132 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



a triangular, level area, about a paal '^ long, and on 

 tMs has been built the city of " Amboina " or " Am- 

 bon," in the native language. Viewed from the an- 

 chorage, the city has a pleasing appearance, its streets 

 being broad, straight, and well shaded. About half 

 way from its southern end is Fort Nieuw Victoria. 

 Landing at a quay we passed through this old strong- 

 hold out into a pretty la^vn, which is surrounded by 

 the Societeit, or Club-House, and the residences of 

 officials and merchants. The total population of the 

 city is about fourteen thousand. Of these, seven 

 hundred are Europeans, three hundred Chinese, and 

 four hundred Arabs. The others are natives. The 

 entire poj)ulation of the island is about thirty-two 

 thousand. Like all the cities and larger settlements 

 in the Dutch possessions, Amboina is divided into a 

 native Jcampo7ig or quarter, a Chinese kampong, and a 

 quarter where foreigners reside. The natives are di- 

 rectly under the control of a rajah or prince, and he, 

 in turn, is responsible to a Dutch assistant resident. 

 In a similar manner the Chinese are subject to a 

 " Captain China," who, in the larger cities, has one 

 or more assistants or " lieutenants." He, likewise, 

 must report himself to the assistant resident. In this 

 way each separate people is immediately ruled by 

 officers chosen from its own nation, and consequently 

 of the same views and prejudices. Justice is thus more 

 perfectly administered, and the hostile feelings which 

 each of these bigoted Eastern nations always enter- 

 tains against every other are thus completely avoided. 



* A paal, the unit of measure on land in the East Indian Archipelago, 

 is fifteen sixteenths of a statute mile. 



