Far from the tourist tracks lie the Moluccans, a group of more than 1.000 islands, spreading over a distance of 1.000 km from Morotai in the North to Tanimbar in the South. The Moluccans are also called the “Spice Islands”, as they were – until the late 18th century – the only place in the world where clove, mace and nutmeg grew. For hundreds of years, seafarers, pirates and explorers were sailing over the oceans to find those invaluable spices. Long before the Europeans discovered the islands, the inhabitants had had trading connections with Arabs, Chinese, Malays and Indians. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese, Spaniards, Dutch and Englishmen found their way to the legendary “Spice Islands” and tried to establish trading posts there.
Today, aside from clove and nutmeg, the islanders grow cocoanuts and work as fishermen, pearl divers and collect sea cucumbers for the Chinese market.

The Moluccans, except Aru, are situated within the so-called Wallacea zone, a region between the Asian and Australian fauna, and are well-known for the huge variety of birds, insects, fish and marine life, most notable the Moluccan cockatoo and the Dugong, a sea cow.

In spite close trading links for hundreds of years with Chinese, Moslem Arabs and Malays, Christian Europeans and Missionary activities through Christian churches, one can still find lively animistic traditions and beliefs and ancestor worship throughout the Moluccan islands.

Far from the traditional trading routes lies the southern coast of West New Guinea. Although – aside from others – James Cook had gone ashore there during one of his around-the-world trips in the 1770’s and the Dutch seaman Carstensz had seen the snow-capped top of Puncak Jaya (formerly Carstensz Pyramid), the hostile environment and the equally hostile inhabitants, who were feared headhunters and cannibals, kept the Europeans away from the southern coast for a long time.
Only in the 20th century did the Dutch colonial government start to open up the coast, pacify the inhabitants and explore the rivers. At the beginning of the 20th century, Dutch and English expeditions tried to reach the glaciers and in the middle of the century, Catholic missionaries began their work in the Asmat territory. Meanwhile, the feared headhunters have turned into Christians and are now famous for their exquisite woodcarvings that fetch good prices with primitive art collectors around the world.