140, THE INDIAN AND ORIENTAL ISLANDS. 



tude. Banda, or Lantor, is not more than eight miles in length, and 

 five in breadth. The names of the other islands of this group are 

 Rossigen, Nera, Gonong, Way, and Rhon. These islands were all 

 subject to the Dutch, but were taken by the English in 1796, at 

 which time their annual produce was about 1 53,000 pounds of nut- 

 megs, and 46,000 pounds of mace. The nutmeg-tree grows to the 

 size of a pear-tree, the leaves resembling those of the laurel, and 

 bears fruit from the age of ten to one hundred years. The great 

 nutmeg harvest is in July and August. 



AMBOYNA. This island is, in some respects, the most considera- 

 ble of the Moluccas, which, in fact, it commands. It is situate in the 

 Archipelago of St. Lazarus, between the third and fourth degrees of 

 south latitude, 120 leagues to the eastward of Batavia. It is about 

 70 miles in circumference. When the Portuguese were driven off 

 this island, the trade of it was carried on by the English and Dutch j 

 and the barbarities of the latter, in first torturing and then murder- 

 ing the English, and thereby engrossing the whole trade, and that of 

 Banda, can never be forgotten. This tragical event happened in 

 1621. Amboyna was taken, by the English, with the other Spice 

 Islands, in 1796 ; but they were all restored by the treaty of Amiens 

 in 1802. 



The island of CELEBES, or macassar, is situated under the equa- 

 tor, between the island of Borneo and the Spice Islands, at the dis- 

 tance of 160 leagues from Batavia, and is 500 miles long and 200 

 broad. This island, notwithstanding its heat, is rendered habitable 

 by breezes from the north and periodical rains. Its chief produc- 

 tions are pepper and opium ; and the natives are expert in the study 

 of poisons, with a variety of which nature has furnished them. The 

 Dutch have a fortification on this island ; but the internal part of it is 

 governed by three kings, the chief of whom resides in the town of 

 Macassar. In this, and indeed in almost all the oriental islands, the 

 inhabitants live in houses built on large posts, which are accessible 

 only by ladders, which they pull up in the night-time, for their security 

 against venomous animals. They are said to be hospitable and faith- 

 ful, if not provoked. They carry on a large trade with the Chinese. 

 Their port of Jampoden is the most capacious of any in that part of the 

 world. 



GILOLO, situate likewise under the equator, is about 230 miles 

 long and 40 broad, produces rice and sago, but no spices, though it 

 lies so near the Spice Islands. It is inhabited by a fierce and savage 

 race of people. 



CERAM is about 190 miles long and 40 broad. The Dutch have 

 a fort here ; and have destroyed almost all the clove-trees on the 

 island, to enhance the value of those on the other islands. 



The SUNDA ISLANDS are situate in the Indian Ocean, be- 

 tween 93 and 120 degrees of east longitude, and between eight 

 degrees north and eight degrees south latitude, comprehending the 

 islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Bailey, Lamboe, Banca, &c. The 

 three first, from their great extent and importance, require to be 

 separately described. 



BORNEO is said to be 800 miles long, and 700 broad, and, till 

 New- Holland was discovered to be an island, was considered as the 

 largest island in the world. The inland part of the country is marshy 

 and unhealthy ; and the inhabitants live in towns built upon floats hv 

 the middle of the rivers. The soil produces rice, cotton, canes, 



