and every one has heard of its ponies. At one place in the island are some curious soap springs which make a fine lather.
The islands of Semang, Rotti, and Savu, lying near Timor, have large populations; the Timor Laut group is sparsely inhabited and little known. Mr. H. O. Forbes and his wife spent some time in these latter isles. Kambing belongs to Portugal, and has small mud volcanoes on top of a high peak. Goram has a native raja and a Dutch “postholder.”
Then comes the famous Banda Group.
“Here Banda’s isles their fair embroid’ry spread
Of various fruitage, azure, white, and red;
And birds of every beauteous plume display
Their glitt’ring radiance, as, from spray to spray,
From bower to bower, on busy wings they rove.
To seize the tribute of the spicy grove.”
There is always a group of islands called by several names, whilst the individual islands of the group have also several names, and these groups form part of a larger group,or system—all these, however, mention here belong to the Moluccas. The Banda Islands are considered the most beautiful in the Moluccas, and as all are exceedingly beautiful, that means a great deal. The three principal ones are Banda Nera, on which is the town; Banda Lonta, clothed with forest; and Gunong Api, the famous volcano. They form a land-locked harbour, and are the great nutmeg gardens. Banda Nera is 7½ miles long, with a beautiful town, in the centre of which is Fort Nassau, built by the Dutch in 1609; and there is also a ruined Portuguese fort, whilst on a plateau above the town, backed by a rock 800 feet high, is the massive Fort Belgica, commenced in 1611, and which has survived many earthquakes.
