232 THE MOLUCCAS. [chap. 



condition, and not a trace of sinoke was visible at its rugged 

 snnnnit. 



This chain of islands, with Batchian, w^ere the " Molnccoes " of 

 the old geographers ; the natural home of the clove. The tree is 

 not much grow^n now, although in Batchian its cultivation has 

 been recommenced. In 1652 the Dutch compelled the "King of 

 Terenate " to destroy every clove-tree in his dominions, and, in order 

 to obtain the entke monopoly of the spice, restricted the plantations 

 to Amboina, which has until lately supplied Europe to the almost 

 entire exclusion of other localities. It is curious that, although 

 there is but little difference in latitude, and apparently none in 

 soil, the clove has never flourished in its new so w^ell as in its old 

 home. 



The \allage of Batchian — our destination — lies in the middle of 



the western side of the island of that name, and more for the 



pleasure of an exciting bit of navigation than with any idea of 



saving time, we resolved to attempt the passage of the Herberg 



Strait, a narrow channel dividing Batchian from numerous islands 



lying to the westward.-^ It was still dark when w^e arrived off the 



entrance, and we therefore lay to and awaited daylight. The Sing- 



Tjin then intunated that she would give us a lead, but before long, 



as we were much superior in speed, we decided to pass her, wliich 



we did, in spite of our excellent friend the captain's loud shouts of 



disapproval. During the passage of the narrowest part, desperate 



but illegible signals were hoisted by the other ship, which were meant 



to signify that the total loss of the Marchesa was imminent, but 



secure in a good look-out and perfectly clear water, we carried on, 



and in another half hour came safely to anchor off the village. 



^ The Herberg or Batchian Straits, -which are over forty miles in length, are 

 but little known and are unsurvej^ed. AVe found them apparently devoid of danger, 

 holding a mid-cliannel course throughout, but a large ship might have some difficulty 

 in passing the first narrows, owing to the sharp turn necessary for entering them and 

 the strong currents generally experienced. The passage is easiest from south to 

 north, as we afterwards discovered on our homeward] voyage. At the south end of 

 the northern part of the strait are two islands i;nmarked even in the Dutch charts, 

 which still further narrow the channel. 



