CHAP. XXI.] DESTRUCTION OF SPICE TREES. 7 



the European traders were glad to give gold and jewels, 

 and the finest manufactures of Europe or of India, in 

 exchange. When the Dutch established their influence 

 in these seas, and relieved the native princes from their 

 Portuguese oppressors, they saw that the easiest way to 

 repay themselves would be to get this spice trade into 

 their own hands. For this purpose they adopted the wise 

 principle of concentrating the culture of these valuable 

 products in those spots only of which they could have 

 complete control. To do this effectually it was necessary 

 to abolish the culture and trade in all other places, which 

 they succeeded in doing by treaty with the native rulers. 

 These agreed to have all the spice trees in their posses- 

 sions destroyed. They gave up large though fluctuating 

 revenues, but they gained in return a fixed subsidy, free- 

 dom from the constant attacks and harsh oppressions of the 

 Portuguese, and a continuance of their regal power and 

 exclusive authority over their own subjects, which is main- 

 tained in all the islands except Ternate to this day. 



It is no doubt supposed by most Englishmen, who have 

 been accustomed to look upon this act of the Dutch witli 

 vague horror, as something utterly unprincipled and bar- 

 barous, that the native population suffered grievously by 

 this destruction of such valuable property. But it. is 

 certain that this was not the case. The Sultans kept this 

 lucrative trade entirely in their own hands as a rigid 



