arracan, and of thus benefiting themselves, whilst they stimulate the Rakhines to enterprise, and to redeem the reproach of sloth and languor which has so long adhered to them. Ere you receive this, you will probably have heard that a teak forest has been discovered in the interior, or rather that the feasibility of working it has been ascertained. The credit of having discovered it properly belongs to Mr. W. D. Brown, (late Marine Assistant-Commissioner, and now a merchant at Akyab,) as although VOL. VI. No. 23. NOVEMBER, 1845.

2 D

it appears to have been mentioned by Major Pemberton, in his Report on the Eastern Frontier (a circumstance since known here). That officer states, that the Kuladyne has not been explored more than ninety miles up, and must therefore have acquired his information from natives, whereas Mr. Brown has himself visited the locality, and established the fact of teak being a produce of Arracan. This gentleman has for a long time past given the subject his attention, and about a year ago mentioned that it was to be procured to the Commissioner, who obtained a specimen; but, for some reason, it appears to have been neglected, probably from the misrepresentations of the natives, who, retaining the injustice and oppression of the Burmese rule yet fresh on their minds, dressed their statements under similar apprehensions and fears. Mr. Brown has just returned from an expedition up the Kulaydne, or Arracan river, bringing with him a tree, thirty feet in length, and eighteen inches in diameter, as a specimen: it is certainly a very superior description of wood, having now all the appearance of being seasoned, although cut with the sap in it. He has, I am happy to hear, obtained a grant of the land, and, from his characteristic zeal and energy, there is little doubt but that it will speedily acquire such a degree of importance as to provide a large supply to the Calcutta market. I look upon it as one of the most promising events which the Province has ever given birth to, inasmuch as the employment of men at the foot of the mountains is likely to facilitate and establish an intercourse with the Riengs, a wild and barbarous tribe, represented in the worst colours appertaining to human nature; who hold themselves aloof from the rest of mankind, commit predatory and diabolical incursions on the plains, and whose stronghold, as to resources and capabilities, yet remains in the dark chaos of ignorance. This, however, is but a minor portion of the good to be anticipated from colonising at the head of the Kuladyne river. It appears from inquiries made by Mr. Brown, that the site of the forest is but three days' journey (through a wilderness) to Chittagong; we may therefore reasonably infer, that when the jungle has been cleared, it is likely to open a road of communication between that place and this, which will not only be preferred to either of those at present frequented, but which will essentially contribute to the interior prosperity of the country, by drawing settlers along the banks of the river, where they will find a rich alluvial soil, capable of raising the most tender cultivation, and of giving them a handsome return for their outlay. The formation of a route in that direction will enable the natives to convey their merchandize, and other articles for this market, across land to the Kuladyne (an almost perennial stream), there put them on board of boats, and float them down, without either the risk or annoyance they now experience in bringing them in and out of boats, in crossing the two great estuaries, Tek Myoo, and Tek Naf,-in ferrying one of which, thirteen people were drowned a day or two ago."

COLONIAL RAILWAYS AND THEIR PROSPECTS.

BY THE EDITOR.

It would indeed have been surprising, in the vehement desire so generally felt to extend the convenience, comfort, benefit, and facility of Railway travelling to so many portions of the globe, that our own valuable Colonial Possessions should have been overlooked; and it is therefore with no ordinary feelings of gratification that we have witnessed the ardent zeal and enthusiasm displayed by British Capitalists in the encouragement of this rising branch of our national wealth and greatness.

"It is admitted that English Railroad security is, as they say at Lloyd's, Class A 1. If so, (according to our able contemporary the Colonial Gazette,) English Colonial Railroad security ought to rank A 2. This at least is certain with regard to the West Indian and British North American Colonies. They are subject to British jurisdiction; and, thanks to the steam-mails, the course of post with these Colonies is now not much longer, and far more certain and regular, than the course of post with some parts of Scotland within the memory of man. A friend of ours arrived in London the other day from Goderich-the far-west of Canada West-by New York, in nineteen days: the same friend, not much more than twenty years ago, was thirteen days sailing from Edinburgh to London. The capital invested in Railroads within these Colonies is quite in hand, and an appeal to English law is open to its owner."

We have watched with some care the various projects that have been promulgated having for their object the establishment of Railroads in the British Possessions beyond the seas; but until they had made some progress, and assumed a shape and colouring calculated to develop the ulterior objects of their projectors, and test the durability and usefulness of the schemes, we thought it premature to offer any remarks upon them.

There are now a sufficient number of legitimate adventures in the field of Colonial enterprise before the public to warrant the assertion, that a new era has commenced for our Colonies. Redundant British capital, British energy and skill, are being directed to their shoreswhich will tend to test their capabilities and improve their trade, enhance the value of property, give increased energy to the exertions of the Colonists, and link the Colonies and the mother-country in a closer union.

Out of the fifty-two millions engaged annually in our Import trade, upwards of thirty are said to be employed in our Colonial produce; and as the productive resources of our Colonies are but very partially developed by the limited legitimate operations of labour and capital, we may confidently look forward to a further extension of their re