Historic Maps and Images of Banda

 

 


A central component of this research project on pre-colonial Banda are the maps and images drawn by the first European visitors to the islands in the 16th and early 17th centuries. These maps and images provide glimpses into Bandanese society prior to the massacre and conquest of the islands by the Dutch in the 1620's,and provide comparative information that is used with archaeological data. I have put a few of these up here for you viewing pleasure--over a minute to download if you have a 28.8 modem or slower (compare with contemporary map).

View of Banda Naira and Gunung Api by Valentijn, drawn circa 1680

(from: Valentijn, Francois. 1724: Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien, Vol.3. (1858 ed.). Gravenhage: H.C. Susan)

Map of Banda by Valentijn c. 1680--the most accurate of the early colonial maps.

(from:Valentijn, Francois. 1724: Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien, Vol.3. (1858 ed.). Gravenhage: H.C. Susan)

 

Map of Banda, from the voyage of van Neck to the East Indies, 1599. The island "Wayer" is a puzzling error. There is a village named "Wayer" (not on this map) on Banda Besar's southeast coast, opposite Comber.

(from: "Tweede Boeck" 1601: Het Tweede Boeck, Journal oft dagh-register. In De Tweede Schipvaart der Nederlanders naar Oost-Indie Onder Jacob Corneilsz van Neck en Wybrandt Warwijck, 1598-1600, J. Keuning, ed. Vol. 3. 1942, pp. 1-186. The Hague: Nijhoff for Linschoten-Vereeniging)

 

Map from the log book of the Dutch ship Gelderland, 1602. Note the unusual perspective--combination planar and profile view. This map shows many of the smaller villages not listed on the van Neck map above, although the outer islands of Pulau Ay, Run and Rozengain do not show villages.


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Contents copyright 1998 Peter Lape
Last updated December 22, 1998