The Maldives and the Moluccas, the Luccadives and the
Andamans, were nearly as impertinent. The five hundred ships and the
judiciously-assorted cargo were therefore under the necessity of
returning home.
No sooner, however, had they reached Vraibleusia than the markets were
immediately glutted with the unsold goods. All the manufacturers, who
had been working day and night in preparing for the next expedition,
were instantly thrown out of employ. A run commenced on the Government
Bank. That institution perceived too late that the issues of pink
shells had been too unrestricted. As the Emperor of the East had all
the gold, the Government Bank only protected itself from failure by
bayoneting its creditors. The manufacturers, who were starving,
consoled themselves for the absence of food by breaking all the windows
in the country with the discarded shells. Every tradesman failed. The
shipping interest advertised two or three fleets for firewood. Riots
were universal. The Aboriginal was attacked on all sides, and made so
stout a resistance, and broke so many cudgels on the backs of his
assailants, that it was supposed he would be finally exhausted by his
own exertions.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170