第 2 节
作者:负债赌博      更新:2021-02-19 01:14      字数:9321
  able products of the seas and the forests would be obtained。 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。 I had just awoke at gun…fire (5 A。M。); when suddenly the thatch began to rustle and shake as if an army of cats were galloping over it; and immediately afterwards my bed shook too; so that for an instant I imagined myself back in New Guinea; in my fragile house; which shook when an old cock went to roost on the ridge; but remembering that I was now on a solid earthen floor; I said to myself; 〃Why; it's an earthquake;〃 and lay still in the pleasing expectation of another shock; but none came; and this was the only earthquake I ever felt in Ternate。
  The last great one was in February 1840; when almost every house in the place was destroyed。 It began about midnight on the Chinese New Year's festival; at which time every one stays up nearly all night feasting at the Chinamen's houses and seeing the processions。 This prevented any lives being lost; as every one ran out of doors at the first shock; which was not very severe。 The second; a few minutes afterwards; threw down a great many houses; and others; which continued all night and part of the next day; completed the devastation。 The line of disturbance was very narrow; so that the native town a mile to the east scarcely suffered at all。 The wave passed from north to south; through the islands of Tidore and Makian; and terminated in Batchian; where it was not felt till four the following afternoon; thus taking no less than sixteen hours to travel a hundred miles; or about six miles an hour。 It is singular that on this occasion there was no rushing up of the tide; or other commotion of the sea; as is usually the case during great earthquakes。
  The people of Ternate are of three well…marked races the Ternate Malays; the Orang Sirani; and the Dutch。 The first are an intrusive Malay race somewhat allied to the Macassar people; who settled in the country at a very early epoch; drove out the indigenes; who were no doubt the same as those of the adjacent mainland of Gilolo; and established a monarchy。 They perhaps obtained many of their wives from the natives; which will account for the extraordinary language they speakin some respects closely  allied to that of the natives of Gilolo; while it contains much that points to a Malayan origin。 To most of these people the Malay language is quite unintelligible; although such as are engaged in trade are obliged to acquire it。 〃Orang Sirani;〃 or Nazarenes; is the name given by the Malays to the Christian descendants of the Portuguese; who resemble those of Amboyna; and; like them; speak only Malay。 There are also a number of Chinese merchants; many of them natives of the place; a few Arabs; and a number of half…breeds between all these races and native women。 Besides these there are some Papuan slaves; and a few natives of other islands settled here; making up a motley and very puzzling population; till inquiry and observation have shown the distinct origin of its component parts。
  Soon after my first arrival in Ternate I went to the island of Gilolo; accompanied by two sons of Mr。 Duivenboden; and by a young Chinaman; a brother of my landlord; who lent us the boat and crew。 These latter were all slaves; mostly Papuans; and at starting I saw something of the relation of master and slave in this part of the world。 The crew had been ordered to be ready at three in the morning; instead of which none appeared till five; we having all been kept waiting in the dark and cold for two hours。 When at length they came they were scolded by their master; but only in a bantering manner; and laughed and joked with him in reply。 Then; just as we were starting; one of the strongest men refused to go at all; and his master had to beg and persuade him to go; and only succeeded by assuring him that I would give him something; so with this promise; and knowing that there would be plenty to eat and drink and little to do; the black gentleman was induced to favour us with his company and assistance。 In three hours' rowing and sailing we reached our destination; Sedingole; where there is a house belonging to the Sultan of Tidore; who sometimes goes there hunting。 It was a dirty ruinous shed; with no furniture but a few bamboo bedsteads。 On taking a walk into the country; I saw at once that it was no place for me。 For many miles extends a plain covered with coarse high grass; thickly dotted here and there with trees; the forest country only commencing at the hills a good way in the interior。 Such a place would produce few birds and no insects; and we therefore arranged to stay only two days; and then go on to Dodinga; at the narrow central isthmus of Gilolo; whence my friends would return to Ternate。 We amused ourselves shooting parrots; lories; and pigeons; and trying to shoot deer; of which we saw plenty; but could not get one; and our crew went out fishing with a net; so we did not want for provisions。 When the time came for us to continue our journey; a fresh difficulty presented itself; for our gentlemen slaves refused in a body to go with us; saying very determinedly that they would return to Ternate。 So their masters were obliged to submit; and I was left behind to get to Dodinga as I could。 Luckily I succeeded in hiring a small boat; which took me there the same night; with my two men and my baggage。
  Two or three years after this; and about the same length of time before I left the East; the Dutch emancipated all their slaves; paying their owners a small compensation。 No ill results followed。 Owing to the amicable relations which had always existed between them and their masters; due no doubt in part to the Government having long accorded them legal rights and protection against cruelty and ill…usage; many continued in the same service; and after a little temporary difficulty in some cases; almost all returned to work either for their old or for new; masters。 The Government took the very proper step of placing every emancipated slave under the surveillance of the police… magistrate。 They were obliged to show that they were working for a living; and had some honestly…acquired means of existence。 All who could not do so were placed upon public works at low wages; and thus were kept from the temptation to peculation or other crimes; which the excitement of newly…acquired freedom; and disinclination to labour; might have led them into。
  CHAPTER XXII。
  GILOLO。
  (MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1858。)
  I MADE but few and comparatively short visits to this large and little known island; but obtained a considerable knowledge of its natural history by sending first my boy Ali; and then my assistant; Charles Allen; who stayed two or three months each in the northern peninsula; and brought me back large collections of birds and insects。 In this chapter I propose to give a sketch of the parts which I myself visited。 My first stay was at Dodinga; situated at the head of a deep…bay exactly opposite Ternate; and a short distance up a little stream which penetrates a few miles inland。 The village is a small one; and is completely shut in by low hills。
  As soon as I arrived; I applied to the head man of the village for a house to live in; but all were occupied; and there was much difficulty in finding one。 In the meantime I unloaded my baggage on the beach and made some tea; and afterwards discovered a small but which the owner was willing to vacate if I would pay him five guilders for a month's rent。 As this was something less than the fee…simple value of the dwelling; I agreed to give it him for the privilege of immediate occupation; only stipulating that he was to make the roof water…tight。 This he agreed to do; and came every day to tally and look at me; and when I each time insisted upon his immediately mending the roof according to contract; all the answer I coul