“The Dutch Government regulations with regard to the maintenance of a medical man by every estate and to the erection of hospitals for sick coolies are stringent; and, on the whole, the coolie-lines, considering their temporary nature, are adequate, so that the lot of the coolie in Deli may be regarded as a favourable one, even when compared with places where he is under British control.
“The importing of British Indians, as is well known, is not tolerated, though many have found their way into the country under the stimulus of high wages, the latter running from 7 dol. to 10 dol. a month, according to capacity.”
The following report by Consul Eckstein on the export of Sumatran tobacco to the United States, and Dutch dealings in the same in 1882 will be of interest.
Consul Eckstein says “it is not quite three years since a few dealers in tobacco and manufacturers of cigars in the United States had first their attention attracted to Sumatra tobacco, with a view of introducing and using it for cigar-wrappers.
“From this port shipments of the article began to be made during the latter half of the year 1880, and, considering that this trade has only so recently taken its rise, and that by this time it has already assumed rather important proportions, I felt called upon to prepare the present report, giving some information concerning the same.
“In order to show, as nearly correct as possible, the course this trade has taken from its commencement to the present time, I made up the following statement, which exhibits the quantity and value of such tobacco shipped from Amsterdam to the United States during each quarter since such shipments first began to be made, viz.:—
| Quarters ending— | Quantities. | Value. |
| Bales. | $ | |
| September 30, 1880 | 311 | 37,694 |
| December 31, 1880 | 454 | 52,113 |
| Total | 765 | 89,807 |
| March 31, 1881 | None. | None. |
| June 30, 1881 | 558 | 56,958 |
| September 30, 1881 | 1,162 | 128,474 |
| December 31, 1881 | 1,059 | 114,758 |
| Total | 2,779 | 300,190 |
| March 31, 1882 | 496 | 52,203 |
| June 30, 1882 | 1,464 | 140,184 |
| September 30, 1882 | 2,245 | 254,372 |
| December 31, 1882 | 2,785 | 333,254 |
| Total | 6,990 | 780,013 |
“From this statement it will be observed that the export of the article to the United States is constantly and very largely increasing; and when it is further taken into account that certain quantities of it were invoiced and shipped from Rotterdam and Bremen as well, it may safely be stated that about 9000 bales of Sumatra tobacco entered our markets in 1882.
“What has created, increased, and what sustains this trade appears to be:
“1st. That certain qualities of Sumatra tobacco in certain dark colours have been found to be peculiarly and advantageously adaptable for cigar-wrappers, and are gaining more and more in favour with manufacturers of cigars in the United States; and