open space to the peach, and beyond this the native town extends for about a
mile to the north-east. About the centre of it is the palace of the Sultan, now a
large untidy, half-ruinous building of stone. This chief is pensioned by the Dutch
Government, but retains the sovereignty over the native population of the island,
and of the northern part of Gilolo. The sultans of Ternate and Tidore were once
celebrated through the East for their power and regal magnificence. When Drake
visited Ternate in 1579, the Portuguese had been driven out of the island,
although they still had a settlement at Tidore. He gives a glowing account of the
Sultan: "The King had a very rich canopy with embossings of gold borne over
him, and was guarded with twelve lances. From the waist to the ground was all
cloth of gold, and that very rich; in the attire of his head were finely wreathed in,
diverse rings of plaited gold, of an inch or more in breadth, which made a fair
and princely show, somewhat resembling a crown in form; about his neck he had
a chain of perfect gold, the links very great and one fold double; on his left hand
was a diamond, an emerald, a ruby, and a turky; on his right hand in one ring a
big and perfect turky, and in another ring many diamonds of a smaller size."
All this glitter of barbaric gold was the produce of the spice trade, of which
the Sultans kept the monopoly, and by which they became wealthy. Ternate,
with the small islands in a line south of it, as far as Batchian, constitute the
ancient Moluccas, the native country of the clove, as well as the only part in
which it was cultivated. Nutmegs and mace were procured from the natives of
New Guinea and the adjacent islands, where they grew wild; and the profits on
spice cargoes were so enormous, that the European traders were glad to give
gold and jewels, and the finest manufactures of Europe or of India, in exchange.
When the Dutch established their influence in these seas, and relieved the native
princes from their Portuguese oppressors, they saw that the easiest way to repay
themselves would be to get this spice trade into their own hands. For this
purpose they adopted the wise principle of concentrating the culture of these
valuable products in those spots only of which they could have complete control.
To do this effectually it was necessary to abolish the culture and trade in all
other places, which they succeeded in doing by treaty with the native rulers.
These agreed to have all the spice trees in their possessions destroyed. They gave
up large though fluctuating revenues, but they gained in return a fixed subsidy,
freedom from the constant attacks and harsh oppressions of the Portuguese, and
a continuance of their regal power and exclusive authority over their own
subjects, which is maintained in all the islands except Ternate to this day.
It is no doubt supposed by most Englishmen, who have been accustomed to
look upon this act of the Dutch with vague horror, as something utterly