The Ambonese Herbal, Vol. 2 (Herbarium Amboinense)

AMBOINA HERBAL Book II. Chap. V.

...since it spoils first and then stains the others as well, it must be carefully selected so it is not mixed with others. Some keep it for medicine, saying it is effective for breaking up bladder stones original: calculum vesicae, though I have heard of no such experiment.

The third is the Pala Radja King Nutmeg or mace-bearing nuts; these bear fruit similar to the others, but in place of the inner kernel, they bear a small nut wrapped in very thick mace. Indeed, this little nut is often no larger than a grain of pepper, but the mass formed of mace is hard, heavy, and durable; others used to mix it with mace as a whole without removing the nut. Since this mace is much more beautiful and durable than the common kind, some curious enthusiasts keep a portion of it, not so much for curiosity's sake as for medical use. Sometimes they grow on a specific tree, and sometimes mixed with other nuts on one and the same tree.

The fourth variety is Pala Hollanda Holland Nutmeg, or Pala Puti White Nutmeg, which also does not differ from the common kind, except that it bears a hoary mace, which nevertheless turns yellow when dried; it is nonetheless aromatic. However, because it gives an unpleasant color to other mace, it is selected out and sold separately. There also occur certain trees whose mace is variegated with yellow and red; these are called Pala Kackerlack Cockroach Nutmeg, likely named for its mottled appearance.

The fifth and final variety is Pala Domine Lord’s or Clergy’s Nutmeg, which bear nuts wrapped in mace on only one side, and therefore covered as if by a pastor's skullcap original: semi-pileolo. These are not much sought after by the nut cleaners, as the mace cannot be removed whole but is much broken, and they yield only a small quantity of mace.

Common and vulgar names. This fruit was also unknown to the ancient writers, at least as far as I have been able to discover; indeed, it seems to have become known to the Western people long after Cloves. For mention of it is made only by the most recent Greek writers, and it especially occurs in the work of the Arab Avicenna, who lived around the year of Christ 1160; however, it seems likely that it was known long before then, but described by no one. In Arabic, it is called Giauz-bant, which others write as Fauzial-bant, also Gjeu-zottibi, that is, aromatic nuts. It is also called Gjauz-Bawa, or as others write in a corrupt tongue, Gjauz-bawe and Bague, which is of Persian origin, denoting a pleasantly smelling nut. In Latin today it is called Nux Myristica odorata, aromatica, and commonly Moschata, Muscata, Moschocaryon, and Moschocaridion from Moscho, that is, Civet original: Zibeto; refers to the musky scent of the civet cat, not because it has its odor, but according to the custom of the common people, who in former times gave the surname of Musk to many pleasantly smelling fruits, just as grapes and pears are called Muscatel. For the same reason, the modern Greeks called this same Myristica nut "Unguentary" original: Unguentariam, not because ointments are composed from it, but because they carry the scent of fragrant ointments. In the Deccan or ancient India they are called Japatri, by the Portuguese Noz d'Especia, by the Dutch Noote Muschaten, or simply Noote. In Banda, and among all the Malay peoples, Pela, in Ternate Gofora. In the Chinese language Lanbau. The red netting that lies against the woody shell is called by the new Latin word Macis Mace, which must be well distinguished from the Macer of the Greeks, which is a far different tree, well known in ancient India by the name Macre and Macrure, called by the Portuguese Arbore de las cameras Tree of the Chambers; "chambers" was a common term for dysentery or diarrhea, that is, the red honey-tree, and Arbore Sancto Holy Tree. The name Macis, however, seems to have taken its origin from the Javanese word Massa, by which name it is also called by the Portuguese. Today this netting is called in Malay Bonga Pala, and by the Chinese Lanbau-Hoe. In Dutch Foeli, and Muscaten bloemen Nutmeg flowers. By the Arabs indeed Besbaze, and by corrupt names Besbaze, Bisbeli, Besbaca, etc. In the Deccan Jaifol, which denotes Javanese flowers, since the deceitful Javanese persuaded people that these were fruits growing in their own country; but the Malays understand by Bonga Pala the small blossoms, or true flowers of the Nutmeg tree, which they preserve dried for medical uses, and they can be collected in sufficient abundance from the species called Pala-Boy, which is considered the male of the domestic Nutmeg tree; on the other hand, the mace is called by them Sarony or Boncus Pala, that is, the sheath or sack of the nut, and certainly with better right, for what resemblance does mace have to a flower?

...go, because it rots first and then infects others, for which reason one must select it out carefully so that it does not come among the others. Some nonetheless preserve them for medicine, saying that they are powerful for crushing the stone in a person's body, though I have heard of no experience of this.

Thirdly, Pala Radja, or Mace-nuts; and these are like the others in fruit, but in place of the inner kernel they have a small nut, surrounded by a very thick mace. Yes, sometimes one finds the nut therein no larger than a peppercorn, this lump of mace being nevertheless hard, heavy, and durable, and they used to deliver them whole (without taking the little nut out) among other mace; but because this mace is much more beautiful and durable than the common kind, some enthusiasts save a little of it, not so much as a rarity as for medicine. They sometimes grow on a particular tree, and sometimes also mixed with other nuts on a single tree.

Fourthly, Pala Hollanda, or Pala Puti; this also does not differ from the common kind, except that it has a whitish mace, which nevertheless dries yellow, and is no less spice-like. But because it makes the other mace look bad, it is culled out and weighed separately. One also finds some trees whose mace is sprinkled with pale yellow and red, and is therefore named Pala Kackerlack.

Fifthly and lastly, Pala Domine, being nuts which are only half covered with mace, and therefore wear it like a skullcap original: Kalotje, or a minister's cap. But these are not much esteemed by the plantation owners original: Perkeniers; refers to the Dutch Nutmeg planters in the Banda Islands, because the mace cannot be taken off without crumbling, and because there is also little mace on it.

Common Names: This fruit was also unknown to the ancient writers, at least as much as can be perceived until now; indeed, it seems that it became known to the Western world a long time after Cloves. For one finds mention of it first made by the youngest Greek writers, but especially by the Arabian Avicenna, who lived around the year of Christ 1160, and yet it is probable that it was already known long before, but described by no one. He calls it in Arabic Giauz-bant, which other writers write as Jauzial-bant, as well as Gjeu zot-tibi, that is Spice-Nuts. It is also named Gjauz-bawa, or as others write in a spoiled language Gjauz-bawe, and Bague, which is originally a Persian word, meaning a fragrant nut. In Latin it is nowadays named Nux Myristica odorata, aromatica, commonly Moschata, Muscata, Moschocaryon, and Moschocaridion, from Moschus, that is Musk original: Muskeljaat, not because it smells like it, but according to the custom of the common people, who before this have given the surname of Musk to many fragrant fruits, just as one says muscatel grapes and pears; and for the same reason the new Greeks have named the same nut Myristicam, that is, Unguentariam, or ointment-nuts, not because one makes ointments from them, but because they have the scent of fragrant ointments. In Deccan or old India they are named Japatri, by the Portuguese Noz d'Especia, in Low Dutch Noote-muschaten, or simply Nuts. In Banda, and among all the Malays, Pela, in Ternate Gozora, and in Chinese Lauhau. The red net that lies on the woody shells is named in new Latin Macis, which one must well distinguish from the Macer of the Greeks, which is an entirely different tree, known enough in old India under the name Macre and Macrure, named by the Portuguese Arbore de las cameras, that is red dysentery-tree, and Arbore Sancto. But the word Macis seems to be derived from the Javanese word Massa, as it is still called in Portuguese. Nowadays they are called in Malay Bonga pala, in Chinese Lanhau-hoe, in Low Dutch Foeli and Nutmeg flowers, in Arabic Besbaze, and with spoiled names Besbaze, Bisbeli, Besbaca &c. In Deccan Jaifol, which again means flowers from Java, because the crafty Javanese made people believe that they were fruits growing in their country. The true Malays understand by Bonga Pala the small flowers, or the actual blossom of the Nutmeg tree, which they keep dried for some medicines, and one can get enough of them from the variety called Pala-Boy, which is considered the male of the tame Nutmeg tree, whereas the mace they call Sarony, or Boncus Pala, that is sheath or sack of the nut, and certainly

Place. with better reason, for what likeness has mace with a...