276 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I02 



Chapter VI 



Continuing the Description of the Moluccas, and in Especial of 

 Tidore, and of the Clove Tree and Other Spices. 



793. The island of Tidore lies half a league from that of Ternate, 

 from which it is separated merely by the breadth of the channel 

 running between these two islands. The King of Tidore and his 

 vassals are friends of ours and hostile to the people of Ternate and 

 the Dutch. The island is somewhat larger than that of Ternate. Wc 

 have two forts there, one in the city where the king resides, and the 

 other on the beach, plus other points which we keep fortified with 

 garrisons of Spaniards and Philippine Indians ; these go and serve 

 His Majesty valiantly, undergoing great trials at the side of the 

 Spaniards, serving them and helping on all occasions, in order to 

 get certificates of their services, which is a great honor among them 

 and highly prized. 



794. On this island of Tidore there are quantities of clove trees, 

 which are those in our possession, but few compared with what the 

 Dutch have on the islands of Makian and Motiel, which lie under the 

 Equator and are quite close neighbors of Ternate and Tidore. Motiel 

 is 4 leagues in circuit ; the island of Makian is 3 leagues to the S. 

 of Motiel, and is 7 leagues in circuit. These are the principal clove 

 islands held by the Dutch ; there are a few trees on others, but of 

 slight importance. Our supply is on this island of Tidore ; the great 

 bulk come by way of India. 



795. The chief place of arms which the Dutch have, is that of 

 Malayo on Ternate, residence of the Governor they have there, with 

 plenty of men in their garrison, well provided with arms, supplies, 

 and munitions. On the same island they have another fortress which 

 they call Tacome, and they have another on Tidore which they call 

 Marieco, and others still, all well fortified and supplied with men 

 and necessities ; but our Spaniards, though fewer and badly off, with 

 their spirit, valor, and energy keep them at bay ; they are always 

 eager to dash out and fight with the enemy as the best celebration 

 they can have, so as to have the benefit of the spoils they get and 

 carry off from them. In fact the mere recital of the deeds of those 

 few valiant Spaniards, would need a special book. 



796. The clove tree is tall and handsome; its bark is like that of 

 the olive, and its leaf like that of the laurel. Its flowers grow in 

 clusters, and consequently the cloves which develop out of the flower 

 are like the similar clusters of the paradise tree or the hawthorn hips. 

 When the clove emerges from the flower, it is green ; when it is a 



