The Ambonese Herbal, Vol. 2 (Herbarium Amboinense)

Book II. Chapter III. AMBOINESE HERBAL. 11

...namely, three hours distant from the former near the village of Gnoffagia on the same island, so that no one should think this one sprouted or grew from the root or fruit of the former; for this tree bears no Mother-cloves Mother-clove: a clove fruit allowed to reach full maturity on the tree, used as a seed (Latin: Anthophyllos) or seed by which it could be propagated.

The fruits of this latter tree, which we call the Mandar-shah tree, are of a much more peculiar shape than the former, and also larger, bearing little resemblance to the Hamza Cloves, as they seem mostly constructed of single points, which are usually arranged in four rows and are also pointed at the top. They are of a light-brown color, and when dry, they can be separated; both sit upon their small stems and are placed crosswise in their crowns, like common cloves, and are equally sharp and aromatic in taste. However, this last tree was, through carelessness in subsequent years, chopped down and destroyed when all the clove trees on the island of Makian were to be extirpated This refers to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) policy of "extirpatie," where they destroyed clove trees on other islands to maintain a monopoly and control prices. according to the treaty. The woodcutters could not distinguish it from the others, as it bore no fruit at that time. This is a great loss to lovers of nature's wonders, as such a thing is no longer to be found in the world. Unless, perhaps, a certain tree found here in Hative in the year 1688 might replace that Makian tree; for this one sometimes produces fruits that seem to take after the Royal Cloves, especially those of Hamza, being small cloves pointed at the top and having one or two small points at the sides.

The people of Ternate call this kind of clove Tsjencke Radja, which means Royal Clove, for the reasons mentioned. The Amboinese call all Royal Cloves Tsjencke Papua, after the frizzled original: circinnatis hair of those people, for they are accustomed to give the surname Papua to all curled or frizzled things. The aforementioned Hative tree produced such cloves in the year 1678, which in the number of points and shape were entirely similar to those of the Hamza tree, but they have never yet grown into Mother-cloves. In the year 1682, in the same region of old Hative, two more such trees were found producing similar cloves. Likewise, some years before, near the village of Tolehoe located on the northeast corner of Amboina, such a tree was observed bearing similar Tsjencke Papua fruits. So there are now three trees found in Amboina whose fruits are generally sharper than common cloves. The inhabitants pick them and sell them together with the common ones, so that one will occasionally find some mixed in among others in Europe.

After nature had produced no tree matching the original Royal Cloves since the year 1651, finally in the year 1692, a single tree appeared on the coast of Hitoe in the Kayetetto district, producing those rare Royal Cloves constructed of single points arranged in four rows, each row consisting of five or six points. These match the genuine old Ternate Royal Cloves, a branch of which is shown in the figure. This same tree produced similar fruit again in the year 1694, but the crowns were much thinner than those of the aforementioned year, when Amboina had the largest and most fertile clove harvest ever heard of: namely, about 3,700 Bahars Bahar: a unit of weight used in the spice trade, here equal to 550 Dutch pounds. These rare Royal Cloves are carefully preserved as a rare masterpiece of nature, since it is uncertain whether that single tree will remain standing or alive for many years.

EXPLANATION

Of the Second Plate,

Showing a branch of the common Amboinese Royal Clove, called Tsjencke Radja A.
B. Young Ternate Royal Cloves.
C. The first or oldest Royal Cloves from Makian.
D. Old Ternate Royal Cloves, collected in the time of King Hamza.
E. Genuine Royal Cloves of King Mandar-shah.
F. Newer Amboinese Royal Cloves from the years 1693 and 1694.

...almost like the Juniper leaves, and of a darker color than the common ones. In the aforementioned year this tree died out, and then another appeared, namely about three hours’ walk from the first near the village of Gnoffagia, on the same island, so that no one should think it sprouted or came from the root or fruit of the previous one, for this tree bears no Mother-cloves or seed by which it could be propagated.

The fruits of this last one, which we call the Mandar-shah tree, are much rarer in shape than the previous one, as well as larger, and having little resemblance to the previous Hamza Cloves, as they seem mostly made of single points, which usually stand in four rows and taper to a point at the top, of a light-brown color, and which, when they are old, can be taken apart; both are fixed on their stems and in crosses at their crowns, like the common ones, and are also just as sharp and spicy in taste. But this last tree was, through carelessness in following years, chopped down when all the clove trees on the island of Makian had to be extirpated according to contract, because the eradicators could not distinguish it from others as it bore no fruit at that time. This is a particular loss of this wonderful piece of nature for enthusiasts, since the like of it is no longer to be found in the world. Unless a certain tree found here on Hative in the year 1688 wanted to replace the aforementioned Makian tree; for this one occasionally bears fruit that seem to take after Royal Cloves, especially those of Hamza, being small cloves, pointed at the top, and having one or two small points at the sides.

The Ternatans call this genus of cloves Tsjencke Radja, that is Royal Cloves, for the reason described. The Amboinese call all Royal Cloves Tsjencke Papua, after the curly hair of those peoples, for they are used to giving the surname Papua to all curly things. The aforementioned tree of Hative still bore such fruits in the year 1678, which in the multitude of points and shape were entirely like those of the aforementioned Hamza tree, but they have never yet wanted to become Mother-cloves, and in the year 1682 on the same land of old Hative, two more such trees were found bearing similar cloves. Just as some years before near the village of Tolehoe, situated on Amboina's northeast corner, a tree was also found bearing similar Tsjencke Papua. So that now three trees are found in Amboina, and their fruits are generally sharper than the common cloves. The locals pick them and deliver them together with the common ones; so that one will find them here and there among them in Europe as well.

After nature has brought forth no tree with the original Royal Cloves since the year 1651, finally in 1692 a single tree appeared on the coast of Hitoe and the district of Kayetetto, bearing those rare Royal Cloves consisting of single points standing in four rows, and each row of 5 to 6 points, which correspond with the genuine old Ternate Royal Cloves, of which a small branch is shown in the figure. The same tree gave the same fruits again in 1694, but the crowns were much thinner than those of the aforementioned year, when Amboina had the greatest clove monsoon original: Nagel-Mousson (clove season/harvest) ever heard of, namely about 3,700 Bahars, each Bahar of 550 Dutch pounds. The aforementioned rare Royal Cloves are then carefully preserved as a rare artwork of nature, because one is not assured that this single tree will stand or remain alive for many years.

KEY

To the Second Plate,

Depicting a branch of the common Amboinese Royal Cloves called Tsjenke Radja A.
B. The young Ternate Royal Cloves.
C. The first or oldest Royal Cloves from Makian.
D. The old Ternate Royal Cloves, gathered in the time of King Hamza.
E. Genuine Royal Cloves of King Mandar-shah.
F. New Amboinese Royal Cloves, from the year 1693 and 1694.