600 miles in length, but is so intersected with deep bays, that its medial breadth does not exceed sixty or seventy miles. This island rises into lofty mountains, some of which are volcanic. Many rivers rise among the hills, which precipitate themselves down rocky channels, fringed with trees of vast magnitude and perpetual verdure. Celebes yields rice, maize, sago, sugar, pepper, and the other usual fruits and vegetables of the tropics. It is well stocked with deer, wild buffaloes, hogs, goats, and other domestic animals. There are gold mines, and the sands of some of the rivers are rich in this metal. The people are of the Malayan race, and are called Macassars. They are divided into several tribes, governed by arbitrary chiefs or rajahs. Their religion is Mahometan; their character somewhat ferocious and predatory; and in their wars, they make use of arrows tinged with a deadly poison afforded by several plants of the country. The land is tolerably cultivated, and the population is considerable. The Dutch possess several of the ports, and exercise a limited influence over the natives. THE MOLUCCAS, OR SPICE ISLANDS. To the east of Celebes, between it and New Guinea, lie a number of islands; their production of rich aromatics has bestowed upon them the common appellation of the Spice Islands. The largest of these is Gilolo, in which the bread fruit and sago are abundant, and which is plentifully furnished with wild and domestic animals. The natives are industrious, and are much employed in weaving cotton. THE MOLUCCAS, OR SPICE ISLANDS. 355 CERAM. CERAM is the next in size. It produces cloves, and has large forests of the sago and palm, with many valuable woods. Of the Moluccas, properly so called, the most noted are Ternate and Tidore. These, though small islands, are the seats of native princes, or sultans, of the Mahometan faith, who hold dominion over many of the neighbouring isles, and possess considerable power by sea and land. The militia, furnished by the territories of the sultan of Ternate, is said to amount to upwards of 90,000 men. The islands, particularly distinguished for the growth of the precious spices, are Amboyna and Banda. It is well known, that the Dutch obtained a monopoly of this trade, and in order to preserve it to themselves, they used every means to discourage the culture of spices in the other islands, and to restrict it to such as they could keep under their own inspection and control. Their policy has been extremely narrow, and often attended with acts of cruelty and oppression as well towards the natives, as towards the foreign competitors. AMBOYNA. AMBOYNA is an island of moderate size, beautiful in its appearance, and well cultivated; but subject to frequent earthquakes. Its deep sheltered vales are well adapted to the culture of the clove, the staple of the island. It also produces sugar and coffee, and several delicious fruits. The natives are Malays, who are governed by chiefs of their own, but the Dutch exercise the sovereign authority. The town of Amboyna is the second in rank of their East-India settlements, is neatly built, and contains a considerable population. The Bandas are a group of islets, on several of which the nutmeg is cultivated. The principal of them is named Lantor or Banda, by way of eminence. The tree bearing this spice grows luxuriantly in the black mould of these islands, and also in the lava of one of them, which is volcanic. The Dutch are very jealous of its growth in any other islands, and have frequently caused its destruction when produced elsewhere by nature, but upon occasion of a short supply from Banda, they have permitted it to be cultivated in Amboyna. For these islands, they pay a tributary acknowledgment to the sultan of Ternate. END OF VOLUME SECOND. |