Page "Banda Islands" Paragraph 8

The Dutch followed the Portuguese to Banda but were to have a much more dominating and lasting presence.

Dutch-Bandanese relations were mutually resentful from the outset, with Holland ’ s first merchants complaining of Bandanese reneging on agreed deliveries and price, and cheating on quantity and quality.

For the Bandanese, on the other hand, although they welcomed another competitor purchaser for their spices, the items of trade offered by the Dutch — heavy woollens, and damasks, unwanted manufactured goods, for example — were usually unsuitable in comparison to traditional trade products.

The Javanese, Arab and Indian, and Portuguese traders for example brought indispensable items along steel knives, copper, medicines and prized Chinese porcelain.