ST. GEORGE'S CHANNEL. 



453 



light, or in one of those calms which are so common in the vicinity 

 of these islands. 



On examining the north and west coast of this island, we found it 

 bordered with coral reefs, and rich in the articles of biche-de-mer, 

 pearl-shell, and the hawk's-bill tortoise. The upland parts of the 

 island produce sandal-wood, which must be of the best quality, judging 

 by a specimen I examined in a paddle we procured from one of the 

 canoes. Having satisfied ourselves on these particulars, we shaped 

 our course for the south end of New-Ireland, which we reached on 

 Thursday morning, the 4th of November, at five, A. M., when we 

 were close in with Cape St. George, in lat. 4° 48' S., long. 152° 46' E. 



November 4th. — We continued on our passage through St. George's 

 Channel, which is formed by the west side of New-Ireland and the 

 east side of New-Britain. This channel or strait has been justly 

 represented by Captain Carteret as being the most beautiful passage 

 ever formed by nature. The lofty hills on each side, which appear to 

 tower above the clouds, are covered to their very summits with forests 

 of gigantic growth. These mighty eminences, in their gradual descent 

 towards the shores, gently decline into an undulating surface of plains 

 and valleys, swelling mounds, level lawns, and meadows of the deep- 

 est green. These are intersected with crystal streams, and inter- 

 spersed with groves of the richest foliage ; fruits, flowers, plants, and 

 herbs, besides many highly valuable drugs and minerals. Among the 

 vegetable productions of larger growth is the sandal-wood ; which, as 

 if conscious of its innate worth, is only found in the most elevated 

 situations, where it grows spontaneously. The less aspiring ebony is 

 content with an humbler station, where it is surrounded by many 

 valuable die-woods, and woods of various kinds suitable for fine cabinet- 

 work. 



But the richest production of these two islands, New-Britain and 

 New-Ireland, is the nutmeg-tree, which grows spontaneously, to an 

 immense size, in many parts of the interior.* Were the natives taught 



* The nutmeg-tree (Myrisfica Mo^iiata) is a native of the Moluccas, but has been trans- 

 planted to Batavia, Sumatra, Penang, &c. An inferior and long-shaped nutmeg is common in 

 Borneo ; the tree is also met with in Cochin China and New-Holland ; but the fruit nowhere 

 attains to the same perfection as in the Moluccas. Of the several varieties of the tree, that denomi- 

 nated the queen nutmeg, which bears a small round fruit, is the best. The kernel, or proper nut- 

 meg, is of a roundish oval form, marked on the outside with many vermicular furrows, within of a 

 fleshy farinaceous substance, variegated whitish and bay. Nutmegs are frequently punctured and 

 boiled, in order to obtain the essential oil ; the orifice being afterward closed : but the fraud is easily 

 detected by the lightness of the nutmeg. 



Nutmegs should be chosen large, round, heavy, and firm, of a lightish gray colour on the outside, 

 and the inside beautifully marbled ; of a strong fragrant smell, warm aromatic taste, and a fat oily 

 body. They are very subject to be worm-eaten. The best manner of packing them is in dry 

 chunam. The oblong kind, and the smaller ones, should be rejected. 



The dried produce of a nutmeg-tree consists of nutmeg, mace, and shell. Supposing the whole 

 produce to be divided into one hundred parts, there are 13} of mace, 33 } of shell, and 53} of nutmeg. 

 In the ancient commerce, and down to the establishment of the Dutch monopoly, nutmegs were 

 always sold and exported in the shell. The natives, whenever the commerce is left to their man- 

 agement, continue the practice, which is strongly recommended by Mr. Crawfurd. 



The jealous and miserable policy of the Dutch has reduced the trade in nutmegs to a mere trifle, 

 compared to what it would otherwise have been. They have, in so far at least as it was possible, 

 exerted themselves to exterminate the nutmeg plants everywhere except in Banda. They bribe the 

 native princes of the surrounding islands to root out the trees ; and annually send a fleet to see that 

 the work of destruction has been effected, and that the bribes have not been bestowed in vain. To 

 engage in an illicit trade in spices is death to an inferior person, and banishment to a noble ; and 

 yet, notwithstanding these tremendous penalties, it is supposed that about 60,000 lbs. of nutmegs, 

 and 15,000 lbs. of mace, are clandestinely exported each year ! In Banda the aboriginal inhabitants 

 have been expatriated, and the island parcelled among settlers from Holland, under the name of 



