Kai Archipelago

The Kai, or Kei, Islands belonged to the maritime trading world east of Banda. In 1646, a Dutch observer described Kei islanders sailing to Banda with the eastern monsoon and returning with the western monsoon. Sago, gold, parrot plumes and pottery were exchanged for textiles. The Dutch conquest of Banda in 1621 also brought displaced Bandanese to Kei Besar, where Banda Ely and Banda Elat became centres of their community.

Relations with the Dutch East India Company developed through agreements with particular island communities. In 1622 the Company reached an agreement with leaders of Har, Laar and Add on Kei Besar; a representative was installed at Elat before 1636. Kur communities made further agreements in 1661 and 1664. More regular Dutch intervention in appointments and local disputes followed after 1816, when the Netherlands recovered Maluku from Britain. These arrangements accumulated gradually across an archipelago with its own village leadership.