MOLUC'CAS, or SPICE IsrANns. An archi pelago constituting part of the Dutch posses sions in the East Indies. and comprising most of the islands situated between Celebes and New Ifuinea, and between the Philippines and the Timor Archipelago (Map; Australasia. E 2). The archipelago lies on both sides of the equator. Its aggregate area is 21.510 square miles. It is divided into the Northern and South ern :Moluccas. The former comprise the islands of Oilolo, the Obi group, Termite. Tidore. and Aloro tai, with the adjacent islets, while the latter take in the islands of Ceram, Baru. and the Eel, Aru, and Banda groups with their surrounding islands. In geological structure the :\foluccas resemble the island of Celebes, being nmstly composed of Arclucan or Paleozoic rocks. The highest 'mint is Mount Nnsa Ileli in Ceram, 10,000 feet high. The Alolneeas lie in the line of volcanic activity which extends front the Sunda [shunts northward through the Philippine: and Japan. Many of the smaller islands are of volcanic formation throughout, and on Ternate, as well as in Gilolo, :Morotai, Banda, and Tidore, there are active cones. The climate is hot, but as a rule not unhealthful. The :Moluccas are not so wdl watered or rich in vegetation as the more west erly islands in the Dutch East Indies, but the production of spices. front which they derive their name, is very large. The beteinut, nutmeg trees, and various other spice-producing plants are here indigenous. Coffee, (mean. tobaceo, in digo, and rice are cultivated with suceess, and the sago palm yields the staple fruit for native consumption. In regard to the fauna, the islands resemble the other parts of the Australasian region. Besides species of marsupials, there are wild hogs, civet eats. and an indigenous species of goats. Birds of bright plumage abound in the forests. Among the insects. the butterflies are remarkable for their size and the brilliancy of their colors. Sulphur is the most importa»t
mineral of the islands, but petroleum, porcelain clay. tin, and coal are also found.
Industry is eltietly eonfined to the raising of spices and food products. While the clove-)ee and the nutmeg Immo- in all the islands, clove onion., is earried On especially ill -1110)03118 and the Cliassers, and the cultivation of the nut meg in the Banda Islands. This is due mainly to the fact that the Dutch. in their desire to retain their supremaey in the spice market, re stricted the cultivation of these spices to the above-mentioned islands until 18113, when the restrietion was taken MT. The trade of the group is centred chiefly around Anthoyna and Termite. The exports eonsist mostly of eloves and other spices. sago, and cocoanuts. Admin istratively the archipelago is divided into the three residencies of Tern ate, Anil run, and Banda. The chief city as well as the commereial centre is Amboyna (q.v.). on the island of the same name. The population is estimated at 400,000, and consists chiefly of Alfnrese and Malays. the former being the original in habitants. and found especially in the interior If the islands. Some of them are in a com paratively high state of civilization. The num ber 4)1 Papuans and foreigners is insignificant.
The Moluccas were discovered by the Por tuguese in 1512 and were formally taken posses sion of by them in 1521. They were 5001I. Imwever, taken by the Dutch, who started the cultivation of spices here. In 1605 Amboyna was made the chief station of the Dutch East India Company. which also built forts on sev eral other islands. With the annexation of the Moluccas to the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, the Government also acquired a part of New Guinea and Celebes and a few other islands which constituted parts of the former vast possessions of the sultans of Termite and Tidore.