Page 447
An.1687
I. Gilolo, Ternate, Tidor, &c. Macasser.
day, and there we found the current setting to the Westward so strongly, that we could hardly get on the East side of that Island.
The Island Celebes is a very large Island, extend- ed in length from North to South, about 7 de- grees of lat. and in breadth it is about 3 degrees. It lies under the Equator, the North end being in lat. 1 d. 30 m. North, and the South end in lat. 5 d. 30 m. South, and by common account the North point in the bulk of this Island, lies nearest North and South, but at the North East end there runs out a long narrow point, stretching N. E. a- bout 30 leagues: and about 30 leagues to the East- ward of this long Slipe, is the Island Gilolo, on the West side of which are 4 small Islands, close by it, which are very well stored with Cloves. The two chiefest are Ternate and Tidore; and as the Isle of Ceylon is reckoned the only place for Cin- namon, and that of Banda for Nutmegs, , so these are thought by some to be the only Clove Islands in the World; but this is a great error, as I have already shewn.
At the South end of the Island Celebes there is a Sea or Gulph, of about 7 or 8 leagues wide, and 40 or 50 long, which runs up the Countrey al- most directly to the North; and this Gulph hath several small Islands along the middle of it. On the West side of the Island almost at the South end of it, the Town of Macasser is seated. A Town of great Strength and. Trade, belonging to the Dutch.
There are great Inlets and Lakes on the East fide of the Island ; as also abundance of small Islands, and sholes lying scattered about it. We saw a high peeked Hill at the N. end: but the Land on the East side is low all along; for we cruized almost the length of it. The mold on this side is black and deep, and extraordinary fat and rich, and