Page 316
An. 1686
Bonano's, Clove bark, Cloves, Nutmegs.
of black Seeds mixt quite through the Fruit. They are binding, and are much eaten by thofe that have Fluxes. The Country people gave them us for that ufe, and with good fuccefs.
The Bonano Tree is exactly like the Plantain for fhape and bignefs, nor eafily diftinguifhable from it but by its Fruit, which is a great deal fmaller and not above half fo long as a Plantain, being alfo more mellow and foft, lefs lufcious, yet of a more delicate tafte. They ufe this for the making drink oftner than Plantains, and it is beft when ufed for drink, or eaten as Fruit; but it is not fo good for Bread, nor doth it eat well at all when roafted or boiled; fo 'tis only neceffity that makes any ufe it this way. They grow generally where Plantains do, being fet intermixt with them purpofely in their Plantain-walks. They have plenty of Clove- bark, of which I faw a Ship-load, and as for Cloves, Raja Laut, whom I fhall have occafion to mention, told me, that if the Englifh would fettle there, they could order matters fo in a little time, as to fend a Ship load of Cloves from thence every year. I have been informed that they grow on the boughs of a Tree about as big as a Plumb-tree, but I ne- ver happened to fee any of them.
I have not seen the Nutmeg-trees any where; but the Nutmegs this Island produces are fair and large, yet they have great store of them, being unwilling to propagate them or the Cloves, for fear that should invite the Dutch to visit them, and bring them into subjection, as they have done the reft of the Neighbouring Islands where they grow. For the Dutch being seated among the Spice-Islands, have monopolized all the Trade into their own hands, and will not suffer any of the Natives to dispose of it, but to themselves alone. Nay, they are fo careful to preserve it in their own hands, that they will not suffer the Spice to grow in the un-