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