Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/463

 ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION. 44^7 of the market of China in their immediate vici- nage, afford abundant occupation for their indus- try and skill. In speaking of the fisheries of the Indian Islands, one great subject has not yet been alluded to — the "dohale -fishery. In the seas which surround the Spice Islands, and particular- ly towards Timur, and that portion of the Pacific Ocean which lies between the Archipelago and New Holland, the Cachelot or Spermaceti whale abounds. While the Spice Islands were in our possession, our whalers were in the habit of re- freshing at Amboyna, which they found a con- venient station for this purpose alone, though per- mitted to carry on no species of trade with it. Ten or twelve of them annually put in for refresh- ments at the port of Dili in Timur. It is evident, that any nation in possession of the Spice Islands, that has the wisdom to destroy the absurd mono- poly of spices, and restore the industry of those countries to their natural state, may see them necessarily become a convenient station of the whale-fishery. If industry and capital were suf- fered to take their natural course, the spice trade and whale-fishery would be naturally combined, each mutually aiding the other. The striking contrast in the present case, between the Jree and fettered trade, is sufficient to bring ridicule and confusion on the supporters of regulated and mo- nopoly commerce. The spermaceti whale-fishery