CHAPTER VII. 



TRADE AND COMMUNICATIONS. 



After the discovery of N. G. by the Europeans it gradually became évident, that, 

 already a long time before, the inhabitants of the Netherl. East Indies carried on trade with 

 the western part of the island and principally bartered metals, pottery and cotton fabrics 

 for massoi bark, nutmegs and turtle shell. Slave-trade was also very flourishing at that time 

 and long afterwards. 



On the west coast it was especially the people from Ceram (Laut Isles), but also from 

 Mangkasar, arriving with the west monsoon and returning with the east monsoon, who had 

 conquered the trading territory and monopolized it (Van DER GOES [1858, 110, 121]), which 

 even gave rise to Mohammedan settlements on that coast. (VAN DlSSEL [1904a, 617]). The 

 importance of the Ceram trade may e. g. be deduced from this fact, that the expédition 

 having penetrated from the southern shore of Geelvink Bay as far southward as Lake JamDr, 

 had reached the trading territory of the Ceram people, as appeared from many objects made of 

 métal, cotton fabrics, Patani boxes, etc. The Ceram people themselves do not penetrate as 

 far as this lake, but the natives of the lake (Angâdi) go down the Wa Udu River, a tribu- 

 tary of the Urâma River, to the south-west coast, where this stream forms three mouths. 

 The middle mouth, or the settlements on it, they called Opa, the one eastward, Nariki. 

 East of this mouth, the Pura-Mountain (Buru ?) was situated on the sea, and still further east, 

 the Gomâgwa River flows into the sea. 



From Opa going to the west, the island of Agâra (Lakahia?) is found, and on the 

 coast lies a row of villages : Agâra, Mawâta, Wai, Narèta and KÔpamûtu ; the latter village 

 situated on an island, at the entrance of a large bay, called Pâpârô (Etna Bay). Another 

 village Arèga, called Jamïir ketjil by Ceram people, was mentioned. The natives of Agâra 

 were said to hâve killed three foreigners some years before (Webster's surprise in Etna Bay). 

 With the above information it will be possible to find out along what water-roads trade has 

 reached Lake Jamûr. 



Also at Mapâr, which may be reached from Geelvink Bay (San - ) in a three days' 

 march in a westerly direction, I found objects obtained from Ceram traders, imported from 



