A little pepper is grown in the Mauritius and the West India Islands, and its cultivation is making some progress on the Western Coast of Africa, as we imported from thence 2,909 bags and casks in 1846, and about 110,000 lbs. in 1847.

Mr. J. Crawfurd, F.R.S., one of the best authorities on all that relates to the commerce and agriculture of the Eastern Archipelago, recently estimated the produce of pepper as follows:—­

         &nb
sp;                                      lbs. 
  Sumatra (West Coast) 20,000,000
     " (East Coast) 8,000,000
  Islands in the Straits of Malacca 3,600,000
  Malay Peninsula 3,733,333
  Borneo 2,666,667
  Siam 8,000,000
  Malabar 4,060,000
                                             ----------
  Total 50,000,000

  If we add to this

  Western Coast of Africa and B.W.  Indies 53,000
  Java 4,000,000
  Mauritius and Ceylon 80,000
                                             ----------
  It gives 54,133,000
  as the total produce of the world

Black pepper constitutes a great and valuable article of export from the Indian Islands; which, as we have seen, afford by far the largest portion of What is consumed throughout the world.  In the first intercourse of the Dutch and English with India, it constituted the most considerable and important staple of their commerce.  The production of pepper is confined in a great measure to the western countries of the Eastern Archipelago, and among these to the islands in the centre and to the northern quarter, including the Peninsula.  It is obtained in the ports on both sides of the coast of the latter, but particularly the north-eastern coast.  The principal quarters (according to Mr. Crawfurd, my authority on this subject), are Patani, Tringanu, and Kalantin.  In the Straits a large quantity is produced in the island of Singapore, and above all in Pinang, where the capital of Europeans and the skill and industry of the Chinese have been successfully applied to its culture.  The western extremity of Sumatra, and the north-west coast of that island, are the most remarkable situations in it for the production of pepper, and here we have Acheen, Tikao, Bencoolen, Padang, and the country of the Lampungs.  The production of the eastern extremity of Sumatra or Palembang is considerable, but held of inferior quality.  In the fertile island of Java, the quantity of pepper grown is inconsiderable, nor is it remarkable for the goodness of its quality.

The province of Bantam has always furnished, and still continues to produce, the most pepper; but the culture of this creeper is fast giving place in Java to staples affording higher profits and requiring less care.  The exports were, in the following years:—­