Jan. 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
485 
BAND A NUTMEGS AND MACE. 
By 0. KAMERLINGH ONNES. 
BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR HISTOEy, CULTIVA- 
TION, TRADE AND USE. 
(Compiled with the aid of data placed at our 
disposal by the Crediet-eii Haudelsvereeniging 
" Banda " Amsterdam-) 
I. HISTORY. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Oh, it will not take you long, we do not 
ask many hours to bring the rrracious reader 
out to the Moluccan Archipelago 300 years back, 
and ship him safely home iustanter. 
We perfectly understand any man's eagerness 
to use his time well, and we won't make him 
grumble. So any one even in the busiest mo- 
ment of his life, may feel safe and commence 
to read. 
But he must bear in mind one thing. He 
should be fully aware that he has to know some- 
what more about Banda produce than he knows 
just at present, in order that he may pass the 
rest of his days all the happier for it. 
For whoever, clearly realizing that he may 
have in great abundance at penny price what 
others longed for, wrote poetry on and even 
shed blood for, what man would he be that, re- 
membering the History of Spices and, enjoying 
exquisite dishes, should not feel happy that he 
lives id the present time? 
In fact though we admit the possibility of 
any type, there is no such man, and whilst we 
agree with tlie rest, let them agree with us and 
give their best and kind attention to what we 
liave to say about Banda nutmegs and mace. 
* 
300 YEARS BACK IN HOT HASTE. 
Spices had come to Europe long before the 
Dutch dared to open a direct trade with the In- 
dies. We do not know exactly how many years it 
is since the trade of spices commenced, but 
we may take it that the Arabs were amongst 
the first to value nutmegs and mace either at 
the beginning or near the middle of the Ninth 
Century. Their learned doctors mention them. 
History even goes so far as to show that one 
of them Ibn Amran, highly esteeming the Nux 
Moschata for its medicinal properties, loses his 
head by a too liberal use of his spice-box. 
Some hundred years later we find the Karoun 
Aromatikon having made its way into the phar- 
macopoeia of Europe, and since then it soon 
spread over diilerent markets. Its price remains 
excessively high on account of the charges in- 
curred by the route used in those days for all 
Indian produce. 
Carried from the Moluccas to Aden, crossing 
the desert land-route and following the Nile down 
to Alexandria, it is easily understood that heavy 
charges enhanced the price of a product which 
had to change hands so often before it could 
so much as reach one of the European gates 
of Eastern trade, whilst these themselves were 
61 
not at ail reluctant to make money out of every 
open door monopoly, which by chance or cunning 
had fallen into their hands. 
About 1400 Genoa and Barcelona are the prin- 
cipal markets for spices. But the aftention of 
the North of Europe as well has been directed 
— though on a lesser scale — to those far-away, 
countries, visited by Marco Polo. Obhers follow 
him, describing the marvels of their visits to 
Asia, in colours to bewitch even the most sceptic. 
A rage for spices springs up in Europe and con- 
tinues through the century."' Direct shipping 
trade with India begins here. 
To the Portuguese falls the honour of having 
first traded into the Far East. In loll Albuquerque 
visited Banda. A few years later the Spaniards 
under diaries V. went but to the Moluccan 
Archipelago. The interests of the two nation- 
alities collide. Then follows war, which ceases 
however for the moment, when the Spice Islands 
are sold by the Spaniards to Portugal. Columbus 
discovers the New World and the Holy Father 
settles everything in pence, reserving the West 
to the Spaniards and the East to the Portuguese. 
Under the reign of Philip Portugal being united 
with Spain, the world might have come to peace 
for ever, but for the excluded North interposing its 
veto. The rage for spices kindles a fire which will 
last for centuries, dividing Europe and bringing 
war as well here as in the unhappy Indian 
territory, endowed by Nature with the trees that 
bear gold.f 
Profit had been heaped up, and continued pour- 
ing into the lap of the daring Portuguese and 
Spaniards, but profit won so freely, soon called 
opponents into the field. Rivalry, the ever 
watchful stimulus of trade had opened the eyes of 
the North. Yet what most of all caused these 
Nations, especially the Dutch, to compete with 
the Portuguese and Spaniards in India, was- the 
unlucky move by which the latter closed Lisbon 
against the Dutch mercantile aavy. 
Seeing its usual store of supply cut off and its 
second-hand profit endangered, Dutch Commerce 
took the alarm and at once made efforts to meet 
its opponents on an equality. 
In 1595 the first Dutch vessels are sent out 
under Corn. Iloutman, to trace the unknown path 
to India, risking their poor ships round the Cape 
of Good Hope- Their enterprise is crowned with 
success. Corn. v. Neck, Warwyk, and v. d. Hagen. 
follow. In 1-599 Banda is visited by Jacob 
Heemskerk. 
The Oost-Indisclie Compagnie famous for its 
rapid development and unprecedented display, 
commences its operations in Indian Waters. 
Soon the love of monopoly excludes all others 
from the field of commerce. India like Europe is 
disturbea by war amongst the Nations, trading in 
those days sword in hand and the guns loaded on 
board their merchant-ships. 
In the Moluccan Archipelago tlie foes of tlie 
Hollanders generally make common cause with 
the natives, who are shut out from the profitable 
trade of spices themselves. This constant strug- 
gle however does not disturb the Company's 
sphere of influence, on the contrary it leads to a 
* St. Johns, 
t Lana. 
