THE MOLUCCAS 
339 
was abolished, the “ parks ” were worked by convict 
labour. 
The exports of Banda being incorporated in the 
official publications with those of Amboina, no exact 
details of the produce of the islands can be arrived at. 
From the latter port in the year 1890 nutmegs to the 
value of £36,000 and mace to that of £42,000 were sent 
to Europe, the greater part, if not all of which was 
grown in Banda. The population of the settlement is 
about 7000, and the inhabitants are a miscellaneous 
assemblage of all the races found in the far east. 
12. Islands East of Ceram. 
East and south of Ceram are a number of small 
islands forming a series of stepping-stones to the more 
important and larger K4 group. First we have great 
and little Keffing close to the main island, and a little 
farther, but still connected by shoals and islets, Ceram 
Laut. North-west of the latter are two singular islands, 
Gisser and Kilwaru. The former is of annular shape, 
with a narrow entrance to the lake-like harbour. It 
was formerly a veritable nest of pirates, but has now 
been converted into a coal depot by the Government. 
Kilwaru corresponds to Dobbo Island in the Aru group, 
to which reference will presently be made, in being a 
great native market or bartering-place for the products 
of all the islands round. Hither come the Bugis 
traders from Celebes in the west monsoon, meeting 
the traders in pearls, tortoiseshell, dammar, etc., from 
the New Guinea coast, and the paradise-bird collectors, 
whose wares also include live birds and animals of every 
kind, cassowaries, brilliant lories, crowned pigeons, and 
other rare and beautiful species. The village is built 
