Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/200

 184 COMMERCE WITH 6S00, Six of these sail to the port of Batavia, and one to that of Samarang. The commerce be- tween the Suluk islands and China is conducted by two rich junks, which sail from Em-ui, and average 800 tons a-piece. The only portion of the island of Celebes carrying on a direct trade with China is Macassar, to which there sail annually from Em-ui two small junks, of 5U0 tons each, or one large one of 1000. A small junk of 500 tons usually sails to Amboyna. Between Manilla and China the usual number of junks is four or five, of from 400 to 500 tons, making in all about 2000 tons. From this statement, it will appear that there is engaged in this commerce near 30,000 tons of sliippin.g, nine thousand tons more than that usually engaged in the direct intercourse between Great Britain and China ! Taking the value of the import cargo of each junk of oOO tons at 20,300 Spanish dollars, and the exports at the same, an estimate formed on an actual valuation, the annual value of the goods exchanged will be two millions four hundred and thirty-six thousand Spanish dollars, or L.5'i8,100. The intercourse between the Indian islands and the Hindu-Chinese nations is very limited, — a cir- cumstance which arises from causes not difficult to explain. The spirit of foreign mercantile adven- ture does not belong to nations so little civilized as the inhabitants of either country. Until there