Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/393

 ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION. 377 157 per cent, higher than I have supposed it prac- ticable for the European resident merchant to ex- port it, and 7H per cent, beyond the price as esti- mated by the parallel produce of pepper. We have the price of Mocha coffee from Neibour, who states it, in 1763, as high as 16 j Spanish dollars the picul. • In a state of fair trade, and with equal duties in the markets of Europe, it is evident enough from this, that the produce of the West India islands, or Arabia, would stand no chance of competition with that of Java. The market price of Java coffee is at present regulated, and will continue to be regulated, until the quantity greatly increases, by the prices of the general market. The differ- ence between the cost of growing and bringing to market the coffee of Java, and the dearer produce of other countries, is a premium paid to the cul- tivator of the former, until his own produce shall begin to regulate the general market. Sugar is a production for which, like coffee, the Indian islands are indebted to the enterprise and knowledge of Europeans. Java, and Luconia, or Lusong, are the principal places of production. The Chinese residing in Siam have of late years manu- factured, indeed, a considerable quantity of excel- lent quality, which finds its way into the Archipe- lago, and eventually to Europe. All the sugar
 * Description de I'Arabic, Tom. II. p. 52.