Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/362

 3i6 COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF of fine white grain, equal to that of Carolina. The rice of Gressic preserves best. All Indian rice is classed in commercial language into the three descriptions of table rice — white rice — and carjro rice. From the limited demand for the first, it is only to be had in Java in small quantity. For the same reason the second is not procurable in large quantity, unless bespoken some time before- hand ; but the third may be had at the shortest notice in any quantity required. The resident European, or otlier wholesale merchants, contract with the native farmers or cultivators for rice of the ordinary kind, often as low as IC >Spanish dol- lars per coyan, of 30 piculs of 136 lbs., or 4080 lbs. avoirdupois, equal to 23|^d. per cwt. making them advances. The stranger who exports it pays for it, according to the state of supply and demand, from 25 to 35 Spanish dollars, or an average of Ss. 8jd. per cwt. Table rice may be obtained for exportation at from 40 to 45 Spanish dollars a coyan, and ordinary white rice at from 35 to 40. Java rice is inferior in estimation to that of Bengal or Carolina in the markets of Europe. When a cwt. of Carolina rice sells for IBs., Ben- gal sells for lis. 3d., and Java for 9s. 9d. The prime cost of Carolina rice to the exporter may be estimated at 4iVri Spanish dollars per cwt., and that of Bengal in the market of Calcutta at 1 Spa- nish dollar and 30 cents, or 4s. iOd. per cent., sq