A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 9 | Page 3

to see if we
could do any good. Expecting Don Fernando next day, according to
promise, and hearing nine guns from their fort, we supposed he was
coming: But it proved to be for the arrival of the prince of Tidore from
the wars, who was returned with the heads of 100 Ternatans. His force
in the expedition in which he had been engaged, consisted of sixty men
armed with matchlocks, two brass bases and three or four fowlers. He
had over-thrown Key Chilly Sadang, the son of the king of Ternate,
whom the Dutch had brought over from Ternate to prevent the natives
of Machian from supplying us with cloves. While on his return to
Ternate after our departure, he was drawn into an ambush by the son of
the king of Tidore, who lay in wait for the purpose, and slew him,
together with 160 men who were along with him, not one of the whole
being spared. The prince of Ternate brought home the head of Key
Chilly Sadang to his wife, who was sister to the slain prince. Key
Chilly Sadang in a great measure owed this discomfiture to a barrel of
powder he had bought from us at Machian, as it exploded at the
commencement of the rencounter, and threw his whole party into
confusion. Along with the prince of Ternate, one of his younger
brothers and the king of Gilolo were both slain. Towards evening, the
sergeant-major of Ternate, who was also secretary of the government,
came aboard, and made many compliments, requesting me to come to
Ternate, where they would do for me every thing in their power. I
consented to do this the more readily, as Ternate was in my way.
I received a message on the 12th from the prince of Tidore, apologising
for not having yet visited me, and saying that he had a quantity of
cloves which I might have, for which I thanked him, and requested they
might be sent soon. They promised to send the cloves before next
morning; wherefore, to guard against treachery, I kept double watch,

with match in cock, and every thing in readiness: For this prince of
Tidore was a most resolute and valiant soldier, and had performed
many desperate exploits against the Dutch, having shortly before
surprised one of their ships of war when at anchor not far from where
we then lay. Before day, a galley, which the Spaniards told us they
expected, came over from Batta China, and were very near us in the
dark before we were aware. On hailing, they answered us that they
were Spaniards and our friends, and then made towards the shore in all
haste. She was but small, having only fourteen oars of a side. We this
day found our latitude to be 0° 50' N.
We weighed on the 13th with the wind at N. and a current setting to the
S. In passing the fort we saluted with five guns, which they returned.
Several Spaniards came off with complimentary messages, and among
these a messenger from the prince, saying we should have had plenty of
cloves if we had waited twenty-four hours longer. But we rather
suspected that some treachery was intended, by means of their gallies,
frigates, and curracurras, which we thus avoided by our sudden
departure. On rounding the western point of Tidore, we saw four Dutch
ships at anchor before their fort of Marieca; one of which, on our
appearance, fired a gun, which we supposed was to call their people
aboard to follow us. We steered directly for the Spanish fort on Ternate,
and shortened sail on coming near, and fired a gun without shot, which
was immediately answered. They sent us off a soldier of good fashion,
but to as little purpose as those of Tidore had done. Having little wind,
our ship sagged in, but we found no anchorage. Having a gale of wind
at south in the evening, we stood out to sea, but lost as much ground by
the current as we had gained by the wind. The 14th, with the wind at
S.S.W. we steered N.N.W. being at noon directly under the equinoctial.
We had sight of a galley this day, on which we put about to speak with
her; but finding she went away from us, we shaped our course for
Japan.
Before leaving the Moluccas, it may be proper to acquaint the reader
with some circumstances respecting the trade and state of these islands.
Through the whole of the Moluccas, a bahar of cloves consists of 200
cattees, the cattee being three pounds five ounces haberdepoiz, so that
the bahar is 662 pounds eight ounces English averdupois weight. For
this bahar of cloves, the Dutch give fifty dollars, pursuant to what they

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