Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/381

 ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION. 365 sixth of the ancient prices, to near one-seventh of the Portuguese prices, and to near one-third of Mr Munn's boasted prices, the ground of his estimate of the advantages which the East India Company conferred on the state. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, (l6l5,) Sir Dudley Digges states the consumption of England in pepper at 450,000 lbs., and Munn (1621) that of all Europe at G,000,000 of lbs. At present it has increased prodigiously, and per- haps the consumption of England is not less than 1,113,584 lbs., nor that of ail Europe than 15,890,000 lbs., the whole having increased since Mr Munn*s time, or in about two centuries to nearly two and two-thirds more than it then was. From these details some interesting and import- ant deductions may be made. The first remark that occurs is, that, as far as pepper, the principal article of exportation from India in the early inter- course of modern Europe with India is concerned, neither Europe nor India gained any advantage by the discovery of the new route by the Cape of Good Hope. The first obtained no better market for its produce, nor did the latter obtain a cheaper com- modity. In the ancient intercourse, pepper cost Ss. 6d. per pound, — under tljp^ Portuguese it cost 4s. But the mere difference between land and sea carriao-e cannot be estimated at less than 70^ per cent. Supposing ijepper, by either route.