Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/518

 502 DESCRIPTION OF European cotton goods did not exceed 5000 pieces of chintz, the only description consumed. These were purchased by the Bugis traders at Penang for exportation to the central and eastern parts of the Archipelago, and at double the present prices. In 1814, 1000 pieces of chintz overstocked the mar- ket of Samarang in Java, one of the most consider- able marts of the Archipelago. Prices have fallen since that period at least 25 per cent., and the consumption has increased in a much greater ra- tio than even this reduction would imply. In 1818 there were sold in the same market for the consumption of the place itself, and for dis- tribution in the interior, 15,000 pieces, worth 150,000 Spanish dollars, or L. 33,750. This re- markable increase will appear still more surprising when it is known that the retail price, the actual cost to the consumer on this description of goods, is still from 150 to 200 per cent, above the first cost. When the price falls to 100 per cent., which will still afford a good profit to the judi- cious importer, a great increase of consumption will inevitably follow. This result is to be expected, not so much from the competition of the importers, as from the increase of capital, skill, and experience, in the local dealers employed in distributing this description of merchandise among the consumers, which can only happen from the increased confi- dence and security which good government will con« fer. The consequence of the influx of British goods