Brief Account of the Jflands of Banda. 3 63 



information, it alfo appears requifite to procure about 8o3 

 additional flaves, in order to bring the plantations into the 

 higheft ftate of cultivation. 



The want of inhabitants in thefe iflands feems to impofe 

 the unfortunate neceflity of keeping up the above-mentioned 

 number of public flaves; though, when the expenfe attend- 

 ing their maintenance is compared with the little work they 

 perform, thev muft be confidered as the moil expenfive people 

 that could be employed. When works of any magnitude are 

 carrying on, government are obliged to hire, at a very dear 

 rate, the few free artizans who are willing to work, as well 

 as the private (laves of individuals, whole labour their matters 

 turn to great advantage. 



Exclusive of the provisions fent annually from Batavia to 

 the Banda iflands, there is alfo fent a large fupply of piece 

 goods, cutlery, iron, and other articles of merchandize, which 

 are fold by auction either quarterly or at fuch periods as the 

 governor knows the inhabitants are bed able to pay for them : 

 upon all thefe articles there is a profit of fifty per cent. The 

 burghers, and Chinefe merchants fettled here, not only buy 

 lip all the goods which are fold on the company's account, 

 but alfo thole which are imported by individuals. For, be- 

 fides their own confumption, the Chinefe merchants export 

 the aforefaid articles to the iflands of Aron, New Guinea, 

 Ceram, and the fouth-weft iflands, between all of which and 

 the Banda iflands there is a conftant traffic carried on. In 

 return, they get from Ceram, lagoe in bread and flour, and 

 fometimes failed deer; and from Aron they get pearls, birds 

 pells, and tortoife fhells. From thefe iflands they are alfo 

 fupplied with {laves. 



The iflands which lie fouth-eaft of Banda are very low, and 

 furrounded with dangerous rocks and fhoals. The natives of 

 them as well as thofe of New Guinea are extremely treacherous 

 in their difpofitions and lavage in their manners, notwithftand- 

 ing which the Dutch have a continual intercourfe with them. 



The fouth-weft iflands, as thev are called, are feven in 

 number, the chief of which is Kiflier, in which the resident 

 or governor of the whole relides. His garrifon confifts of fifty 

 men, a few of whom are attached to the adjoining iflands. 

 The only advantage drawn from thefe iflands is fome fandal 

 wood and falted deer, which they produce, and a few flaves 

 which they furnifh. The inhabitants of them are represented 

 by the Dutch as being excefiively ferocious. They appear 

 to be a mixed breed, between the Cofferees of Africa and the 

 Popoos, or natives of New Guinea : their hair is neither fo 



ihort 



