Bomberai

The Bomberai grouping unites the West Bomberai family of Papuan languages, usually placed within Trans-New Guinea. It comprises Baham, Iha and Kalamang on the Bomberai Peninsula, and the Timor-Alor-Pantar branch.

These are the westernmost Papuan languages to survive, probably brought from New Guinea shortly before the Austronesian arrival, and all carry Austronesian loan layers. Trade in birds-of-paradise feathers linked the peninsula with Srivijaya in the 600s, and the Javanese Nagarakretagama of the 1300s names Wwanin and Sran, likely Onin and Kowiai, as Majapahit tributaries.

A Spanish expedition sighted the coast in 1606; Tidore later drew the peninsula into its tributary sphere, while Alor and Solor paid tribute to Bima. The Dutch built Fort Du Bus on Triton Bay in 1828 to anchor the Tidore protectorate, but abandoned it in 1835.