CHINA. x,75:i* 317 



have fuch plenty of rice) would, without 

 doubt, take this advantage from others, and 

 keep it to themfelves. Thefe people do not 

 want induftry. But to make arrack, not only 

 rice, and fugar canes, but likewife cocoa-nuts 

 are required, as I have been told by a perfon 

 that comes from Batavia. While a fufricient 

 degree of heat is wanted in China for the 

 Cocoa-tree, its inhabitants will be obliged to 

 fetch arrack from thofe countries where this 

 fort of palm grows fpontaneoufly ; among 

 which Goa, on the Indian coaft, and Batavia, 

 on the iQe of Java, are the mod noted. 

 The arrack from Goa is weaker, paler, more 

 fcarce, and commonly dearer, becaufe that 

 place is the furtheft off. The arrack from Ba~ 

 tavia is like French brandy, but is fo vari- 

 able, that fometimes it is but half as ftrong 

 as at others, though the price continues the 

 fame. For this reafon the buyers ought to 

 provide themfelves with an inftrumenr, which 

 by its rifing or falling fhews how ftrong the 

 arrack is. Our Eaji India traders buy the 

 Batavia arrack from the Dutch mips, and the 

 Goa arrack from the EngHJJ) ; but in Suratie 

 it may be had at fir ft hand. A liggar of Ba- 

 tavia arrack was fold from 44 to 50 piaftres ; 

 and a quart of it came to 1 2 dollars of copper 



money, 



