Handbook of the federated Malay states - Sabrizain.org

Federated Malay States. 123
irrigated rudely by artificial means, a combination of local
land owners being formed to defray the expenses of the
undertaking, and it is curious to note that Malays from the
neighbouring State of Kelantan are frequently hired by the
natives of Pahang to do the necessary manual labour of
digging trenches, the natural indolence of the latter
rendering them disinclined to undertake this work. In
several parts of Pahang, padi fields are situated in natural
swamps, and these are, of course, much easier to plant in than
irrigated areas.
Plough land consists chiefly of flat alluvial tracts, many of
which are situated near the lower reaches of the Pahang
river. This land is not irrigated, the crop being entirely
dependent for such moisture as is provided by rain and dew.
Owing to the uncertainty of the seasons, this sometimes
proves insufficient, while at others the crops are destroyed by
floods. Plough land cannot be continuously cultivated year
after year. It is usually planted for four or five seasons, and
is then allowed to lie fallow for the same period before it is
used again.
Hill padi is generally grown along the sides of low hills,
but often on flat land above flood level. In former years
this mode of planting entailed the destruction of valuable
timber, but as ladang cultivation is discouraged by Grovernment,
new fields are now nearly always made in secondary
jungle.
Hill or dry rice gives the smallest return, but as it
requires little care after the padi is sown, it is therefore a
favourite method of planting among Pahang Malays.
Swamp rice yields the best crop, but it also entails the most
labour and is proportionately unpopular. The yield of
tanah tenggala, or plough land, is somewhat more than that
obtained from ladang^ or dry fields.
Manure is quite unknown in rice culture in Pahang, but
owing to the large quantities of vegetable matter left to rot
upon the land every year, the impoverishment of the soil is
not so marked as might have been expected.
The implements employed in planting and harvesting are
most primitive and inefficient. The plough used is a clumsy
wooden instrument which barely succeeds in scratching the
surface of the soil ; no harrow is used ; and the tuei, which
is almost universally employed for the purposes of reaping,
is a small semi-circular blade which is only capable of cutting
one ear of ripe grain at a time, thus rendering the process