Plate I.

This illustration is a full-page, detailed botanical copperplate engraving of a plant branch. While historical contexts sometimes identify such drawings as Cinchona, or Quina, it represents the Clove tree discussed in this volume. The drawing shows a central woody stalk with several emerging branches. The leaves are large, opposite, and oval in shape. They have distinct veins and slightly wavy edges. The plant has clusters of tubular flowers at the ends and sides of branches. Specific parts are marked with letter labels. Letter A shows young flowers on a side branch. B is a separate detail at the bottom showing a branch with developing buds. C indicates fully opened flowers at the top, which show delicate stamens sticking out. D represents the fruit or seed capsules, shown on the branch and as enlarged details at the bottom left. These look like oval pods with a small cup at the tip. E is a single small seed. F and G are two small, segmented structures, perhaps magnified parts of the seed or flower. Labels a and b show a cut-away section of a twig, revealing the interior layers.

THE AMBOINESE HERBAL Book II. Chapter I.

the fruit in Europe moved both the Kings of Castile and Portugal to seek out these unknown islands with their fleets, as if they were a second Colchis In Greek mythology, Colchis was the fabulously wealthy land of the Golden Fleece. The author compares the spice islands to this legendary destination., and they brought them into our further knowledge. However, due to the insolence and pride of their governors, they fell into the hatred of the inhabitants and were driven out of the possession of these lands.

Shortly before the arrival of the Portuguese, the inhabitants of little Ceram, called Hoeamohel, secretly took Mother-cloves original: "Anthophyllos" or "Moernagels." These are cloves that have been left on the tree to ripen into seeds for planting. from Mackian and committed them to the soil in their own region, where they sprouted joyfully and propagated abundantly. The people of Combello claim this honor for themselves, for which purpose they showed in their mountains near the villages of Massili and Noubatoe two or three very ancient Clove trees, observed there until the beginning of the Dutch administration, which they hold to be the mothers of all other Amboinese Clove trees. From each of these, in a good harvest, they pick an entire Bahaar A Malay unit of weight. The author defines it here as 500 Dutch pounds., or five hundred Dutch pounds of fruit, and often even more.

Shortly thereafter, the people of Hitoe acquired them in a similar manner and planted them in their region. Leytimora (or little Amboina) and the Uliasser Islands produced no Cloves until the arrival of the Dutch, by whose care these trees were first planted there, except for the people of Nussavive, who had already rec...