BANDA ISLANDS. 



r. AN I'!'. 



i 



Krpotition of Ike Kdationt of Ike Brititk Government with the Sultan 



' BANDA ISLANDS are a group of small islands in the Eastern 

 Archipelago which lie about 45 miles to the south of Ceram, and nre 

 eonUined between 4* 22' and 4 83' S. lat., and 129 41' and 130 20' 

 E. long. They are nine in number, namely, Banda, Nera, Oonong, Way, 

 Bossingen, Rohun, Swanjee, PUang, and Capel, with several rocky 

 islet*. The group taken it* name from the first of these, which is the 

 Urgent island. The first authenticated visit made to these islands by 

 Europeans was by a squadron of Portuguese, sent by Albuquerque 

 from Malacca in 1511. That nation did not however appear in force 

 to take possession till 1521, from which time they maintained a pre- 

 carious footing for above 60 years a long period of anarchy and 

 hostility. The hatred of the natives to the Portuguese readily induced 

 them to join the Dutch in their expulsion ; but they soon found they 

 had but changed masters. The inlands were then occupied by the 

 Dutch who built a fort called Nassau in 1608, at which time the 

 Knglinh began to trade with the natives, but met with much arrogance 

 from the Dutch. In 1616 Rohun Island, the most barren island of the 

 group, having been ceded to the English, on expedition was sent from 

 Bantam which established a fort and factory there. This rivalry 

 naturally led to many quarrels, in all which the Dutch being the 

 stronger succeeded in gaining the advantage; but in 1619 it was 

 greed by treaty that England should enjoy one-third of the trade, a 

 privilege however from wnich the Dutch contrived entirely to exclude 

 the English. The Bandanese made various attempts to resist the 

 hard terms imposed on them as well as other islands in these seas by 

 the Dutch, who by dint of coercion retained their monopoly till 

 1796, when the Bandog were captured by the English without resist- 

 ance, but were restored to Holland by the treaty of 1801. In Sep- 

 tember 1811 they were again taken by the English, and once more 

 restored in August 1816. 



The Banda Islands have a total area of 8703 square miles. The 

 population in 1849 amounted to 155,765. They produce the nutmeg 

 almost exclusively, whence they are frequently termed the Nutmeg 

 Islands, in contradistinction to the Amboynas which yield the clove ; 

 from the nutmeg and mace the natives extract an oil aa an article of 

 trade. Their imports consist chiefly of rice, cloth, salt, pepper, and 

 molasses. At the time of their being first visited by Europeans these 

 islands were governed by an aristocracy of their own chiefs, or 

 Sabtndars. 



The Bandas are subject to earthquakes. On Gonong the highest of 

 the group there is a volcano 1940 feet high constantly emitting smoke 

 and frequently flame. On Nera, or Banda Neura as it is called by 

 Captain Keppel, is the chief settlement of the Dutch in these seas. 

 Ncra and Oonong are separated by a deep narrow channel Opposite 

 them to the southward is the larger island of Banda, which consists of 

 two strips of land about two miles in average breadth united nearly 

 at a right angle. One portion of the island runs north and south for 

 five miles, the other east and west for six miles. There is a nar- 

 row channel at either extremity. The bland curves round on the 

 north side nearly into a semi-circular shape and incloses the fine 

 harbour of Banda. The anchorage is protected by two forts called 

 Belgica and Nassau ; and on the opposite shore of Banda are a fort and 

 redoubts. All the islands are more or less fortified. Way Island is 

 the most beautiful and picturesque ; but there is no water ou it ; the 

 inhabitant* depend on rain or obtain supplies from the other islands. 

 Rosnngen is used as a state prison. The nutmeg grows on Banda, 

 Nera, Way, and Oonong: not only in the rich soil of Banda, but also 

 amidst the lavas of Oonong; the smaller islands chiefly raise pro- 

 visions. The area of the whole group only occupies a space of 190 

 square miles. The woods of nutmeg and forest-trees abound with an 

 adieu variety of beautiful birds, among which parrots, lowries, and 

 pigeon* are most prevalent Among the pigeons is the Papua crown- 

 pigeon nearly as large as a turkey. 



The tides about these islands rise between nine and ten feet. 



(Mandolslo's TravcU, L p. 412, Leyden, 1719; Barros; CmwfnnlV 

 Jtiitory of Ike Indian Arckipelago; Horsburgh's Directory for the 

 tul Indie*; Cai.t. Keppel's Indian Arckipelayo.) 



BANDA ORIENTAL' was the name of that portion of the vice- 

 royalty of Buenos Ayres which was situated to the east of tin- riv, r 

 Uruguay, and comprehended the present republic of Uruguay and the 

 country formerly called the Seven Missions. Lying between the great 

 body of the Spanish possessions and Brazil, it was at the commencement 

 of nearly every war between the Spaniards and Portuguese occupied by 

 the latter, but at the conclusion of peace entirely or in part restored 

 to the former. When Buenos Ayres declared itself independent ( 

 Spain the whole of the Banda Oriental was included in the then vice- 

 royalty of Buenos Ayres; but the continual civil warn by which the 

 declaration of independence was followed in Buenos Ayres i> 

 the government of Brazil in 1816 to take possession of the Banda 

 Oriental, which was united to Brazil under the title of Provincia 

 CinpUtin* (province on this side of the La Plata). The republic of 

 Buenos Ayres protested against this step, and as no amicable settle- 

 ment could be made a war began between Buenos Ayres and Brazil in 

 182fi, which wan terminated by a treaty of peace in 1828. By the 

 articles of thin treaty the northern district of the Banda Oriental, or 

 the Sena Mission., was incorporated with the empire of Brazil, and 



the larger southern part declared an independent r. . 

 the name of the' Republic of Uruguay. Banda Oriental, or ' Eastern 

 Bank,' was merely a descriptive name for the jrcrtion of the vioeroyalty 

 of Buenos Ayres that lay on the eastern side of the Uruguay. The 

 name is still used by newspaper writers and others, but it ought to be 

 borne in mind that they mean by it only a part of the territory 

 formerly so called, as the Seven Missions originally included i: 

 been incorporated with Brazil a* above stated. The country will lc 

 described under URUGUAY. 



BANDON, or BANDON BRIDGE, county of Cork, Ireland, partly 

 in the parish of Ballymodan in the baronies of East Carbery and 

 Kinalmenky, and partly in the parish of Kilbrogan and bar 

 Kinalmeaky, in the west riding; a municipal nnd parliain 

 borough, a post-town, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, ia situated 

 on the Bandon River, on the road from Cork to Bantry, distant -" 

 miles W.S.W. from Cork by the Cork and Bandon railway, and 177 

 miles S.W. from Dublin by the high road, or 186 mile* l.y th. 

 and Bandon, and Great Southern and Western railway*; in 51" 44' 

 N. lat, 8 44' W. long. The population of the town in 1841 was 

 9049; in 1851 it was 6929, exclusive of 1632 persons in the T'nion 

 workhouse. Bandon Poor-Law Union comprises 20 electoral di\ ' 

 with an area of 101,843 acres, and a population in 1841 of 47,812, in 

 1851 of 33,389. 



The Corporation erected by charter of King James I. has become 

 extinct. Its property is now vested in Commissioners appointed 

 under the 9th Geo. IV. c. 82. Bandon is the head-quarters of a con- 

 stabulary district, and head of an excise district Quarter sessions 

 are held hero in turn for the west riding. It returns one member to 

 the Imperial Parliament 



Bandon is a compact handsome town lying on Imth banks of the 

 Bandon River, which here flows through a rich open country, and 

 becomes navigable four miles lower down, at Inishannon. Th< 

 runs from west to east and divides the town into two sections ; that 

 on the north or left bank of the river, which includes about n third 

 part of the town, ia connected with the opposite side by a bridge of 

 six arches, from which the chief streets ou either side diverge. The 

 meat- and fish-market, a circular building in an open space near the 

 bridge, the barrack, court-house, and parish church of Kilbrogan a 

 cruciform structure with an open oak roof are the principal objects 

 ou the north side : the corn-market, artillery barracks, and parish 

 church of Ballymodan are situated in the southern division. The 

 right bank of the river is quayed in above the bridge. Bulky m 

 of import are brought by railway or high road from Collier's Quay, a 

 short distance below Inishannon. The terminus of the Cork and 

 Bandon railway is near the centre of the town in the southern divi- 

 sion. Bandon is principally built of stone, and contains a considerable 

 number of residences of the better class. In 1815 it had an ext 

 manufacturing trade in linens, woollens, and cottons. The linen trade 

 is now extinct; the manufacture of woollens and cottons has declined ; 

 that of fine stuffs has been commenced ; and the distilling trade, whieh 

 during the temperance movement was abandoned, has been iv\n,.l. 

 Bandon was formerly an exclusively Protestant town. The imputation 

 is now mixed, and there are in addition to the churches of the 

 Establishment a Roman Catholic chapel, a convent, a Scots church, a 

 meeting-house for Irish Presbyterians, and two for \\.-].\:,u 

 Methodists. The endowed school, which is under the care of a head 

 master and two other teachers, had 27 scholars in 1851. The town 

 contains a bridewell, a fever hospital, and a dispensary. IVtty 

 sessions are held in the town. Numerous fairs are held in the course 

 of the year. 



Bandon owes its origin to the enterprise of the first Karl if Cork, 

 who when Mr. Boyle in 1602 purchased the site, part of the forfeited 

 territory of the Irish sept of Omahony, from Mr. Becker the first 

 patentee, and about 1608, commenced the erection of the town. The 

 town covered an area of 27 acres, and was surrounded with strong 

 walls, of which some portions on the west and north still remain. 

 There were three gate-castles containing 26 rooms each ; 2 churches ; 

 2 session-houses; and 2 market-houses. In the great civil war of 

 1641 Bandon was the chief place of refuge for the Protestants of the 

 neighbouring district*. On Cromwell's approach the mh.- ; 

 declared for the Parliament In 1688 they expelled the garrison 

 placed here by James II., but wore obliged soon after to submit to a 

 detachment of his army. At this time the walls wore razed and 

 have never boon rebuilt 



(Smith's llitlory of Cork ; Townsend's (Surrey of Cork ; Ordnance 

 Survey M,;,.) 



IT', or as it is sometimes written and always pronounced 

 BAMFK, the ehief town <( KanffHhire, Scotland, a seaport ami royal 

 and parliamentary burgh, is built on a rising ground on the left 

 bank of thi near the fall of that river into the Moray 



Krith, in 57' 40' N. lat, 2" 30' W. long. It is 157 miles N. from 

 IvlinlMirgli, nnd !.' miles N.W. from Aberdeen. In conjunction with 

 the burghs of Elgin, Cullen, Peterhead, Invemry, and Kin tore, the 

 burgh of Banff returns one member to the Imperial Parliament : in 

 1851 the population of the royal burgh of Banff was 3557, that of 

 the parliamentary burgh^ which includes the neighbouring town of 

 Macduff, was 6000. 



Banff is generally admired by strangers for the neatness of its 



