406 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Eastern Islands. 



blood red and brown, shining like silk. The legs are in size like those of 

 the lark, having three fore toes and one back toe. This kind is chiefly 

 brought from Aroo, where it is occasionally worn as an ornament by the 

 natives. 



GILOLO. — This island, which is of considerable size and singular 

 form, seems to divide the Indian Ocean, to the E., from the Great South 

 Sea, The W. side is nearly straight. On the E. side is a peninsula that 

 points due E. } and from the base of that another to the N., leaving between 

 it and the W. extent of the island, a bay, extremely narrow, but very deep, 

 penetrating about half through the island, called Ossa Bay. The town of 

 Ossa is in latitude 0* 45 *and longitude 128* 22' E. The S. side of the 

 bay abounds with nutmegs, and has a fine watering place. Here ships may 

 procure water and refreshments, and on some of the islands excellent timber 

 for spars. 



The Gilolo passage is now much frequented, especially by vessels from 

 America bound to China. 



There are several other towns in various parts of the island, viz. Maba, 

 Patany, and Weda ; but being seldom visited by Europeans, they are little 

 known. 



Trade. — A considerable trade is carried on in their own proas with 

 Amboyna and the neighbouring islands, from whence they import cutlery, 

 cloth, (chiefly scarlet,) China-ware, gold lace, iron in bars, opium, piece- 

 goods, and steel. 



The articles in which they make their returns, arc chiefly nutmegs, 

 mace, cloves, beech de mer, birds'-nests, pearl shells, seed pearl, and tor- 

 toise-shell. Large quantities of sago are to be procured extremely rea- 

 sonable. 



Provisions. — The Island of Gilolo abounds with bullocks and buffa- 

 loes, goats, deer, and wild hogs ; the latter frequent the places where sago- 

 trees have been felled, and feeding upon the remains, grow very fat, and 

 make excellent meat. 



The islands of Tern ate, Tidoue, MoTYit, Matchiaw, and Batchian, 

 adjacent to the W. coast of Gilolo, and situated between the equator and 

 the first degree of N. latitude, were formerly considered as the principal, 

 and even the only Spice Islands, the nutmeg-tree and clove-tree being dif- 

 fused in these islands in a much greater quantity than at Amboyna, Banda, 

 or any other island ; but the Dutch wishing to appropriate these valuable 

 trees exclusively to themselves, forced the Sovereigns of the former islands 

 to destroy the plantations of them. At their Courts they kept agents who 

 were very busy and strict in their visits ; and these trees were allowed to be 



