Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/405

 ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION. 389 sits the surrounding islands, to suppress the growth of cloves, which, in their native country, spring up, with a luxuriance which these measures of Sa- tanic rigour, and of sacrilege towards bountiful Nature, can scarce repress. By the plan on which the clove trade is now conducted, a plan carried into effect through so much iniquity and bloodshed, the country of spices is rendered a petty fanu, of which the natural owners are reduced to the worst condition of pre- dial slavery, and the great monopoHzer and op- pressor is that government whose duty it should have been to insure freedom and afford protection. Human ingenuity could hardly devise a plan more destructive of industry, more hostile to the growth of public wealth, or injurious to morals, than this system, framed in a barbarous age ; and it reflects disgrace upon the character of a civilized people to persevere in it. It is curious to remark how the monopolizers, in carrying the details of this system into effect, at once impose upon the natives and deceive them- selves. The nominal price paid to the natives is actually above the natural price of the commodity, but they are cheated in the details. The cultiva- tor brings his produce to the public stores, where it is subjected at once to a deduction of one-fifth, for payment of the salaries of the civil and military officers. The price of the remainder is fixed at