'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎62] (1017/1024)

62 The CJommodities of the
’Tis obfervable of theNutmeg, that the Tree which bears it is never
planted, which has been confirm’d to me by feveral perfons that have
liv’d feverai years in the Country. They related to me, that the Nut
meg being ripe, feveral Birds come from the Iflands toward the South,
and devour it whole, but are forc'd to throw it up again before it be
digefted. The Nutmeg then befmear’d with a vifcous matter, falling
to the ground takes root, and produces a Tree, which would never
thrive were it planted. This puts me in mind of making one oblervation
upon the Birds of Paradife. Thefe Birds being very greedy after Nut
megs, come in flights to gorge themfelves with the pleafmg Spice, at the
feaion, like Felfares in Vintage time • but the ftrength of theNutmeg
fo intoxicates them, that they fall dead drunk to the Earth, wherethe
Emets in a fliort time eat off their Legs. Hence it comes, that the Birds
of Paradife are faid to have no Feet* which is not true however , for
I have feen three or four that had Feet 5 and a 'French Merchant fent
one from Aleppo as a Prefent to Lewis the Thirteenth that had Feet j of
which the King made great account, as being a very lovely Fowl.
But notwithlfanding all the Hollanders Pfoje&s, you may buy Cloves at
Macaffar without purchafing them of the Hollander ; in regard the Iflan-
ders buy them of the Captains and Soldiers, which the Hollanders
have in thofe places where the Cloves grow, giving them in exchange
Rice, and other neceflaries for the fupport of life, without which they
would ftarve, being very fadly provided for.
When the Natives of Macaffar are thus furnifli’d of Cloves,they barter
them in Exchange for fuch Commodities as are brought them 5 fome-
times they give Tortoife-Shells in exchange, and Gold Duft 5 by which
the Merchant gains fixorfevenin the hundred, being better than the
Money of the Ifland, though it be Gold , by reafon the King oft-
times enhances the value of it. The places where Cloves grow, are
Amhoyna, ElliasySeram, and Bouro.
The Iflands of alfo, in number fix, viz.Nero^ Lontour^ Foulcay,
Rofeguin^ndGrenapuis, bear Nutmegs in great abundance. The Ifland
of Qrenapuis is about fix Leagues in compals ^ and ends in a fharp point,
where there is a continual fire burning outot the earth. The Ifland
Damme 9 where there grows great ftore of Nutmegs, and very big, was
difcovePd in the year 1647, h^Abel Tafman 9 a Dutch Commander.
The Price of Cloves and Nutmegs, as I have known them fold to the
Hollanders at &urat, was as follows.
The Mein of Surat contains forty Serres, which make thirty-four of
our Pounds, at fixteen Ounces to the Pound.
A Mein of Cloves was fold for a hundred and three Mamoudi’s and
a half.
A Mein of Mace was fold for a hundred and fifty-(even Mamoudi’s and
t tr' J
a hair.
Nutmegs for fifty-fix Mamoudi’s and a half.
> Cinnamon comes at prefent from the Ifland of Ceylan. The Tree
that bears it is very much like the Willow, and has three Barks. They
never take offbut the firfl: and fecond, which is accounted the beft. They
nevermeddle with the third, for fliould the Knife enter that, the Tree
would dye. So that it is an art to take off the Cinnamon , which they
learn from their youth. The Cinnamon Spice is much dearer to the
Hollanders then people think j for the King of CeyUn^ other wife call’d