Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/525

 ARTICLES OF IMPORTATION. 509 tidious, and considerable economy and skill are requisite on the part of the merchant in laying in his investment, which, however, if well selected, will still bring an advance on the prime cost of 100 per cent. To insure this object, the goods ought to be laid in at the place of manufacture, and under the personal direction of the specula- tor. Sundry minor articles of wearing apparel are im- ported into the Indian Islands, principally for the consumption of the colonists. Hats are the most considerable and most promising of these, as their consumption is not confined merely to the Euro- pean colonists, the Cliinese, very generally, and the Javanese, although I believe none of the other native tribes, in a more limited degree, wearing them. Fine beavers in small numbers are requir- ed by the Europeans, but the taste of the natives would require a light cheap article, which on the spot would not cost them above 10s. No attempt has yet been made to suit this state of the market. A few short and long cotton stockings find a mar- ket. They are chiefly consumed by the European colonists, but a few by the Chinese, and even by the Javanese, who, of all the inhabitants of tropi- cal Asia, seem willing to get over their prejudice in favour of bnr'e legs. Of all articles of European importation, manUf factures of leather find the narrowest market.