Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/364

 348 COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION OF that the whole export cannot fall short of 29,142 tons. It may be roundly estimated, that this ex- jjortation may be about one-twentieth of the whole growth of the island. Java rice is also occasionally exported to China. Rice shipped at Batavia at one Spanish dollar perpicul, or 84 cents per cwt., may, reckoning freights at L.8 per ton, be sold in Eng- land at 15s. 21d. per cwt., allowing 30 percent, for interest of capital, profits of stock, deficiency of freight, and incidental charges. Rice shipped in Java, at the same rate, will bring an advance of 150 to 200 per cent, in the market of Canton. In a free trade between Europe and China, vessels dis- charging their investments in the islands might, with advantage, therefore, fill up with rice, as, under such circumstances, freight to China could not ex- ceed L.l, 10s. per ton, or L.2 at the highest. Minor grains, or other secondary articles of food exported, are maize or Turkey corn, pulses and sago. The first are only articles of internal traf- fic from island to island ; or from a fertile and in- dustrious province or island to such as are less so. Tiirlicy corn is never separated from the ear, still less converted into flour for the convenience of transportation. Sago is an article of exportation to Europe, — to India, principally Bengal, — and to China. It is in its granulated form alone that it is ever sent abroad. The best sago is the produce of Siak, on