I Believe, Therefore, That This Abolition Of The Spice
Trade In The Moluccas Was Actually Beneficial To The Inhabitants,
And That It Was An Act Both Wise In Itself And Morally And
Politically Justifiable.
In the selection of the places in which to carry on the
cultivation, the Dutch were not altogether fortunate or wise.
Banda was chosen for nutmegs, and was eminently successful, since
ü; continues to this day to produce a large supply of this spice,
and to yield a considerable revenue.
Amboyna was fixed upon for
establishing the clove cultivation; but the soil and climate,
although apparently very similar to that of its native islands,
is not favourable, and for some years the Government have
actually been paying to the cultivators a higher rate than they
could purchase cloves elsewhere, owing to a great fall in the
price since the rate of payment was fixed for a term of years by
the Dutch Government, and which rate is still most honourably
paid.
In walking about the suburbs of Ternate, we find everywhere the
ruins of massive stone and brick buildings, gateways and arches,
showing at once the superior wealth of the ancient town and the
destructive effects of earthquakes. It was during my second stay
in the town, after my return from New Guinea, that I first felt
an earthquake. It was a very slight one, scarcely more than has
been felt in this country, but occurring in a place that lad been
many times destroyed by them it was rather more exciting.
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Words from 1654 to 1908
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