CHAP. XXV.
263
1812. When the war between England and theUnited States of America began, the price ofcotton rose so high, that the labour of the slavesin Brasil was found to be much more profitablyemployed in the cultivation of that commoditythan in washing the sands-for gold; and sincethat war has ceased, the cultivation generally oftropical productions has been the most beneficialapplication of labour.
It is shown by Eschwege , in an official docu-ment which he procured in Brasil , that the em-ployment of about sixteen thousand persons inthe six hundred and thirty-one lavras or goldwashings in Minas Geras obtained gold to theamount of three hundred and eighteen thousandseven hundred and ninety milreas, or seventy-ninethousand six hundred and ninety-seven pounds.From this must be deducted one-fifth for duty tothe crown, or fifteen thousand nine hundred andfifty-nine pounds, thus leaving sixty-three thousandsix hundred and thirty-eight pounds for the pur-chase of slaves to replace such as might be wornout by the severe labour, and to maintain thewhole number of the persons employed \ As thenet amount of the gold seems to be little morethan four pounds per head, it cannot appear ex-traordinary that such a description of industry