The Ambonese Herbal, Vol. 2 (Herbarium Amboinense)

AMBOINESE HERBAL Book II. Chapter II.

In terms of dryness, however, it exceeds even Pepper itself; hence it is clear that this burning fruit is not as useful in these hot regions as it is in colder and Northern climates. The Indians Here referring generally to the inhabitants of the East Indies use these only in small quantities for certain ointments which they compose to rub on their bodies when they wish to warm them. They do not use them in food, or only rarely and in small amounts, but they mix them with tobacco for smoking Latin: suſſimigio; Dutch: rooken. The Javanese and Malays, who previously frequented Amboina to conduct trade, used to buy these Cloves along with the Mother-of-Cloves Latin: Anthophyllis; Dutch: Moernagels — these are the mature, fertilized fruits of the clove tree and the stalks; they kept the latter two for their own medicinal uses, as they differ by a degree of heat from the true Cloves, yet nonetheless possess enough aromatic power. However, they sold the Cloves themselves to foreign merchants. One might believe that they selected the Mother-of-Cloves for propagation, but since they have found through experience that these cannot be planted or propagated if they have been kept in a house for even eight or ten days—because the outer flesh immediately dries out—this seems far from the truth.

From Cloves, a thin and blood-red Oil Latin: Oleum; Dutch: Olye was formerly distilled by order of the Magistrates, which was highly valued in India and differed not a little from that which is prepared in the Homeland The Netherlands by the genuine art of the Apothecaries. However, since distillation in these lands is performed through copper stills Latin: aëneos alembicos; Dutch: koopere flangen and this oil is not rectified, it has a burnt flavor and a similar odor; furthermore, it is so subtle and penetrating that it cannot be used externally on its own, as it scorches and inflames the skin. But if it is mixed with other oils, such as Coconut Term: Calappi (from the Malay Kelapa, meaning coconut), Rose, or Olive oil, it is used with the greatest success in the Indian paralysis called Beriberi A condition now known to be caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency, but here described as a "paralysis of sailors and soldiers"; the paralytic and seemingly dead parts are then anointed with this. This Beriberi or Paralysis is a common disease among sailors and soldiers who, frequenting camps, suffer much from cold and other inconveniences. Subsequent time, however, has taught that this disease can also be cured without Clove oil, provided a bath is prepared in which Cloves or the leaves of the tree have been boiled with Lagondi Term: Lagondi (Vitex trifolia), a shrub used in traditional medicine leaves, or if the Cloves themselves are boiled in one of those oils and the limbs are rubbed with it. Seven or nine drops of this oil are also administered with beer or any other drink against Colic pain arising from flatulence; however, those who are of a hot and bilious temperament should abstain from it, as it inflames the blood too much.

This oil sinks to the bottom in all liquids with which it is mixed. Some also add Cloves to their Areca Betel nut drink, or distill them with it, but it produces a harmful drink; for it excites a great pain in the head or Cephalæa, burns the brain, and makes the vision dark, which is also felt by those who daily mix Cloves with tobacco and use it for smoking. The odor of stored Cloves is so harmful that if one sleeps for only one night in a room in or under which a great quantity of them is enclosed, such a person becomes nauseated to the point of vomiting, extremely anxious, and feels a great headache. From this is evident the supreme wisdom of the Creator Latin: summa Creatoris ſapientia that it was so ordained that those two excellent spices—namely Cloves and Nutmegs (and the same is to be believed of the others)—are used very little in India, but have much greater use and utility in Europe; by which act the supreme Judge of all things Latin: summus rerum Arbiter wished to compel men to practice mutual familiarity and necessity among themselves.

From fresh Cloves, if they are turning red, a sugar and preserve is made, by rubbing them or, if they are starting to become Mother-of-Cloves, by simply splitting them and removing the small stone the seed. The Portuguese also used to distill a Cordial water from these, which is now out of use, since our nation The Dutch is not fond of or eager for such things.

Mother-of-Cloves have for a long time been in medicinal use among the Chinese, Balinese, Javanese, and Malays; in Java especially they have been in high esteem since the year 1675 and were sold very dearly. It could not be clearly discerned for what purpose the Javanese and Malays used them, who bought them for so much; however, some have revealed to us through many circuitous explanations certain things which consist of the following.

First, they used them for their devilish and superstitious magical arts, to prepare Crat Sala and Liat Sala...

in heat even exceeding Pepper, but not in dryness; thus it appears that this hot fruit is not as useful in these hot lands as it is in the cold Northern world. The Indians use them only, and that in small quantity, in some ointments which they make to rub the body with when they wish to warm it: In food they use them not at all, or very little, except those they mix in their smoking tobacco. The Javanese and Malays, who used to come to Amboina to trade, bought the Cloves with the Mother-of-Cloves and stalks, and kept the last two for themselves as Medicine, as they differ indeed a degree in heat from the true Cloves, yet nonetheless are sufficiently spicy; but the Cloves they sold to the foreign merchants: one would think they sought the Mother-of-Cloves for replanting, but since they well knew that they cannot be replanted if they lie in the house for only 8 to 10 days, because then the outer flesh dries out, that is not likely.

From the Cloves, formerly, sometimes by order of the Authorities, a thin and blood-red oil was burned distilled, of which they make much account in India, although it differs not a little from that which is made in the Fatherland by the honest Apothecaries' art: For since it is here in this Land, in distilling, drawn through copper coils and not rectified, it has a burnt smell and taste, otherwise being so subtle and penetrating that it cannot be used alone from the outside, since it burns very much on the skin: and must be mixed with other oil, as Coconut, Rose, or Olive oil, and so used in the Indian stroke, called Beriberi, by smearing it on the numbed parts: Which Beriberi is a common plague among the Sailors and Soldiers, who serving in the Army must endure cold and discomfort: But the following time has taught that one can also cure the mentioned disease without Clove oil, if one simply makes a bath-water in which the Cloves or their leaves are boiled with those of Lagondi, or if one boils the Cloves themselves in one of the aforementioned oils, and rubs the limbs therewith: One also takes 7 or 9 drops of the prescribed oil with beer or other drink against belly-ache that arises from windiness, but hot and bilious people may not use it, as it ignites the blood too violently.

This oil sinks to the bottom in all liquids with which it is mixed: Some also put Cloves in the Arack Distilled rice spirit, or burn them with the Arack, but such is a harmful drink, for it causes great headache, burns the brains, and makes a dark vision, which those also feel who daily use the Cloves in their Tobacco: The smell of gathered Cloves is so harmful that if one sleeps a night in the Room where a lot lies in or under it, one becomes sick and oppressed from it even to vomiting, and gets a great headache: From which it appears that it is ordained by the great wisdom of the Creator that both those excellent spices, Cloves and Nutmegs, as is to be believed of the others too, are used very little in India, but have so much the greater usefulness in Europe, "by which act the supreme Judge of things wished to compel men to mutual familiarity and necessity among themselves." original: "quo facto ſummus rerum Arbiter homines conſtringere voluit ad mutuam familiaritatem, & neceſſitudinem inter ſeſe exercendam"

From the green Cloves, as they begin to redden, a Sugar and Preserve is also made, rubbing the same into pieces, or if they begin to become Mother-of-Cloves, simply splitting them open and taking the kernel out. The Portuguese used to burn a Cordial-water from them; which has now fallen out of use, since our Nation is not curious about such things.

The Mother-of-Cloves have been of old in great use in Medicine among the Chinese, Balinese, Javanese, and Malays: but especially from the year 1675 on, they have come into great esteem on Java, and were sold very dear: One could not properly experience to what end the Javanese and Malays used them, who gave so much money for them, yet some have given us some opening thereof through many detours, which consists in the following.

First, they use them for their devilish and superstitious arts, to make Crat Sala and...