To: blam
The Portuguese probably didn't set up a colony because they didn't find any gold. The Dutch found gold on New Guinea and made it part of the Dutch East Indies.
18 posted on
03/20/2007 9:25:43 PM PDT by
omnivore
To: omnivore
They traded direct rather than colonize.
21 posted on
03/21/2007 8:55:33 AM PDT by
RightWhale
(Treaty rules;commerce droolz; Repeal the Treaty)
To: omnivore
"The Portuguese probably didn't set up a colony because they didn't find any gold."
The Portuguese were looking for something much more valuable than gold -- spices. A 14-pound chunk of cinnamon bark would pay for the construction, outfitting and manning (for three years) of the largest warship that could be built in that era.
"The Dutch found gold on New Guinea and made it part of the Dutch East Indies."
The Dutch came along after the Portuguese. They chased the Portuguese out of the Spice Islands, and took them over themselves. The gold the Dutch found in New Guinea was just sugar on top.
45 posted on
03/22/2007 10:45:05 AM PDT by
No Truce With Kings
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