Identifier: boytravellersina00knox (find matches)
Title: The boy travellers in Australasia : adventures of two youths in a journey to the Sandwich, Marquesas, Society, Samoan and Feejee islands, and through the colonies of New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Knox, Thomas Wallace, 1835-1896 Harper & Brothers. pbl
Subjects: Voyages and travels Adventure and adventurers Tutors and tutoring Friendship Sailing Sailors Animals Natural history
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Contributing Library: School of Theology, Boston University
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston University

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has fallen off from 386 tons in 1879 to 150 THE PRODUCTIONS OF FEEJEE. 157 tons in 1S84, and only 45 tons in 1885. Many cotton-bushes have beendestroyed to make place for the cultivation of sugar; coffee has beenlittle, if any, more profitable than cotton, and many of the coffee plan-tations are now devoted to bananas, which are an important article ofexport. In 1875 less than $500 worth of fruit was sent from the islands,while the exports for the last three years have exceeded $100,000 worthannually. The other exports are beche-de-mer, tobacco, cocoa-fibre, tortoise-shell, wool, hides, and pearl-shell, but none of them amount to a greatdeal. The industries of the colony are somewhat hampered by restric-tions upon the importation of foreign labor; in consequence of formerabuses the Government is very severe, and some of us think needlesslyso. Frank asked in what particular he thought the authorities ought tobe more lenient. The laborers are engaged for three years, was the reply, and
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under the old regulations a laborer could be re-engaged for another period of three years if he was willing to do so. At present the employers are compelled to return him to his home, even though he is desirous of remaining here for another term. This is the rule as to imported labor; if a planter hires Feejeeans to work for him he is obliged to make his engagements from month to month. The proba- SUGAR-CANE MILL. 158 THE BOY TRAVELLERS IN AUSTRALASIA. bility is that coolie labor from India will in time drive out Polynesianlabor. Why so ? Fred asked. Because of the lower relative price of it. Polynesians must be fed,clothed, and cared for by the employer, and consequently it is not easyto calculate exactly the cost of this kind of labor. The coolies feed and care for themselves, and besidesthey are better and more steadylaborers. A Polynesian laborercosts about eighty dollars a year,a Feejeean one eighty-five dollars,and a coolie from India or Chinaninety-five to one hundred dollars.B

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