Ambo

“ The derivation of the name Amboglanna has been the subject of different conjectures, the most likely of which appears to be that derived from the Latin word ambo, and the British glan, the brink or bank of a river, which agrees exactly with the situation of the camp, standing as it does upon a point of land, with the steep banks of the Irthing on either hand of it. Beginning with the west gate, Porta Principalis Sinistra, the sill stones are in perfect preservation, with two grooves, which appear to have been worn by the wheels of carriages. ”

“ The Amboinese are chiefly employed in building houses of bamboos, the windows of which are made of split canes, very nicely wrought in various figures. They are a bold boisterous race, and so turbulent that they are not permitted to reside in the city, but have their quarter near the Chinese burying ground. The chief of their own nation, to whom they pay the utmost submission, has a magnificent house in their quarter, well furnished after their manner. ”

“ So enormous was the strength of the position that it could have been held almost independently even without the support of the shipping that was nearly always in the roads against any enemy that could be brought against it. The actual tragedy of Amboina opened with dramatic fitness with a very simple scene. One evening as the garrison were at prayers a Japanese mercenary in the employ of the Dutch, wandering apparently aimlessly about the castle, on the ramparts came upon a young Dutch soldier acting as sentinel. ”

“ This island of Amboina, so famous, or rather infamous, for the cruelties and injustice formerly committed there by the Dutch upon the English, is twelve leagues long from N. to S. being high and mountainous, with intermediate vallies, which are very fertile, but the hills are in a great measure barren. The soil of the vallies is black, and affords salt-petre. The middle of the island is in lat. 3° 40' S. The original inhabitants of the island are Malays, who are of middle stature and tawny complexions. ”

“ Captain Fitzherbert, who visited the place just before the occurrence, in a letter home said, "Amboina sitteth as a Queen between the Isles of Banda and the Moluccas. She b beautified with the fruits of several factories and dearly beloved of the Dutch." That sailor's impression vividly suggests the natural charms of this famous island. Over it all is the glamour of the East in its most fascinating form. ”

“ Messengers were dispatched to every part of the island to inform the different chiefs that the king was going to Ambow, and that they must send all the coconut oil, tappah, and whales' teeth they could produce for presents to the king of Ambow. Twenty large canoes were fitted for the voyage, and when all was ready the king went down to the squadron escorted by a large party of chiefs and subjects, five of his wives bringing up the rear and bearing with them the mats to sleep on and cooking utensils. ”

“ From Saparua I returned directly to Amboina, for one who has been accustomed to the mail facilities of our land will subject himself to almost any inconvenience in order to reach the place where the mail-boat touches.
Life at Amboina, and at almost every other place in the Dutch possessions, at the best is dull. Once or twice a month, in accordance with an established custom, the governor gives a reception on Sunday evenings, when all the Europeans and most of the mestizoes come and dance till late ”

“ They were enthusiastic fishermen (a sure sign of grace) and spent many hours of their leisure time in angling for small fish, which they very seldom caught. Another of their virtues, though it sometimes became a little wearisome, was their love of singing, in which they indulged on fine evenings. The Ambonese used to sing, accompanied by a soloist on a sort of penny whistle, some really pretty songs, possibly of Portuguese origin, to which one could listen with real pleasure. But the singing of the Javanese, usually in a high falsetto voice, was a burden hardly to be borne. ”

“ Amboyna is about eight Leagues from Banda, to the Northward, in the Way to Ternate. The compass of it is fifteen Leagues, most fruitful in Cloves, Oranges, Lemmons, Citrons, Coco-Nuts, Bananas, Sugar-Canes, and other such like Product. The Natives are more open Hearted, and sincere, than those of the Moluccos or Banda; wear the same Habit; live Upon the Trade of Spice; are temperate and abstemious, Their Weapons. and great Sufferers of Hardship. Their Weapons, are Spears with Sharp twisted Ends; these they dart so dexterously, that they will hit the smallest Mark at a great Distance. ”

“ The inhabitants of this island brought us provisions in abundance, of which we ate heartily and then retired for the night. We spent three days here, and on the fourth launched our canoes and made sail for Ambow, where we arrived about ten o'clock in the forenoon and anchored, when the natives painted themselves, dressed and tied large bundles of tappah on their backs, as presents for the king. ”

“ Abbâ Poemen used to say that Abbâ Ammon said, “One man spendeth the whole period of his life holding an axe in his hand [ready] to cut down a tree, and never findeth the opportunity of wielding it; and another man, who knoweth well how to fell trees, heweth with three axes, and wieldeth them [against trees] . Now,” he said, “the axe [in this case] is discretion [or discernment] .”
135. Abbâ Poemen also said that Abbâ Anthony said concerning Abbâ Pambô, “This man feared God so greatly that he made the Spirit of God to dwell in him.” ”

“ The island of Amboina, near Ceram, is about forty leagues in circuit, and gives its name also to some other small adjacent isles. This island produces cloves, for the purpose of procuring which valuable spice, the English had five several factories, the head and rendezvous of all being at the town of Amboina, in which at the first, Mr George Muschamp was chief factor, who was succeeded by Mr Gabriel Towerson; having authority over the subordinate factories of Hitto and Larica on the same island, and at Loho and Cambello on a point of the neighbouring island of Ceram. ”

“ Almost in despair, we continued our course till we were over against the island of Bouro, and then the wind veering to the S.S.W. we stood away S.E. but finding a strong current setting to leeward, we rather lost ground, and seeing no likelihood of getting to Amboina, we, by general consent, shared among us all that was eatable on board, each man's share being six pounds and three quarters of flour, and five pounds of bran, every one resolving to use his share as sparingly as possible. On the 25th, the wind veered to S.S.E. when we tacked to S.W. and soon weathered the island of Amblow. ”

“ We were soon surrounded by natives from Ambow and adjacent islands. The king and governor of Ambow came on board to inspect the ship, bringing with them a few trifles as presents to the captain. The ship's sides were thronged with natives, but none were admitted on board except those of high rank. To enforce this we had to keep men stationed around the ship to once in a while prick the natives off when they became too bold. ”

“ These two islands are moderately high, and not above a third part so large as Amboina. They are both well fortified, and produce store of cloves. The chief place for nutmegs is the island of Banda, which also belongs to the Dutch, being in lat. 4° 20' S. 28 leagues S.S.E. from Amboina. This island is said to have the form of a man's leg and foot, and is well fortified. The governor of Amboina is supreme over all the spice islands, even to Ternate and Tidore, which are also spice islands belonging to the Dutch, and are about forty miles to the north of the equator. ”

“ The Mambari reside near Bihe, under an Ambonda chief named Kangombe. They profess to use the slaves for domestic purposes alone.
Some of these Mambari visited us while at Naliele. They are of the Ambonda family, which inhabits the country southeast of Angola, and speak the Bunda dialect, which is of the same family of languages with the Barotse, Bayeiye, etc., or those black tribes comprehended under the general term Makalaka. They plait their hair in three-fold cords, and lay them carefully down around the sides of the head. ”

“ Amboise (5) , a town on the Loire, 14 m. E. of Tours, with a castle, once the residence of the French kings. The Conspiracy of A., the conspiracy of Condé and the Huguenots in 1560 against Francis II., Catharine de Medici, and the Guises. The Edict of A. (1563) conceded the free exercise of their worship to the Protestants.
Amboise, George de, Cardinal, the popular Prime Minister of Louis XII., who, as such, reduced the Public burdens, and as the Pope's legate in France effected a great reform among the religious orders; is said to have died immensely rich (1460-1510) . ”

“ The conspiracy of Amboise became popular among the Reformers. Brantôme relates, that many said, “Yesterday, we belonged not to the conspiracy, and we would not have been of it for all the gold in the universe; to-day, we would be so for the smallest coin, and we say that the enterprise was good and holy.”
The Lorraines, however, endeavoured to turn the affairs of Amboise to the profit of their ambition. On the 17th of [84] March, the Duke de Guise had himself named lieutenant-general of the kingdom. Francis II. promised to comply with everything that his uncle might do, order, and execute. ”

“ Fakir, Jehangir and the, 161 Fardo, John, a prisoner of Amboina, 218 Femell, Laurence, taken prisoner at Mocha, 102; fails in attempt to escape, 108; poisoned at Mocha, 110 Fenton, Henry, commands expedition to the East 21 Finch, William, at Surat, 83 Fiscal of Amboina, de Bniyne, a Dutch, Torquemada. 227 Fitch, Ralph, wanderings of in the East, 30, 242 Fitzherbert, Captain, describes Amboina, 213 Forbidden fruit, Coco-de-Mer, identified as the, by Gordon, 94 Fort Revenge, Poolo Ai, 188 Fort St. ”

“ If I have committed a sin in killing an Inquisitor and a Jesuit, I have made ample amends by saving the lives of these girls. Perhaps they are young ladies of family; and this adventure may procure us great advantages in this country."
He was continuing, but stopped short when he saw the two girls tenderly embracing the monkeys, bathing their bodies in tears, and rending the air with the most dismal lamentations.
"Little did I expect to see such good-nature," [Pg 70] said he at length to Cacambo; who made answer:
"Master, you have done a fine thing now; ”

“ Early on the morning of the 1st current, I set out for Ambato, and arrived there safely in the afternoon. Ambato is a larger town than Riobamba, and may contain 5000 people. In this place I found myself comfortably lodged in the house of the Governor. My luggage, along with the New Testaments, did not arrive till the following morning. Upon the arrival of the New Testaments, I showed them to the Governor, and told him of my intention of advertising them for sale, and inquired in what shop or store I could conveniently do so. ”

“ But she hath a shrewd one to deal with if that fair vendor is a lady from Amber, as I guess she is. Amber is well skilled, I can tell thee, Queen, to draw gold from the treasure vaults of Agra."
"So I find, my lord. And if the men of Amber have a grasping hand, the women of Amber have a clever tongue too. Twenty pieces of gold this shrewd woman asks for a tinsel bracelet which is scarcely worth ten, and I like a simpleton have offered fifteen. Beware, great Emperor, of bargaining with the ladies of Amber, with their sharp tongues and their dark eyes too ”

“ The sunken city of which Hondura had spoken came into Bomba’s mind.
“Is it that he has gone to the place where stood the city that had towers of gold?” he asked.
A startling change came into Abino’s tone and manner. His glance seemed to bore Bomba through and through.
“What foolish words are these that the stranger speaks?” he demanded sharply. “There is no city that has towers of gold. It is not well to ask too many questions. Men have asked questions of Japazy, and he has cut out their tongues. If the stranger is wise, he will let others speak while he listens. Abino has spoken.” ”

“ The blow was so tremendous that only an adept could withstand it. It was parried about an inch from the top of Ambrose’s head, but his hat, which he had on, was knocked off by it, so that the whole of his noble face and his beautiful priestly hair, which fell on his shoulders, could be seen. A shout of astonishment and of contempt broke forth from Anika’s men. ‘It’s a monk, it’s a priest, who has come here to fight our unvanquished chief!’
But now the scar in Ambrose’s forehead turned a brilliant red, and it seemed as if, all at once, his limbs had become steeled. ”

“ Amber began to suspect that the troops had been furnished as a guard less of honour than of espionage, less in formal courtesy than in demonstration of the unsleeping vigilance of the Eye—kindly assisted by the Maharana of Khandawar.
A man who, warmed by the ardour of his first love, feels suddenly the shadow of death falling cold upon him, is apt to neglect nothing. Amber considered that he had given Ram Nath no commission of any sort, and bent an attentive ear to the communication which the tonga-wallah insisted upon making to him. ”

“ There are many noble characters whom we ought to know, such as Ambrose, one of Christendom's greatest bishops, who led a life of poverty and strict abstinence, like his sister Marcella, whom we have met. He it was, of whom the Emperor Theodosius said: "I have met a man who has told me the truth." Well might he so declare, for Ambrose refused him admission to the church at Milan, because his hands were red with the blood of the murdered, and succeeded in persuading him to submit to [pg 116] discipline. ”