Dear Moluccans,

Here is a transcript from Bickmore, a man who is known to have disliked
Moluccan people:

"TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO, 1868,"
By Bickmore.

A description of the resident's reception at Nusa Laut (1865?):

Nusalaut, like the other Uliassers, is completely surrounded by a shallow
platform of coral, which is mostly bare at low water.  We therefore entered a
small bay, where the deep water would allow our boat to come near the shore.
Coolies now waded off with chairs on their shoulders, and landed us dry-footed
on the beach, where there were a dozen natives, clad in what is supposed to
have been the war costume of their ancestors long before the arrival of
Europeans.  They were quite naked,and carried in their right hands large
cleavers or swords (some of which I noticed were made of wood).  On the left
arm was a narrow shield about four feet long, and evidently more for show than
use, as it was only three or four inches wide in the middle.  On the head was
a kind of crown, and, as long plumes were scarce, sticks were covered with
white hen feathers, and stuck in as a substitute.  From their shoulders and
elbows hung strips of bright red calico to make them look gay or fierce (it
was difficult to say which).  Their war dance consisted in springing forward
and backward, and whirling rapidly round.  Forming in two lines, they fiercely
brandished their swords, as we advanced between them to a little elevation,
where all the rajas had gathered to receive the resident.