“He who controls the spice, controls the universe.” Such were the words uttered by the main character of the movie Dune based on the Frank Herbert science fiction epic of the same name. In the story, the spice was the lifeblood of a vast empire. For the leaders of this empire, it was essential that at all times ‘the spice must flow.’ The spice trade of the Dune movie was no doubt inspired by the historical trade in aromatics from ancient times to the present. At various periods in history, spices have been as valuable as gold and silver. According to a 15th century saying: “No man should die who can afford cinnamon.”

While the clove route started in the south, cinnamon trade began in the north. The cinnamon route started in the cinnamon and cassia-producing regions of northern Indochina and southern China and then likely proceeded from South China ports southward during the winter monsoon down the Philippine corridor. The route likely turned southeast at that point to Sumatra and/or Java to pick up different varieties of cinnamon and cassia along with aloeswood and benzoin. From southwestern Indonesia the voyage then took the Austronesian merchants across the great expanse of the Indian Ocean to Africa.

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Additional Hints (There are no hints for this cache)

3/10/2007 by compass McGillicutty
Did not find. Found Clove and found GZ for Cinnamon, but know sign of cache. With kids, did not spend too much time really looking.

3/1/2007 by Team Geo-Rangers
Another cache and stroll tonight. Thanks for the fun! #3909

2/19/2007 by gobeach
Cache probably won't make it through this windy weather, it's pretty exposed.

2/18/2007 by gobeach
Found this one laying on the ground, likely out of place. We put it back but it's not hidden very well at all; not knowing where it was originally makes it hard to put it back without an obvious location. Cache owner should take a look to make sure we put it in the right place.

2/12/2007 by JJG10101
Looked for a sec or two, then spotted it. Fast one, but I'm a big fan of fast. TFTC!

2/9/2007 by Pacholik
Had to wait on some kids that where walking by. Found the clove container here. Thanks

2/8/2007 by cache_in_pocket
I'm glad I had the bike in the back of my car. Just zipped on over to this one after finding the cache prior to this one.On the way back to the car, not only was I hankering for dill weed stew, but now I wanted some clove ham too. Thanks for the fun.

2/6/2007 by Team Rand
Great walk with our dogs and then a quick find. Thanks for the fun cache.

2/3/2007 by karlareo
2TF.... Thanks for the hide! Enjoyed the stroll down spice lane.

The Rocking Reo's

1/20/2007 by Happy & Skippy
With the kids still sleeping (and I in my jammies), it was a welcome call from HappyTBF to go grab a couple quick FTFs. This area just keeps getting nicer and nicer with these parks and trails. Got a little confused by the cache containers, but they smell yummy.

Skippy :)