tantly
maintained in excellent order, being composed of the best troops in
the company's service. The fort is so strong, both by nature and
art, as to be reckoned impregnable, and so effectually commands the
harbour, that no vessel can possibly go in or out without being sunk
by its cannon. Although the rich commerce in cloves might make a
sufficient return to the company for the charges of this island, yet
of late years coffee has been ordered to be cultivated here, and
is likely to turn out to advantage. While this island was under
the government of Mr Barnard, it was discovered that considerable
quantities of gold-dust were washed down by the torrents in some parts
of the mountains, and by tracing up the auriferous streams to their
sources, the mine has at last been found. Amboina also produces a red
kind of wood, which is both beautiful and durable, and is naturally
embellished in its grain with abundance of curious figures. Of this
wood they make tables, cabinets, writing-desks, and other beautiful
pieces of furniture, which are sent as presents to the principal
persons in the government, the rest being sold at extravagant prices
all over India.

The fourth government under the company is _Banda_, an island about
fifty leagues from Amboina towards the east, and to the southward
of the Moluccas. The governor, who is generally an eminent merchant,
resides at _Nera_, the capital of the country, and has several other
neighbouring islands under his jurisdiction, in the government of
all which he is assisted by a council, as at Amboina. In some
representations sent home, and published by the company, this island
is set forth as being very expensive to the company, and so thinly
inhabited as to take off very little goods, while it is so barren as
to require large supplies of provisions. All this is pure artifice;
for, though Banda is a very small island in comparison with Amboina,
being only about twelve leagues in circumference, it certainly affords
as great profits, which arise from the important commerce in nutmegs,
which grow here in such prodigious quantities as to enable the Dutch
company to supply all the markets in Europe.

This admirable and much-valued fruit grows in no other part of the
world except Banda and a few other small islands in its neighbourhood,
named Orattan, Guimanasa, Wayer, Pulo-wai, and Pulo-rion. The
nutmeg-tree is much like a peach-tree, but the leaves are shorter and
rounder. The fruit is