CHAPTER IX 
THE MOLUCCAS 
1. General. 
The term Moluccas, or Maluco Islands, was originally 
applied to the five small islands which are situated on 
the west side of Gilolo, or Halmahera, as the island is 
more properly termed, and in which alone the precious 
clove was produced. Xow, it is extended so as to include 
almost all the islands which lie directly between Celebes 
and New Guinea. The three large islands which are 
considered geographically to form the most important 
portion of the Moluccan group are Gilolo, Ceram, and 
Burn; but between and around these are a vast number 
of islands of various sizes, so connecting the Moluccas 
with the New Guinea and Timor groups that it is very 
difficult to define accuratelv what islands should be 
included in the one or the other. 
As we have already considered the Sangir and Salibabu 
islands to be extensions of Celebes, we have no difficulty 
in fixing on Morti or Morotai, to the north of Gilolo, as 
being the first island of the group in this direction. In 
like manner, having taken the Xulla islands as belong¬ 
ing to Celebes, we have the Batjan group, Obi, and 
Buru as the western limits of the Moluccas. To the 
