The Gambir plantations were very numerous, as well as those of pepper; and it surprises me, that from the great and general demand for the latter production, both in the China and European markets, it is not an article of more general cultivation. Some persons have asserted that the soil of Singapore is not calculated for the production of pepper; but if in the numerous plantations I have seen, large clusters of fine berries, excellent both in appearance and flavour, is a sufficient denial of the assertion, I can readily make it, and hope its cultivation will be encouraged. Two or three thousand peculs of pepper are collected annually at Singapore. I had fortunately an opportunity of observing at several of the Gambir boiling-houses, the process of manufacturing that extract, from the collecting of the prunings, the stripping of the leaves, to the completion. The shrubs were from five to seven feet high, with rather drooping branches; the time of collecting, is when the shrubs require pruning, which is usually every six months; and the trees would be injured, if not destroyed in value, were they not regularly pruned. It is stated, that one shrub will exist and produce the extract for twenty-five or thirty years, if properly and regularly attended to: every care is taken to keep the plantations free from weeds. I have observed, that the time of collecting the leaves for the manufacture of the extract, was at the time the shrubs required pruning. This, on passing through a plantation, I had an opportunity of witnessing. The too luxuriant branches were cut off with a pruning knife, collected into baskets, and then conveyed to the boiling-house, which is erected in the midst of Gambir plantations, the whole of which, at the period of my visiting them, were in full operation; the leaves are then stripped from the pruned branches in the boiling-house, and afterwards placed into the Qualie or cauldron; (which is made of bark, with an iron bottom;) under this is an enormous fire, which consumes a very large quantity of wood; the leaves were frequently stirred, and such additions of them made, as were required by their diminution during the boiling process, until the cauldron being entirely full they are suffered to boil for some length of time together. After thus remaining for several hours, the leaves are removed from the cauldron, and placed upon a large bark shoot near it; and the drainings from them return into the vessel.