ACCOUNT OF CELEBES, AMBOYNA , &C. 283

■ On a fuperficial view, when we are told that every pound of cloves only Hands theCompany in 4 - ftivers, the mace in gl ftivers, and the nutmegs about half as cheapthe cloves, it fhould feem that the fpice-iflands afford an inexhauftible fource ofriches, fince the felling price exceeds the coffin fo uncommon a degree; but if we*go farther, and confider that thefe three articles of trade muff bear the whole ex-pence of all the four eaftern provinces, to which mult be added the charges of fevenor eight fhips, employed in fetching them, it will be found that they, in fad, coltVery dear *.

The great fuperfluity of cloves has, indeed, been endeavoured to be prevented bydimini filing the number of clove-trees, from time to time, by extirpations ; but by thismeans the Company ruin their Amboynefe fubjeds ; and if fortune fhould ever againfavour them, and the vent of this article be again as large as heretofore, theyY'ould find that they were poffefled of the foil for producing them, but not of clove*trees, which require more years to arrive at maturity, than moments to be deftroyed.

I fhould now have to make fome mention of the hongitogt, or yearly expedition ofthe governor of Amboyna , with a fleet of corrocorros, round Ceram, and the neigh-bouring iflands, if Valentyn had not fo amply related every particular of it, that Ic an only add, that it did not take place during the time 1 was at Amboyna , the month°f Odober being the period appointed for it f.

Between

* See u Secreete bedenkingen over den waaren ftaat der Nederlandfche Compagnicy * by J. Model,Sections liii. and Iiv. S. h r b >

t The hongi, or fleet of armed corrocorros of Amboyna , was inflitutsd by Governor Houtman, in the“gunning of the feventeenth century. In the month of October, the faireft feafon of the year, theya ‘femble in the bay of Amboyna ; all the different rajahs, and orancayos, are then bound to appear withcorrocorros, in order to accompany the governor in this annual expedition round the iflands under his jurif-ai ttion. It is undertaken for the ptirpofe of examining into and deciding upon all difputes that may arifeamong the Indians that are fubjeCt to the Company ; of preventing and difcovering all illicit trade ; and ofeltroying fuch fpice-trees as are found growing in places where they are not allowed : one chief purpofe,ow'evcr, is, that numbers of the common people, who are obliged, by their tenure, to ferve the Companyr*J r| ag one month in the year, are by thismieans taken away from the collection of the crop of cloves which‘ s m about this time, and which is, in confequence, much leflened for want of hands, it being, as wefb e before feen, a great objeCt of policy in the Company to prevent a too abundant fupply. They are"ged to maintain themlelves during this expedition, which lafts five or fix weeks, except that the Com-£ u n y allow each man one and a half, or two pounds of rice per day ) and to the orangcayos, when they fet) three gallons of arrack, twelve pounds of pork, or beef, and a meafure of rice. This expedition’ at different times, been negleCted; but the annual performance of it has been frequently enjoined bygovernment at Batavia, and in particular in the years 1680, 1688 and 1693, when the coails of Ceramor / ^ reat 'f infefied by the incurfions qf the Papuas. The Horigi-fleet generally confifts of forty, fifty,xt y veffels; when complete, it fhould confifl of fixty*one corrocorros, viz.

; 6 from the ifland of Oma

3 from the coalt of Ceram, under Oma

4 from the ifland Manipa

14 from the diltriCt of Fort Victoria, upon Amboyna

6 from the peninfula of Hitoe

1 from the coalt of Ceram, under Hitoe '

8 from the ifland Honimoa

3 from the ifland Noufla-laut

2 from the ifland Ceram

3 from the diftriCt of Larikeand 5 from the ifland of Eouro.

61

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