The value of most commodities, even in a perfect condition, furthermore differs so much by reasons of mere locality, that there could be no possible uniformity in the value of the receipt for the deposit of one and the same article, issued by banks in different places, to serve as currency; the value or purchasing power of a ton of coal, or a fat ox, being one thing at the mouth of a coal-mine or on a prairie stock-farm, and quite a different thing ten, twenty, or a hundred miles distant. But in the case of gold, the space needed to store up what represents a vast value is very small, while the value or purchasing power of gold not only is, but is certain to remain, on the average, very constant all the world over. [16] CHAPTER IX. WAR WITH THE CANNIBALS, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. But more serious matters than the making and issuing of money soon claimed the attention of the people of the island. It will be remembered that Friday was first brought to the island by the cannibals, for the purpose of being cooked and eaten, and that he was rescued from this fate by the valor of Robinson Crusoe, as was subsequently also Friday's father and others of his countrymen. But the cannibals, although then repulsed, did not at the same time lose their appetites, or the remembrance of the good cheer that had escaped them; and meat becoming scarce in their own country, they projected a grand invasion of the island, with the intent of capturing and cooking Friday, if he was still there, or, in default of Friday, any body and every body they might happen to catch. The islanders all at once, therefore, found themselves precipitated into a terrible war, and were obliged to struggle not only for their homes, but for their individual existence. The Government was active and energetic, but to carry on the war a vast expenditure of commodities was necessary; and as the Government of the island--in common with all other governments--never had, or could have, any commodities or money to buy commodities with, other than what it obtained through loans and taxes, the people, one and all, were called upon to help. There was, however, some fear that if the calls for help were put in the form of taxes, the fires of patriotism might not burn as brightly as was desirable, and it was therefore deemed expedient to say little about taxes at the outset, and rely mainly on loans, to be repaid after the war was over.