EUROPEAN  POSSESSIONS  201

formerly  belonged  to  that  country.  They  are
all  merchants  or  traders,  owning  coasting
vessels  that  ply  along  the  Latin  American
shores  and  the  other  islands.  Their  credit  is
good  and  they  are  thoroughly  up-to-date  in
their  business  methods.
While  Dutch  money  is  used,  American,
English,  French,  German  and  other  currency
is  received  at  the  current  rate  of  exchange.
There  are  no  government  banks,  but  each  merchant ­
  has  credits  in  the  United  States  or  Europe ­
  and  buys  and  sells  exchange  against  it.
The  total  exports  of  these  islands  are  less  than
$1,000,000  yearly,  $300,000  representing  coal
brought  from  the  United  States  and  resold  to
steamers.  Many  straw  hats  made  from  fibre
imported  from  Venezuela  and  Colombia  are
exported,  the  yearly  production  being  about
$350,000.  Aloes  to  the  extent  of  $70,000  and
dividivi,  a  dye  wood,  to  the  value  of  $25,000,
with  hides,  skins,  and  a  native  lace  are  the
chief  exports.  Aruba  ships  some  phosphate
rock  and  has  one  small  gold  mine  in  operation.
Much  smuggling  is  done  into  Latin  America.