Japan and the Japanese

FOREIGN TRADE. 207
They have a great carac, which goeth thither every year, and sho
bringeth from thence every year about six hundred thousand crusa-
dos [not far from as many dollars] ; and all this silver of Japan,
and two hundred thousand crusados more in silver, which they
bring yearly out of India, they employ to their great advantage in
China ; and they bring from thence gold, musk, silk, porcelains,
and many other things very costly and gilded." *
If we allow to the Portuguese an annual average export of half a
million of dollars, that will make in ninety years forty-five millions
of dollars of silver carried away by the Portuguese ; for, according
to all accounts, they brought away nothing else.
* The China trade was shared at this time between the Portuguese of
Macao and the Spaniards of the Philippines. On the Spanish trade, and the
profits of it, some light is thrown by extracts from letters found on board
Spanish prizes taken by the English, which Hackluyt translated and published
in his fourth volume. Thus Hieronymo de Nabores writes from Panama
(Aug. 24th, lo'JO), where he was waiting for the sliip for the Philip-
pines, "My meaning is to carry my commodities thither, for it is
constantly reported that for every one hundred ducats a man shall get six
hundred ducats clearly." This, however, was only the talk at Panama ;
but Sebastian Biscanio had made the voyage, and he writes to his father from
Acapulco (June 20th, -15UO) : " In this harbor here are four great ships of
Mexico, of six hundred or eight hundred tons apiece, which only serve to
carry our commodities to China, and so to return back again. The order is
thus. From hence to China is about two thousand leagues, further than
from hence to Spain ; and from hence the two first ships depart together to
China, and are thirteen or fourteen months returning back again. And when
these ships are returned, then the other twain, two months after, depart
from hence. They go now from hence very strong with soldiers. I can cer-
tify you of one thing : that two hundred ducats in Spanish commodities, and
some Flemish wools which I carried with me thither, I made worth fourteen
hundred ducats there in that country. So I make account that with those silks
and other commodities which I brought with me from thence to Mexico, I
got twenty-five hundred ducats by the voyage ;
and had gotten more, if one
pack of fine silks had not been spoiled with salt water. So, as I said, there
is great giin to be gotten, if that a man return in safety. But the year 1588,
I had great mischance coming in a ship from China to New Spain
being laden with rich commodities, was taken by an Englishman [this was
Cavendish, then on his voyage round the world], which robbed us and afterwards
burnt our ship, wherein I lost a great deal of treasure and commodi-
ties."
; which,