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 deg. 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 term their perpetual contract; but, for the more readily obtaining some loading, I agreed to pay them sixty dollars.  This