4 THE BANDA NUTMEG PLANTATIONS. 



gling with the notes of two kinds of pigeons ; while all along the south 

 and eastern parts of the island the sea breaks in high and loud waves 

 on the iron-bound coast, sending its injurious spray for many hundred 

 yards over the Nutmeg-parks. 



Some of the Parkineers' houses are comfortable, and many are beau- 

 tifully situated. The owners are mostly natives of Banda, wedded to 



their own ways and averse to improvement ; though the example of a 



German gentleman, named Brandes, who has in three years doubled 

 the return of his Spice-trees, might stimulate them to adopt some of 

 his innovations. But in fact the Nutmeg-tree cannot properly be said 

 to be cultivated at Banda : the nuts are merely collected, and have an 

 equally good right to be admitted to the English market, on the low rate 

 of duty, as is accorded to the long-shaped sort from Ceram and Papua. 

 Both are the wild, indigenous productions of the localities; and while 

 it is inconsistent to make any difference in the rate of duty, it is 

 highly injudicious thus to favour the export of an inferior article, which 

 is not only a less aromatic spice, but, from its astringency, even an un- 

 wholesome one. 



The true Nutmeg has always occupied its present position in Banda, 

 having been found there, on the discovery of these islands by the Por- 

 tuguese, in 1511. There is no fear that it will ever be eradicated: 

 the wild pigeons will disseminate it, without the help of man. It is 

 the type of the genus ; and as all varieties of it are abnormal, I shall 

 point out the differences between it and the Nutmeg of Ceram (com- 

 monly called the Nutmeg from the Straits). The latter tree attains 

 a much less height, and is a mere shrub compared with the Banda 

 Nutmeg-tree, which is commonly fifty feet high and sometimes seventy. 

 The produce is much larger in quantity, relatively to the size of the 

 tree, in Banda than the Straits : the nuts are more uniform in size, and 

 nearer to a spherical form, heavier, and containing more essential oil. 

 A curious variety exists: a few trees always bearing ivory-coloured 

 instead of red Mace. The Nutmeg-tree begins to bear at eight years 

 old ; it is in its prime at twenty-five years old, and continues fruitful 

 till sixtv or older. 



The method of collecting the nuts in Banda is to rear small oval 

 baskets, made of Bamboo, upon long poles, among the fruit-bearin^ 

 branches ; each basket is equipped with a couple of small prongs, pro- 

 jecting from the top: these prongs seize the fruit-stalk, when a gentle 





