Nutmegs should be chosen large, Tound, heavy, • and firm, of a lightish grey colour on the outside, and the inside finely marbled, of a strong fragrant smell, warm aromatic taste, and a fat oily body. The oblong kind, and smaller ones, should be reject ' ed. The real quantity of nutmegs produced has never been exactly ascertained. the largest quan tity sold by the Dutch East India Company at one time was 280,694 libs. in the year 1787. In 1756, there were sold 241,427 libs. and in 1778, 264,189 fibs. The average quantity annually sold in Europe has been stated at 250,000 libs. exclusive of about 100,000 libs. disposed of in the East. Indies. The pro duce, however, has since greatly declined, which may be imputed to various causes. In the year 1778, the nutmeg plantations were laid waste by a tremendous hurricane, and this calamity was succeeded by op pressions on the part of the government, and by dis turbances among the people ; agriculture and indus try were in consequence neglected, and the annual produce of spices of all sorts, which amounted to 600,000 libs. was suddenly reduced to 50,000 libs. For seven years previous to the commencement of the war with France in 1793, the average quantity of nutmegs sold in Holland amounted only to 22,459 libs. and that of mace to 7504 libs. When Banda was taken by the English in 1796, the quantity of spices in the warehouses amounted to 84,777 libs. of nut
megs, and to 19,587 libs. of mace. In the several years of 1808, 1804, and 1805, when the Banda Islands were in possession of Britain, there were im ported of nutmegs 104,094, 117,936, and 85,851 Jibs., which were sold for L. 46,233, L. 54,733, and L. 23,742. The quantity retained for home con sumption amounted on an average to 39,071 fibs. per annum, and the revenue which they yielded to L. 7879. The permanent duty levied on nutmegs in this country is Ss. 6d. per lib. ; and the war duty le. 2d., making together 4s. 8d. per lib.