What did the europeans after the did not find gold in the West Indies?

Question

Some Examples are cultivating tobacco and sugar in need in details please.

Answer 1

See : "History of the Caribbean" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Caribbean

"In 1501 the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, granted permission to the colonists of the Caribbean to import African slaves. Between 1502 and 1518, Spain shipped out hundreds of Spanish-born Africans, called Ladinos, to work as labourers, especially in the mines."

"Free Spaniards were reluctant to do manual labour or to remain settled (especially after the discovery of gold on the mainland), and only slave labour could assure the economic viability of the colonies. In 1518 the first shipment of African-born slaves was sent to the West Indies. The Spaniards, although major purchasers of slaves, did not trade on the African coast until the late 1700s. However, it is estimated that 95 percent of the African slaves transported to the New world from the 15th to the 19th century were sent to Latin America and the Caribbean."

"Perhaps due in part to the Spanish colonies' late discovery of the money to be made on slave production of sugarcane, particularly on Cuba, the Spanish colonies were among the last to make any moves to abolish slavery. While the British colonies abolished slavery completely by 1834, Cuba still hung on to the process until 1888."

"Slavery in the Spanish New World colonies" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_Spanish_New_World_colonies

And if I'm not mistaken, the Dutch in the Dutch West Indies made their money by growing spices introduced from the East Indies.