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148 ANCIENT GREECE. [CHAP. x.the commerce to the East sea has hitherto ^been obliged topay a tribute in the Sound. This comparisonis the morejust, as the duties of Byzantium, no less than those in theSound, have been the occasion even of a war. 1These examples,of which the number could easily be increased, are quite sufficient to prove, that duties were verygenerally exacted in the sea-ports.The principle accordingto which the customs were regulated, had nothing in viewbat the increase of the public revenue; and no design wasconnected with them, of encouraging and directing domesticindustry.At least we have never been able to find anyhint to that effect. But the tariff seems to have been verydifferent in the several cities, and for the different articles ofmerchandise. At Byzantium,the duty was ten per cent, onthe value of the wares. 2 The Athenians, on the contrary,when they imposed duties in the harbours of their alliesduring the Peloponnesian war, exacted only five per cent. 3In Athens itself,there were, at least in the time of Demosthenes, several articles which paid a duty of but two percent. 4 To this class allbelonged corn introduced intoAthens; 5 and several other objects, such as fine woollen6garments and vessels of silver."We distinguishin our system of finances between dutieson importation and exportation, and taxes on domesticconsumption. 7 Itmay be asked, if this was also the casein Greece ? I do not doubt that it was ;but in the Greciancities,as in Rome and perhaps in the whole of the ancientworld, these taxes were imposed in but one very simple form.They were connected with the markets. Whatever was thereoffered for sale, paid a duty and hence this ; .dutyis mentioned only with reference to the markets. 8 And I find noproof, that the system of taxing consumption was carried sofar in any ancient state, as it has been in several moderncountries. 91Namely, between Byzantium and Bhodes.* Demosth. Op. i. 3p. 4?5.Thncyd. vii. 28.* This is the raimjKooToXoyos dTToypa^?}, the tariff of the fiftieth penny.Demosth. in Mid. Op, i. p, 558. 5 Demosth. in Neser. Op. ii, p. 1353.6 Demosth. in Mid. Op. i. p. 568, enumerates several.7Such as the excise, licences, etc.8 In Aristot ii. p. 388. % d-rrb rwv *car