ferently fertile, formerly producing
abundance of clove-trees; but a detachment of Dutch soldiers is sent
yearly to grub them up, as they do also in the other Molucca islands,
because Amboina is thought to produce enough of that commodity to
maintain their commerce. Formerly also the Dutch had a strong fort
here, which the natives took and demolished after a long siege,
putting all the garrison to the sword. At present, [in 1721,]
the company only sends a detachment of soldiers to root out the
clove-trees, for which the inhabitants receive some present. The two
whites who were on board this Dutch bark were the first Christians
seen by Roggewein for the space of ten months, or since leaving the
coast of Brazil. Continuing their course for the island of _Bootan_,
in hopes of meeting with refreshments, of which they were now in
extreme want, they arrived there in lat 4 deg. S.[6] and sailed along its
coast for a whole day, in hopes of finding the strait for which they
sought, and at length found they were eight leagues to leeward of
it, and the monsoon now blew too strong to be able to bear up for the
intended port. They had now no hopes of being able to find any port
for refreshments till they should arrive at the island of Java; as,
wherever they might attempt to land, they well knew that their ships
would be confiscated, in consequence of the invariable maxims of the
East-India Company. All men therefore, but especially the sick and
feeble, cast an anxious look on the fertile island now left behind
them, presaging the melancholy effects which must necessarily attend
so pernicious a measure.

[Footnote 6: The northern end of Bootan is in lat. 4 deg. 40' S.]

The situation of the island of _Bootan_ is remarkably advantageous,
being in from 4 deg. to 6 deg. of S. latitude, and nearly equal in size to the
island of _Bouro_. It is extremely fertile, especially in rice, and
has abundance of cattle and fish. It would also produce plenty both
of clove and nutmeg trees, if they were permitted to grow. The king
of the island has a very strong fort, on which the Dutch standard is
displayed, though there is no Dutch garrison; the company contenting
itself with sending deputies yearly to see the spice trees destroyed,
in consideration of which the king receives a considerable sum
yearly from the company. This nation is the most faithful of all the
inhabitants of the Indian islands to the India company, having not
only assisted the