Welcome to Ambon!
Ambon has many ancient villages, each of which once had its own raja. The most famous of these is probably Hitu, a village on the north coast, situated on the splendid bay of Mamala. Hitu is a Moslem village of historical importance because of one of its native sons, Rejali Hitu, a 15th-century nobleman who wrote of the arrival of the first Portuguese vessel ever to be seen in Maluku, its sinking, and the subsequent drunken behavior of its crew. Rejali wrote in Malay using Arabic script. The original manuscript was taken to Holland before WW2 by Resident Jansen, who left the then raja of Hitu Mesing with a stack of photographs of the 60 or so pages which I once actually saw at the house of Ibrahim Pelu. The original manuscript has evidently survived the war, because I have heard that it is now in Holland. But try as I might, I have never been able to gain access to it, so all that I know of it is just what Ibrahim Pelu read to me--a very lively and well-written story.
Another important Moslem village is Tulehu, on the east coast, facing Pulau Pombo, where I interviewed a certain Abu Bakar Nahumaruri about the History of his family.
But the best Islamic raja friend I ever had was surely Bapa Raja Nukuhehe, of Seit, who took me in to spend a few days recouperating with him when I was about 16 or 17. I had sailed around the west coast of Ambon in a catboat made by myself and Octovianus Leskona, one of my mother's Bible students.
And in my youth I also became acquainted with a certain Nona Mewar of Laha, who related to me the fascinating story of Hairun Jamil Tomagola.
There are also many interesting Christian villages on Ambon, among others Hutumuri, whence came that amazing Moluccan prophetess, Tante Tji Thenu, whose daughter was my father's secretary. Through Tante Tji I also had access to the writings of A. Sopaheluwakan, who recorded chants in the ancient tongue.
I also found interesting historical information in Paso, where I befriended the then raja, Tiang Salmanela. He told me of the voyage of his ancestor, Latu Sarimanela, to Ternate, and the resulting pela between Paso and Batumera, and the terrible consequences that ensued when this pela was broken.
And here is a snippit from a Dutch book about beautiful Kate-Kate, where I spent my boyhood--one of the finest spots on earth.
In my own voice: Hena Ma Sa Way A.