BOOK VI. CHAPTER V. AMBOINESE HERBAL. 13

Location. In the Amboinese islands, this reed is rarely found, and then only in the highest and most remote mountains which people seldom frequent, such as on Little and Great Ceram behind Locki and Laälat; it is found rarely on Manipa, Kelanga, and Leytimor around Hoetoemoery—a place that obtained its name from the various species of reeds growing there. Likewise, it is not very abundant in the remote mountains of Bali and Java, existing only in numbers sufficient for making traps and other vessels, where it is also regarded as a species of Potong. Conversely, it is more frequent and abundant in old India, Malabar, Ceylon modern Sri Lanka, Bisnagar, and Batecala, and it spreads further through the remaining regions of all Asia. In those places, it bears a great resemblance to the Bulu fwangi original: "fragrant bamboo", as it appears thorny around the nodes, in which respect it perhaps differs from the Amboinese variety.

Use. In these Eastern islands, it serves no singular use, as it is very rare. From the stalks of this reed, as has been mentioned, the "wings" outriggers of the smaller vessels called Correcorren Kora-kora: large traditional canoe-like vessels used for trade and war are fashioned. When the segments between the joints have not yet reached the thickness of a thigh, water-reeds and Wanis Wani: bamboo vessels used to collect sap or palm wine are formed from them, in which all the liquids of trees are collected. However, because its tubes are so large and irregular, and not as long as the previously mentioned Potong and Bulu Java, various kinds of vessels are formed from them in which different types of herbs and spices are kept; Gantans Gantan: a traditional dry measure for rice and seeds in particular, and similar measures with which rice is measured out, are made from these.

In the writings of Cristóvão da Costa Cap. 6. and other Portuguese authors, one reads that the people of Malabar fashion small boats from a single segment or tube of these reeds, split open, which retain a partition at each end; they are of such capacity that two Indians can sit in each boat, in which they navigate the Cranganore river. Surprisingly, they are never attacked by crocodiles, which, it seems, have a natural antipathy toward this reed. This seems somewhat to contradict Garcia de Orta original: "Garzia"; Lib. 1. Aromat. Cap. 12., who writes that the segments of this reed are only a palm’s length apart. This difference is of no great importance, for without doubt two or more species of this reed grow in those regions. The boats of Costa were perhaps constructed from the largest species, which we describe in this chapter, while the species described by Garcia would be the Bulu fwangi, which is discussed below in Chapter 7; for that one has short segments, small leaves, and is used for carrying-poles.

Of this species were those two great pieces which Carolus Clusius Lib. 1. exotic. cap. 18. says he saw preserved at the University of Leiden; they were thirty feet in length and fourteen to sixteen inches thick in diameter, divided into nineteen segments, and, as I have been informed, they can be seen there to this day. Thus also should one understand that which Ctesias Lib. de rebus Indicis writes (found in the additions to Herodotus), though the usual license of the Greeks tends to exaggerate things; there it is read that in the mountains around the Indus River a reed is found so thick that two men can scarcely embrace it, which grows to the height of the mast of the largest ship, some occurring larger, others smaller, etc. I believe he heard of "two spans" or "two cubits" and perhaps changed them into "fathoms" original: "orgyias". I mention this only to show that the ancients also received some knowledge or report of this reed. This is also evident from the letter of Alexander the Great given to Aristotle, in which he recounts that he saw reeds in India sixty feet high, which surpassed the Greek Pitch-pine or Fir in thickness—which approaches the truth more closely than those things which Ctesias commemorates.

Among many Indians, these monstrous reeds are held in great honor, especially among those who are devoted to idols, so that many of them claim they are descended from these great reeds. Among others, the Kings of Buton original: "Boutonæ" hold this opinion, namely that their ancestors sprang from a reed. I tell this here for the sake of a joke, as one of them, who was a Kiay Tsjili Kiay Tsjili: a title for a prince or high-ranking noble, boasted such things to our Admiral in the year 1654. He said that in ancient times, when the people of Buton had no king, one of them entered the forest to cut reeds for his own use; he had scarcely aimed an axe-blow at a certain elegant reed—

Place. In the Amboinese Islands this reed is seldom found, and always in the high and distant mountains where few people come, such as on Little and Great Ceram, in the mountains behind Locki and Laälat, and a little on Manipa, Kelang, and Leytimor near Hoetoemoery, which takes its name from all sorts or various kinds of Bamboos that grow there. In the distant mountains of Java and Bali it is also found sparingly, just as much as is needed for making vessels, where it is also considered a Potong. In contrast, it is found in greater quantity in old India, Malabar, Ceylon, Bisnagar, and Batecala, and further spread through other lands of all Asia. However, it has a great commonality there with the Bulu fwangi, as it seems to be thorny around the joints original: "knien," literally knees, in which it perhaps differs from the Amboinese variety.

Use. In these Eastern Islands it has no special use, because it is found so rarely. As mentioned, one makes the outriggers original: "vlerken," literally wings of the Correcorren from it, and when the segments are not yet a thigh thick, the Water-reeds and Wanis, in which all kinds of tree-sap are collected. But because the tubes are so large and clumsy, and also not as long as the previous Potong and Bulu Java, many kinds of vessels are made from them in which dry goods are kept, especially Gantans and similar measures with which rice is measured.

In Christóvão da Costa, Chapter 6, and other Portuguese Writers, one reads that the Malabars make small boats from one segment or tube of this Bamboo, split through the middle, and keeping the partition at each end; they are so large that two Indians can sit in each boat and sail back and forth with them on the River of Cranganore without ever (which is wonderful) being attacked by the Crocodiles or Caymans, which, so it seems, have a natural antipathy against this reed. This seems somewhat to conflict with what Garcia de Orta Lib. 1. Aromat. Cap. 12. writes, that the segments of this reed are only a hand-length from one another; but the difference is of no importance, for without doubt two or more sorts of this reed grow in those lands, and the boats of Costa are perhaps made of the largest sort, which we describe in this Chapter, and the sort described by Garcia will be the Bulu fwangi, of which more hereafter in Chapter 7, for the same has small leaves, short segments, and is used for carrying-poles.

From this species were also those two large pieces which Carolus Clusius Lib. 1. exoticorum Cap. 18. saw, kept at the University of Leiden, thirty feet long, having a circumference of fourteen and sixteen inches, and divided into nineteen segments; as I am informed, they are to be seen there to this day. So too is that to be understood which Ctesias Lib. de rebus Indicis writes (found in the additions to Herodotus), though following the usual freedom of the Greeks in exaggerating things—namely, that on the mountains near the river Indus, a reed is found so thick that two men can barely embrace it, as high as a mast on the largest ship, though some larger, some smaller, etc. I believe that he heard of two spans or two cubits and changed them into fathoms; I only cite it to prove that the Ancients also had some knowledge or rumor of this reed. This is also evident from the letter written by Alexander the Great to Aristotle, where he says that he saw reeds in India that were sixty feet high, and in thickness surpassing the Greek Pine or Fir tree, which comes much closer to the truth than what Ctesias writes.

These monstrous Bamboos were held in great honor by many Indians, especially those who still persist in Heathenism, so much so that many of them say they are descended from great Bamboos. Among others, the Kings of Buton are of this firm opinion, that their Ancestors sprouted from a Bamboo, which I must put here for the sake of a joke, as one of them, being a Kiay Tsjili or Prince, related to our Admiral in the year 1654: in old times, he said, when the people of Buton were still without a King, one went into the forest to chop Bamboos for his needs; he had just aimed a blow with the axe at a beautiful Bam-