216 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



world." A proof of the correctness of a part of De 

 Barros's statements is seen in the names of the different 

 islands, which are all of Malay or Javanese origin. 

 The population at that time was given at fifteen thou- 

 sand, which, if correct, would have made this group 

 far more densely peopled than any island or number 

 of islands in the whole archipelago is at the present 

 day. Their personal appearance and form of govern- 

 ment are thus minutely described by De Barros : 

 " The people of these islands are robust, with a tawny 

 complexion and lank hair, and are of the worst repute 

 in'these parts. They follow the sect of Mohammed, 

 and are much addicted to trade, their women per- 

 forming the labors of the field. They have neither 

 king nor lord, and all their government depends on 

 the advice of their elders ; and as these are often at 

 variance, they quarrel among themselves. The land 

 has no other export than the nutmeg. This tree is 

 in such abundance that the land is full of it, without 

 its being planted by any one, for the earth yields 

 without culture. The forests which produce it be- 

 long to no one by inheritance, but to the people in 

 common. When June and September come, which 

 are the months for gathering the crop, the nutmegs 

 are allotted, and he who gathers most has most 

 profit." * The fact that the natives were Mohamme- 

 dans may be regarded as a proof that they were in 

 advance of the other nations, who continued in hea- 

 thenism, and theii' daring and determination are well 

 shown in their long contest with the Dutch. 



For nearly a hundred years the Portuguese monop- 



* De Barros, in CraAvfurd's " Dictionary of the India Islands." 



