The eastern archipelago ... embraces so many islands, that even yet we do not know their exact number.  Modern writers make five divisions of this archipelago, which are themselves a like number of archipelagos—­namely, Maluco, Moro, Papuas, Celebes, and Amboyno.  The name of the first in that language is Moloc, and means the same as “capital,” for it is the capital of all the adjacent parts; and, according to others, Maluco, which signifies in Arabic, as par excellence, “the kingdom.”  It is reduced to five chief islands, all under one meridian, all in sight of one another, and lying within a distance of twenty-five leguas.  They lie across the equator, their most northern latitude being one-half degree, and their most southern one degree.  They are bounded on the west by the island of Xilolo, called Batochina de Moro by the Portuguese, and Alemaera by the Malucos.  Of the many islands round about, which are also called Malucas, ... the following are remarkable for the abundance of their spice, namely—­beginning at the north-Ternate, Tydore, Motiel, Maquien, and Bacham.  In the time of their former pagans they were called Cape, Duco, Moutil, Mara, and Seque ...  The inhabitants differ from one another, as it were, by the miraculous kindness of nature.  The women are light-complexioned and beautiful, while the men have a complexion somewhat darker than a quince.  The hair is smooth, and many anoint it with fragrant oils.  They have large eyes and long eyelashes, which, with their eyebrows, they wear blackened.  Their bodies are robust, and they are much given to war, but to all other employment they are slothful.  They live long, grow gray early, and are always active, on sea no less than on land.  Hospitable and kind to guests, they are importunate and insistent in their demands when they become familiar.  They are full of self-interest in their dealings, and make use of tricks, frauds, and lies.  They are poor, and consequently proud; and, to name many vices in one, they are ungrateful.  The Chinese occupied all these islands when they subjugated all that orient, then the Javanese and Malays, and lastly the Persians and Arabs.  These last, by means of commerce, introduced the superstitions of Mahomet among the worship of their gods (of whom some families boasted as ancestors).  Their laws are barbarous.  They set no limit to their marriages.  The chief wife of the king, called putriz in their language, determines nobility and the right to the succession—­to which her children are preferred, even when they are younger than the children of other mothers.  Not even the slightest theft is pardoned, but adultery is easily excused.  At daybreak, those appointed for this duty sound (by law) large timbrels in the streets of the settlements, in order to awaken married people, whom, on account of human propagation, they judge worthy of political care.  The majority of crimes are punished by death.  In other things they obey the tyranny or will of the conqueror.