d and packed in casks for shipment.

We took a stroll with Mr Hooker through the beautiful groves of
nutmeg-trees, which were heavily laden with fruit. It is picked twice
in the year, though some is obtained throughout the whole year. A
beautiful carpet of green grass is spread out beneath the trees, while
high above them tower the lofty kanary-trees, which stretch out their
gnarled arms as if to defend their more tender sisters committed to
their charge. At a distance, indeed, the nutmeg-trees are completely
hidden from view by the kanary-trees. The roots of these latter are
very curious, looking like enormous snakes with their heads caught in
the trunk of the tree. As we strolled through the forest, sheltered
from the direct rays of the sun by the thick foliage, we caught distant
views of the blue ocean sparkling in the sunlight, the white surf
breaking in masses of foam on the rocks beneath us, while at a distance
appeared the varied forms of the other islands.

These groves of nutmegs are divided into what are called parks,
belonging to different proprietors, who are known as perkeniers. By far
the greater proportion of nutmegs used throughout the world are grown on
these small islands, though wild nutmegs are found in New Guinea and in
a few other places. As the nutmeg is among the most beautiful of
fruits, so are the trees superior to almost any other cultivated plant.
They are well-shaped, and have glossy leaves, bearing small yellowish
flowers. On examining the fruit, we compared it in size and colour to a
peach, only rather more oval. It is of a tough fleshy consistency till
it becomes ripe, when, as I have before said, it splits open and shows a
dark brown nut within covered with the crimson mace. We saw a most
beautiful bird flying among the trees; it was the Banda pigeon, which
feeds upon the nutmeg fruit. It digests the mace, but casts up the nut
with its seed uninjured. By this means it has undoubtedly carried the
seed to all parts of the group, and perhaps to other islands in the
neighbourhood. In one part of Lontar we heard that the mace, instead of
being red, is white--probably owing to some peculiarity of the soil.
The deer and pig are found in the islands, and also a species of cuscus.

A proprietor, to whom Mr Hooker had an introduction, invited us to
climb the burning mountain; but after considering the matter, our friend
declined the honour, from hearing that the ascent was very diffi