Ai (Banda Islands)
| Ai | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Waters | Banda Lake | |
| Archipelago | Banda Islands | |
| Geographical location | 4 ° 31 '50 " S , 129 ° 46' 30" E | |
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| length | 2.6 km | |
| width | 2.1 km | |
| surface | 4 km² | |
| main place | Ai | |
Ai (also written Ay or Waii earlier ) is one of the Indonesian Banda Islands , which in turn belong to the Moluccas , and is located in the Banda Sea .
Run 7 km to the west and Banda Api 7 km to the east
The island measures over 2 km in north-south and east-west directions. The largest settlement is Ai on the north coast. 1 km north is the small island of Pualu Kraka, about 200 m long.
Nutmeg is grown on the island, and the trade with it brought the inhabitants great wealth. Until the early 17th century, the Banda Islands were ruled by local people, the Orang Kaya (which means: "rich men"). The Portuguese were the first Europeans to dominate the spice trade from the 16th century. At the beginning of the 17th century the English built a fort on Ai, Fort Revenge , which is still in ruins today . In 1615/16 the Dutch conquered the island of Ai against fierce resistance, but the English retained their economic and political influence.
In 1621 the newly appointed Governor General of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), Jan Pieterszoon Coen , conquered the entire Banda Islands and thereby also ended the rule of the Orang Kaya. The population was killed or enslaved, and many Bandanese fled to other islands. Slaves from different countries were brought to Ai to work on the nutmeg plantations.
Ai is connected to Banda Neira daily by boats. There is no water source on the island, rainwater is collected or water is brought by boat from other islands.
Individual evidence
- ^ Vincent C. Loth: Pioneers and Perkeniers: The Banda Islands in the 17th Century
- ↑ Travel report and pictures for Ai