Visit to Watidal.--Respect shown to the Dutch Flag.--The English supposed by the Natives to be _Orang-gunung_, or Mountaineers.--The Prosperity of the People inseparable from the Rule of the Dutch over these Countries.--Traces of the Christian Religion having formerly obtained here.--Departure from Larrat to Vordate.--Allurements of the latter Island.--The Inhabitants of the Tenimber Islands.--Their Manners and Customs.--Mode of Warfare.--Striking Proofs of their Attachment to the Dutch Government. The English, during their short possession of the Moluccas, sent a British flag to the people of Watidal, who had preserved it well, but without making any use of it. When I demanded the reason of this, I was answered that they plainly perceived that this was not a Company's flag, and that they would not recognize any other nation than the Dutch as their allies. Their ideas of the different European nations are very singular. From their questions, it appeared that they considered the _Orang Compania_ (the Dutch) only as true white people, and that they were unacquainted with other Europeans. They asked me if the English were not the inland mountaineers, or _Orang Gunung_, like the inhabitants of Timor-laut, and other barbarous people. The natives call themselves "_Anak Compania_," literally, Children of the Company; and they often expressed to me their surprise at the difficulties the traders who arrived at the island, threw in their way to prevent them from visiting Banda. They also expressed themselves much discontented at the arbitrary mode of trading adopted by the native merchants from Banda, which had often necessitated them to be their own judges, as they dared not nourish a hope that the Dutch would again visit and defend them. This state of affairs caused them to retrograde in point of civilization, as by continually taking revenge for offences committed against them, they themselves have become wild and rapacious, so much so that the Tenimber islanders are in bad repute among their neighbours, being considered as dangerous characters. They absolutely prohibited the Macassar traders from coming to the islands, because the numbers in which these arrived gave rise to a fear on the part of the inhabitants, that the traders would bring them under their power, and treat them in an arbitrary manner, which, as they said, took place too often already. It will readily be supposed, that it cost me much time and trouble to induce the natives to renew their intercourse with these people, and at the same time it will be perceived how much extortion these simple, though numerous, islanders have been subjected to since they lost the protection of the Dutch Government.