Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
XX
Amboyna
(
DECEMBER
1857,
OCTOBER
1859,
FEBRUARY
1860)
Twenty hours from Banda brought us to Amboyna, the capital of the Moluccas, and one of
the oldest European settlements in the East. The island consists of two peninsulas, so nearly
divided by inlets of the sea, as to leave only a sandy isthmus about a mile wide near their
eastern extremity. The western inlet is several miles long and forms a fine harbour, on the
southern side of which is situated the town of Amboyna. I had a letter of introduction to Dr.
Mohnike, the chief medical officer of the Moluccas, a German and a naturalist. I found that
he could write and read English, but could not speak it, being like myself a bad linguist; so
we had to use French as a medium of communication. He kindly offered me a room during
my stay in Amboyna, and introduced me to his junior, Dr. Doleschall, a Hungarian and also
an entomologist. He was an intelligent and most amiable young man, but I was shocked to
find that he was dying of consumption, though still able to perform the duties of his office. In
the evening my host took me to the residence of the Governor, Mr. Goldmann, who received
me in a most kind and cordial manner, and offered me every assistance. The town of Am-
boyna consists of a few business streets, and a number of roads set out at right angles to each
other, bordered by hedges of flowering shrubs, and enclosing country houses and huts embos-
omed in palms and fruit trees. Hills and mountains form the background in almost every dir-
ection, and there are few places more enjoyable for a morning or evening stroll, than these
sandy roads and shady lanes in the suburbs of the ancient city of Amboyna.
There are no active volcanoes in the island, nor is it now subject to frequent earthquakes,
although very severe ones have occurred and may be expected again. Mr. William Funnell,
*
in his voyage with Dampier to the South Seas in 1705, says: 'Whilst we were here, (at Am-
boyna) we had a great earthquake, which continued two days, in which time it did a great
deal of mischief; for the ground burst open in many places, and swallowed up several houses
and whole families. Several of the people were dug out again, but most of them dead, and
