OF LA PEBOtTSE. 3S9 



Some other eatables are alio (old at this h./zar; 

 and particularly fifh, of which a much gre; 

 quantity is to be met with dried than frefti. Fifh, 

 under a burning iky, and in an atmofphere pro- 

 digioufly charged with humidity, wuild very 

 foon putrefy, if the inhabitants had not means 

 to dry it expeditioufly. When it is cured by 

 the finoke of a flow fire, it acquires a flavour 

 which makes them prefer it to fifcffi fifh. 



The Molucca Iflands, after having been a 

 long time under the domination of the Arabs, the 

 Moors, and the Malays, pafled under that of the 

 Europeans. The Portuguefe, the Spaniards, and 

 the Dutch, difputed for the poffeffion of them, 

 after having there eftablifhed factories and built 

 forts. The Dutch at length remained mailers of 

 them, and they have for a great number of years 

 enjoyed exclusively the fpice-trade. Thefe dif- 

 ferent fovcreigns have wrought fuch a change in 

 the manners of the natives of Amboyna, that it 

 is very difficult to diftinguifh among them at 

 this day any traces of their primitive character. 

 The Portuguefe introduced among thele peo- 

 ple the Catholic religion. The Dutch have 

 made every effort to direct them towards the 

 Proteftant faith, confidering this mean as better 

 calculated than any other to fubject them en- 

 tirely to their own control ; accordingly, they 

 Jiave a great number of fchools where the chil- 

 c c 3 drerj 



