OP LA PEROUSE. 3^7 



pounding it, and becaufe for this purpofe they 

 make ufe only of wooden pefiles and mortars. 



Moll: of the marfliy places arc devoted to the 

 culture of the fago-trec, which furnifhes the in- 

 habitants with a very wholefome food : it is 

 one of the articles of provifions laid in for their 

 long voyages, as well as the kernel of the cuna- 

 rium, which they dry in order that it may keep. 

 This kernel, when frefh, is ft ill more agreeable 

 to the palate. 



The rice which is confumed at Amboyna, is 

 not the produce of the ifland ; however, it would 

 thrive very well in moft of the low lands, where 

 the water, which iiTues from the foot of the 

 mountains, affords every poflible means of fa- 

 cilitating its culture ; but the Dutch Eait-India 

 Company have prohibited the cultivation of this 

 article, becaufe the fale of it is a mean of get- 

 ting out of the hands of the natives the money 

 that the Company are obliged to give them for 

 the cloves which they furnifh. They thus prevent 

 the increafe of fpecie, and keep always at a. 

 very moderate price the produce of the labour 

 of the inhabitants. Befides, the ufe of rice be- 

 ing pretty much fpread among thofe who are in 

 tolerably eafy circumftances, it becomes a profit- 

 able article of trade, in the hands of the Com- 

 pany's agents, who fupply them with it. They 

 procure it principally from the ifland of Java. 



Thus 



