The Ambonese Herbal, Vol. 2 (Herbarium Amboinense)

BOOK II. CHAPTER V. AMBOINA HERBAL.

Volume III C

Location. The tree bearing the Nutmeg Latin: Nucem Myristicam extends its range more widely than the Clove tree, for it occurs throughout almost the entire domain of the Moluccas. However, its true and fixed home is Banda, which consists of six smaller islands: namely Neyra, Lontoira, Gunung Api original: Goenenga-Apia, meaning "Fire Mountain" or volcano, Pulo Ay, Run original: Pælorona, and Rozengain original: Rossingenia. Of these, only three—Neyra, Lontoira (also called the "higher land"), and Pulo Ay—produce the aforementioned trees. Some are also found in Amboina and the adjacent Lease Islands original: Uliaffensibus, but they are not cultivated there. Their few fruits are used by the inhabitants and citizens only for the medical arts, and occasionally for food. It seems that in more ancient times, a mutual harmony was cultivated between the inhabitants of Banda and this Province: specifically, that those of Banda would cultivate no Cloves, and those of Amboina would cultivate no Nutmegs. They say, not without reason, that Almighty God has granted to each island its own peculiar gifts, with which men ought to be content.

In Kelang, Seram, and the islands situated to the Southeast—Nila, Damar, Serua, Teun original: Kouwera, and Manuk original: Kuffuwoeya—these trees also formerly grew, but they have been extirpated there, partly by the law of war and partly by voluntary treaties established with the inhabitants.

In the forests of Little Seram, some trees were discovered a few years ago which produced very beautiful and large fruits. However, the flavor of these was different from those of Banda, as the Seram nuts as well as the mace were of a much wilder flavor. Thus, it is believed that these trees will gradually degenerate entirely into wild ones, which is also clearly apparent from their leaves; these are much larger than the leaves of the domestic tree. The further this tree is from the territory of Banda, the more "wild" it becomes, and the worse its nuts are; for these are much smaller and never reach perfection, whence it should be considered a wild species rather than a true Nutmeg-bearing tree.

The nuts from Neyra are the best and largest, but the most beautiful forests of these trees are found on Pulo Ay, an island not much longer than two thousand paces, but flat and mostly planted with very tall nutmeg trees. Here and there, other fruit-bearing trees are found, which offer a pleasant sight and a most delightful walk. This provides such an elegant prospect that almost the entire island appears as one continuous garden. Along the sea shore, certain small hills are visible here and there, overgrown with wild herbs; these must be preserved there so that the sharp sea wind is kept away from the groves. This island is mostly destitute of fresh or rain water; nevertheless, many citizens and masters term: perkeniers or plantation owners inhabit it, who supply their lack of water from cisterns, so that Pulo Ay can provide a third of the quantity of Nutmegs consumed in the world.

In Lontoira, there are excellent plots term: perken, the traditional walled nutmeg parks of Banda for these trees. However, because this island presents a difficult ascent with its very high and steep mountains, it is dangerous to climb these trees. The harvest is always quite difficult, as the trees often grow on the slopes of the mountains, and level ground is rarely found there. Furthermore, the trees located on the tops of the mountains bear few fruits because of the intense cold there.

One might think, along with certain learned men, that the Nutmeg, or at least the Mace Latin: Macis, was known in the time of Plautus, since in his play Pseudolus (Act 3), he distinctly calls something Macidem—or rather, he might have prophesied that after a span of several thousand years, a certain spice would be known by that same name. But if that passage is examined accurately, we will find that these are the words of a boastful and lying cook who, to show off his skill, uses many invented names—such as Cicilendrum, Polindrum, Macidem, and Sancaptidem for fish, and for meat Cicimandrum, Hapalopsidem, and Cataractriam. No one has ever been able to understand these names, which is why the cook's employer bursts out with these words: “But may Jupiter and all the gods destroy you with your seasonings, and with all those lies of yours!”

Location. The Nutmeg tree is found more widely dispersed than the Clove tree, namely through almost the entire Moluccan territory. Its rightful seat, however, is the Province of Banda, consisting of six small islands: namely Neyra, Lontor, Gunung Api, Pulo Ay, Run, and Rozengain. Yet of these, only three—Neyra, Lontor (otherwise called the "high land"), and Pulo Ay—bear the mentioned trees. One also has some in Ambon and the neighboring Lease Islands, though they are not cultivated there; the few fruits are used by the inhabitants and citizens only for medicine, and also sometimes in cooking. It seems that in olden times there was already a mutual agreement between the inhabitants of Banda and the mentioned Province: namely, that those of Banda would not trouble themselves with Cloves, and those of Amboina with Nutmegs. This was not without great reason, saying that God has given each island its particular gifts, with which they should be satisfied.

On Kelang-Ceram, and the South-Eastern islands, Nila, Damar, Serua, Teun, and Manuk, they previously stood as well, but they have been rooted out there, partly through the right of war, and partly through voluntary contracts entered into with the inhabitants.

In the forests of Little Seram, trees were found some years ago that bore very large, beautiful fruits, but one could taste a noticeable difference between them and those of Banda; the Seram ones, both the Nutmegs and the Mace Dutch: Foely, were much wilder in taste. Thus it is to be believed that these trees would in time become entirely wild, which can be clearly perceived from their leaves, being much larger than the tame ones. The further this tree grows from the Banda territory, the wilder it is, and the poorer the nuts turn out, for they remain small and come to no perfection, being held more as a wild race than as a true Nutmeg tree.

The Neyra nuts are indeed the best and largest, but the most beautiful nutmeg-forests are found on Pulo Ay, an island not much more than 2000 paces long, yet flat and generally planted with tall Nutmeg trees, where here and there various other fruit trees run among them. It is very delightful to look upon and pleasant to walk through, giving such a beautiful sight that the entire island seems to be a continuous garden. It is surrounded only on the seaside with small hills and wild thickets, which must be maintained so as to ward off the feverish sea wind original: febraale Zee-wint, reflecting the historical belief that certain winds carried diseases like malaria from the Nutmeg forest. And though this island has a great lack of fresh water, many citizens and park-owners term: Perk-bezitters nevertheless live there, who can get their necessities from cisterns; so Pulo Ay can deliver a third part of what is ordinarily consumed in the world.

On Lontor are indeed the most "parks" plantations, but because this is a very high and mountainous island, the trees there are somewhat dangerous to climb, and the nuts difficult to collect, since the trees stand on the slopes of steep mountains and there are few level areas on them. Also, the trees that stand on the highest mountains bear very little fruit because of the great cold that is there.

One would think, with some learned men, that they must have had Nutmegs, or at least the Mace called Macis, already in the time of Plautus, because in his Pseudolus (Act 3), he clearly names Macidem, or else he must have prophesied that some thousands of years later a spice with the same name would yet come into the world. But when one looks at that passage rightly, one shall find that they are the words of a braggart and a lying cook original: leugenachtigen bok, literally "lying buck", who, to show his art, uses a multitude of invented names, like Cicilendrum, Polindrum, Macidem, and Sancaptidem for the fish, and Cicimandrum, Hapalopsidem, and Cataractriam for the meat; names which no one has ever been able to understand. Wherefore also the hirer of the cook burst out in these words: "May all the devils take you with your spices and with your lies."