Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/396

 380 COMMERCIAL DHSCRirTION OF low rate of from three to four Spanish dollars per picul. * The better part of the molasses obtained in the manufacture of the sugar of Java is, in the present abundance of it, nearly wasted, especially in the eastern districts, where no arrack is manufactured. Any quantity may be purchased on the spot where the sugar is manufactured at the rate of half a dol- lar per picul ; and the finest might, were there a market for it, be delivered to the exporter at 4s. per cwt. The Arrack, or spirits manufactured from rice, molasses, and palm wine, is made in large quanti- ties, chiefly for domestic consumption. In former times, it was exported in considerable quantity, particularly to Europe and Madras. The arrack of commerce is of three kinds, which are mere va- rieties in the strength of the spirit. The leaguer of the highest proof, including duties, is usually sold at from 60 to 75 Spanish dollars, according to the demand, which is 45 cents of a Spanish dollar per gallon, and one of the second at from 45 to 55 ♦ Hamilton, in 1710, purchased sugar at Japara, the principal place of manufacture at present also, lower than I have here stated it. "I bought," says he, '' good white su- gar in cakes here for two Dutch dollars per picul, being 140 lbs. English suttle weight.''