ve, not being able to live elsewhere. Their misery
at this place does not continue long, as they are usually soon carried
off by the dry gripes or twisting of the guts, which is the endemic,
or peculiar disease of the country. Hence, and because wild young
fellows are sometimes sent here by their relations, the Dutch at
Batavia usually call this _Verbeetering Island_, or the Island of
Correction.

Macasser, or the island of Celebes, is considered as the fourth best
government after Batavia. This island lies between Borneo and the
Moluccas, 260 leagues or 13 deg. E. from Batavia. It is a singularly
irregular island, consisting in a manner of four long peninsular
processes, two projecting eastwards, and two towards the south,
reaching from lat. 1 deg. 30' N. to 5 deg. 45' S. and from long. 119 deg. to 125 deg.
20', both E. It is called, and with great reason, the key of the spice
islands, and the form of its government is much the same as in the
other islands, consisting of a governor and council. Since the Dutch
conquered these islands from the Portuguese, they have carefully
fortified the sea-coast, and have always a very numerous garrison
in the fort of Macasser, where the governor resides; which is
particularly necessary, as the island is very populous, and the
natives are beyond comparison the bravest and best soldiers in India.
This nation long gave inexpressible trouble to the Dutch, but was at
length, subdued, and stands now in as much awe of the company as any
other nation: But, till very lately, the expences of the troops at
this place were so large, that the company derived very little gain
from the conquest, although the slave-trade here is very profitable.

Before the last Macasser war, which ended in the entire subjugation of
the prince of this country, he was able to procure great quantities
of mace, nutmegs, and cloves, which he sold to the English and other
nations, at much more reasonable rates than they could procure them
from the Dutch. For which reason the Dutch were at great pains and
expence to reduce this island to entire subjection, that it might
become the bulwark of the Moluccas, and secure their monopoly of the
spice-trade: But, for similar reasons, the other European powers ought
to have supported the king of Macasser in his independence. The
island of Celebes is very fertile, and produces abundance of rice, and
articles of great value in the Indies. The inhabitants are of middle
stature, an