BANDA NKIRA. " 341 



monsoon, this smoke is blown over the town, which 

 it renders very unhealthy. One of the small islands 

 is inhabited entirely by lepers, who are sent there 

 to prevent the disease from spreading among the 

 inhabitants. 



Bandais used as a penal settlement by the Dutch 

 Government, and, at the period of our visit, there 

 were from 3000 to 4000 convicts, guarded by about 

 300 soldiers, most of whom were natives of Celebes 

 and Amboyna, being commanded by European offi- 

 cers. The town of Banda is clean, and contains, be- 

 sides the houses of the Government officers, ample 

 store houses for the reception of the nutmegs grown 

 upon Great Banda ; together with very commodious 

 barracks for the troops, and an airy and well ap- 

 pointed hospital. In addition to the Government 

 officers and troops, a considerable number of Chi- 

 nese have settled in Banda Neira. They reside in 

 a part of the town by themselves ; and some of them, 

 judging from the appearance of their houses, seem 

 to be prospering in the world. 



The harbour is well sheltered in both monsoons, 

 and is easy of access, but it is closed against foreign 

 merchant vessels.* We found two merchant vessels 



* A shoal extends from Great Banda towards the Gounung 

 Api, leaving a deep passage of not more than a quarter of a mile 

 wide. Upon this shoal, a considerable portion of which is dry 

 at low water, extensive bamboo fish-weirs are erected, which 

 seem to be very productive. The natives also use fish-pots 

 formed of bamboo, resembling in principle the common drum- 



