The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-26

The MoIuccas
The charm OF romance is upon these islands but they
have been celebrated as the posssssors OF fatal gift
The unfortunate propretos Of aomates and perfumes
which in the tabled beauty OF their aspect and the re-
sources OF their SOIL appeared to excel every other region
OF the earth They had all 10 attract. and nothing TO
repe an invader The natives OF The Spice islands could
not, like the peasants OF Egypt and lndia conceal their
riches and, instead OF remaining undiscovered their
wealth. extraordinary il is. was exaggerated by the
imaginative travellers Of the early ages.
The valuable productions Of this celebrated group OF
the East Indian Archipelago formed il the polar
OF enterprise to Portuguese, Spanards, British and
Dutch during the last century rage for spices sprung
up in Europe and continued through the century, to FUR
nsh an object for the satrcal illusions of Dryden aud
other wits Of his time The natural flavor Of all that is
esteemed as delicate or rich drowned in powerful
and pungen spcey, and the tables OF the opuent IKE
the funeral pyres OF the ancens smoked with clouds OF
fragrance from no, and perfumed dishes The cloves.
the pepper and the numegs of the East. were, indeed in
that age the principal, if not the only object OF merca
tile adventures artificial value conferred on these
articles Of luxury, Adam Smith in his Weal.h Of
Nations " and the commodities which the companions OF
Magellan bought at the rate Of nearly six hundred
pounds for yards OF good scarlet cloth. worth E7.
sold in England three thousand per above their
original price.
The name OF Molacca has by some been assigned to
the whole family OF islands which stud the sea- between
Ceebes the west the Aru group the east, Morty
on the NORTH and Tmor southwark but the name more
properly belongs to the four islands called Ambogna
Banda, Terna,e and Tidor These small. OF about
the fourth fifth rank in geography though in history
they occupy. from their commercial and political import
ance place equally prominent with Java and Sumatra
In aspect they are generally similar. The lands
the low gently varied by hills. covered at
intervals with woods walered by an abundance of
streams. and backed by mountains that stand towering
in the centre clothed from base peak in mantle of
living green. Some Of them present landscapes
bling the high pateaus in the terra iempada Of Mexico
represented in miniature. with verdant levels encirced
by graceful Margins long slopes sweeping down from
the heights to the brm of the broad swels OF
dure rolling towards the interior, and assembage of
hlocks that seemed piled in confusion upon each other,
but all with their outlines sharply defined in the clear
light of the east, and gitterng with brilliant vegetation.
The rarest productions of The earth natives OF the
Moluccas. The nutmeg, that reaches on the average
height of from twenty thirty feet in Sumara and
Pulo Pinang which are the limits, according Oxley,
of its diffusion westward. here aitans fifty, fourshng
in groves OF unrvalled beauty, while many others
thrive which elsewhere only found sickly ex-
otics mocking the care bestowed upon them by the diet
taat of botanical science
Although Ternate in ancient times the capital OF
the Spice group, Ambogns, the Isle OF Dew is polit-
cay the chief and has always been valued by the Dutch
among the most important of their possessions-ihe
crown and key Of the Molaccas. The writer OF SO.
Der description fears TO be coniounded with the
GER when repeating the accounts afforded By Dutch and
Epgsh voysses OF the Spice islande The air accord
ing to Temmnck in his "Coup dali les possessions
N<srlandiiss dams PInds Arehipsiogiqx" is literally
loaded with the sofl odor Of aromatic plants and now-
era sown in prcfuson plains shaded by forests OF
the cocoa and sage palm. The prospect is brilliant and
ench anting especially when the eye after resting
awny flats 81 sands seeks the conas, OF these crowd
ca assem- bages OF hills and valleys, Enthusiastically srvuped
and adorned with exuberant verdure, perpexing by its
changing outline and dazzling with It's show OF mingled
tnts
There one famous sketch OF such landscape in the
Mouccas from the pen of traveller Yer Huell in his
sRsisr der doa laden" (Which, with other inter-
esng Dutch works relative the East indian Archpel.
ago. the writer of this article hopes TO have time to
translate for the qualification Of his fellow-citzens)
They are Of ravshng beauty. told by this enhu.
siaslic voysger. You may wander over plains sur.
rounded by the slopes Of verdan hills, divided BY
sweeps OF grass land or natural pastures. sprnkled
thickly with flowers ehusng powerful fragrance, that
hangs in the air too heavy TO be dlssipaed Amid an
infinite prouson OF blossomnT plants distinguished
BIZ their luUre and grace, the hbiseu Snenns
adorne with elevated clusters OF berries and bright pur.
pie petals. another with apering coronal OF crimson
flowers others with blossoms of delicate green, -four
shng in the form Of Trees whose branches, gently bend
ing towards the sun, afford outrageous dome OF foil
age The traveller INDUCES in rapiurous apostrophs
TO the spirit OF pleasure. How delicious to enjoy mo.
Of repose The border OF the river Of Elephants
where, under The influence OF genial sky, perpe,ualy
serene, shaded by lofty trees and listening The
bling leaves OF the palm, asybariie might rest and watch
the clusters OF tufted branches gracefully swsying in the
wind Every may feed the beauty OF the
sceDe,he eye the landscape, the the harmony
OF Nature, while perfumes float around from the Glove
and nutmeg groves. from The sundal malam, lover
the night IA flower, the writer well knows, of inoxi-
eating aroma) and from infinite variety OF aromatic
trees and shrubs which enrich this favored island All
that poetry imagine is realized here the IDEAL is
ceeded and the traveller may believe himself transported
To the gardens OF Araides 10 the Tempean Vale.
But this is only par, OF the rap,urous lovelness Of