579 
NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
only a pathway to the town outside the glacis. The fort itself is completely commanded 
from the neighbouring heights, but can scarcely be said to be armed, as there are only 
two or three guns mounted for saluting purposes, the rest lying on the ground. Outside 
the fort is a shallow wet ditch, and inside it is in excellent order and beautifully clean ; 
indeed, one cannot but admire the scrupulous cleanliness of the Dutch in all their Eastern 
settlements, so well are they kept that there is hardly a dead leaf or twig to be seen on 
the roads. On arrival, the Challenger saluted the Dutch flag, but the salute from 
the fort in reply was fired at intervals of about two minutes between each gun, and 
occupied three quarters of an hour ; of course no one had patience to count the number 
of guns; all breakfast time it was said, “Now surely that’s the last,” when bang would 
go another gun. 
The mercantile part of the town is a long street facing the sea, with another behind 
it. Running at right angles to the streets are roads leading into the country, bordered 
on each side by country houses or native huts, each building detached with a plot of 
ground round it. Many of the native houses had a small covered stall, by the road- 
side, where some parcels of eatables were exposed for sale. The hedges were generally 
formed of Crotons, which were very fine. The detached houses naturally give the 
settlement a long straggling appearance. 
Here, as at Banda, the officers and civilian staff were made honorary members of the 
club, where the illustrated papers of London, Paris, and Berlin, besides numerous Dutch 
periodicals, were found. During the stay the monthly steamer from Sourabaya arrived, 
after making the usual round by Koepang and Dilli, in Timor, and the Banda Islands 
before calling at Amboina, proceeding thence to Ternate and either Kema or Menado in 
Celebes Island on the return voyage to Sourabaya. 
There is a large market near the west end of the town of Amboina, which was well 
attended ; the articles for sale were the usual sago cakes, rice, areca palm nuts, sweet 
potatoes, fish, &c.; the fruit consisted of pine apples, oranges, and bananas. The 
supplies were for Europeans scanty and dear; beef 2s. per pound, fowls Is. 6cl. each, 
ducks 3s. to 4s. each, eggs 2s. 6cl. per dozen. Washing is fairly and moderately 
done, the price being 2s. per dozen. The Malay term for a washerman is “Orang 
Menatu.” 
The population appears to consist of Europeans, Amboinese, Malays, and Chinamen, 
with a few Arabs. The Chinamen appear to monopolise the small trade, and two or 
three Europeans the wholesale business. The articles for sale are usually of a very 
trashy nature, the stalls being more like those at a fair than anything else, and the goods 
of the cheapest description. 
A large quantity of coal is kept in stock under sheds at Tanjong Mungayen, a point a 
little over a mile south of the town pier. Running out from this point is a rickety wharf, 
which has four fathoms water alongside it. Vessels proceeding there to coal should 
