Mr. George S. Hudson 163 



Before proceeding to treat the question of 

 cacao curing in detail I think a few words 



would be useful reo-ardino- the small cacao 



. ^ 

 producer's share in this matter. I refer to 



the man who always sells his cacao to the 

 merchant. Perhaps it is necessary to first 

 dispel the illusion that the prosperous mer- 

 chant gets fat on the profits from this trade. 

 Whatever the result may be elsewhere, it is 

 not so in the West Indies, where cacao buying 

 yields a very moderate profit in comparison 

 with the time, labour and money invested in 

 it. It is more often looked upon by the mer- 

 chant buyer as a means of remitting money 

 to Europe at a small profit instead of buying 

 bank bills at a premium, and the extra "turn- 

 over " of business with the agent in Europe 

 all helps to grease the wheels of finance. In 

 referring to the low class of native cacao 

 throughout the world there is an implication 

 that the native is the individual to be blamed 

 for this result. I would not like to become his 

 champion, but it is only fair to state that, as 

 matters now stand, the game is all in the hands 

 of the cacao buyers, and they, by uniting, can 

 call whatever tune they wish as regards the con- 

 dition of the cacao when brought to them for 

 sale within the legal restrictions. It is prob- 

 able that two nights' sweating and one day's 

 sun would not interfere with the prospects of 

 turning out a good sample, and would give 

 ample chance of convicting a cacao thief. It 



