Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0588
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[Page 588]
484
Some account of Batavia
man chew it during my whole stay.
[Margin note] Trade
Merchandise is carried on in an easier & more indolent way here I beleive, than in any other part of the world, the Chinese carry on Every manufacture of the place, & sell the produce to the European resident merchants, for indeed they dare not sell to any foreigner; consequently when any a Ship comes in & bespeaks 100 Leggers off Arrack or any thing else, he has nothing to do but to send orders to his China man, to deliver them on board such a ship, which done, he brings the Master of the ships receipt for the goods to his Employer, who does nothing but receive money from the Stranger, & reserving his profit, pay the China man his demands, with imports however, they must have a little more trouble, for them they must examine, receive,& preserve, in their own warehouses, as other merchants do
[Margin note] Character
To give a character of them in their dealings, I need only say that the Jewel known to English merchants by the name of fair dealing, is totaly unknown here, they have joind all the art of trade that a dutchman is famous