The Malucas Islands, commonly so called, where, of the spices, cloves are obtained, and so named from this drug, [54] are five.  They begin at that of Bachan, which is on the equinoctial line, and extend north and south.  The farthest north is that of Terrenate, which is six or seven leguas in circumference.  It consists entirely of a very high elevation, on the summit of which is a volcano, which sends forth fire.  In the medial region of this mountain they raise the clove-trees, which are like laurel trees, the leaves being a little narrower and longer.  This island has five fortresses; the principal one is called Talangame, and another San Pedro.  The Dutch have three:  that of Malayo, which is the principal one; another called Tacome, and another Toleco, which is of little importance.

The island of Tidore is distant about two leguas from this, and, although smaller, has about the same aspect.  Your Majesty has a fort there, and the king of Tidore has another.  The Dutch have two others, which they call Great and Little Mariaco.  In the island of Motiel, farther south, the Dutch have a fort.

In that of Maquien there is a fort.  Directly beyond this is another and smaller island, called Cayoa; and that of Bachan, with several others of little importance, lies near.  To the east of all these islands is one called Vatachina, or Gilolo, lying two or three leguas from these—­a very large island, where your Majesty has two forts.  This island extends so far that it makes a strait with the island of Nueva Guinea on the eastern end, according to the relation of Fray Diego de Prado, of the Order of St. Basil, who, while he was a layman, coasted along this island on the southern side, of which nothing was then known.  This is the largest island in the world, and was discovered from the northern side.  It extends from the equinoctial line.  No one has thus far examined what is in the interior, although it is known that it is well peopled, some of the natives being black, and some of the ordinary color of Indians.  There are indications of much wealth.  More to the east, there are the islands of Salamon near by.  The blacks are sold among the Indians, as in Guinea, and they have fairs at set times.  The Indians buy these people to cultivate their lands.  Beyond these Malucas Islands there are some to the southward, of little importance, as far as that of Ambueno, which is seventy leguas distant from them.  The Dutch have a fort there, which they took from the Portuguese, and a port where abundance of cloves are gathered—­which, transplanted from the Malucas, have grown in this island alone and in no other.  Eighteen leguas farther east lies the island of Banda, where nutmeg is gathered; and the Dutch have another fortress there.