Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/465

 ARTICLES OF EXPORTATION. 449 more, however, than as 3^ is to 1. Some of this he owes to the natural and inherent superiority of his physical form, but more to education and to moral habit. The ludian Archipelago, so remarkable for the rich variety of its vegetable and animal productions, is hardly less distinguished for its mineral 'wealth. In tin, it is by far the most productive country on the globe ; and in gold, it is probably not inferior to America. Ores of silver, lead, and zinc, on the other hand, have not yet been discovered at all ; and iron is scarce, no ores of it sufficiently rich being at all found in some of the islands, and these the most distinguished for their vegetable wealth and civilization. Rich ores of copper are known to exist in several situations, but this metal is net generally diffused. The truth, however, is, that, with respect to the metallic wealth of those countries, very little is known, for the industry and civilization necessary to elicit it neither exist now nor have ever existed. The singular wealth of the tin and gold mines has in a measure obtruded these metals upon notice ; but it is only through the enterprise of strangers, and in very recent times, that their produce has become a respectable object of commerce. The command- ing genius of the European race, though fettered by so many pernicious restraints, has, since its authority was established in these regions, had in- VOL. III. F f