Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/481

 or" THE ARCHIPELAGO. 437 The unfortunate natives, in these contests, behaved with courage and perseverance, virtues which would have been successful in the expulsion of the invad- er, but for the disunion and feebleness incident to their geographical situation, and to their want of ci- vilization. To illustrate the characters of the contend- ing parties, I shall now run rapidly over a few of the most prominent circumstances of the contest. The inhabitants of the Banda, or Nutmeg Isles, were the first to resist, and, in l6l5, their destruction was resolved upon. A large fleet and military ex- pedition sailed against them, but the Bandanese, conducting themselves with extraordinary courage, the Dutch were defeated on this occasion, and the governor-general, who accompanied the troops, died of chagrin on account of the failure. The following year the Baudanese were subdued and forced into treaties, more hostile to their commer- cial interests and prosperity than ever. In 1620 the Bandanese had again revolted, if this expression can be applied to their resistance of foreign aggression. The direct charge made against them on this occasion was, that they sold the produce of their country to strangers. The Spa- niards, Portuguese, and English, fomented the quarrel between the natives ; and, blind to their own aggressions, could easily see the injustice of their rivals. At the period of this last revolt of the people of the Banda Isles, the Dutch and Eng-