Kisar
Encyclopedia
Kisar, also known as Yotowawa, is a small island
in the Southwestern Moluccas in Indonesia
.
Island in an area of great tectonic activity.
The Oirata language and unrelated Kisar a trade language (also locally known as Yotowawa or Meher) are spoken here.
The Timor Monitor (Varanus timorensis) is found in Kisar.
1795 Kisar was under English rule, 1803 it was under Dutch/French rule and in 1810 again under English rule. 1817 Kisar was returned to the Dutch until the outpost was abandoned in 1819. After that time Kisar upheld close ties with their Portuguese, Topasses
and Timorese neighbours on Timor.
After WWII and Indonesia's independence the island was temporarily considered part of the segregated RMS, but ultimately became part of the unitary Indonesian state.
Nowadays the Raja is respected as a traditional dignitary, but has no political power. The present Raja is well educated and for 5 years worked as a government official in nearby East-Timor, when part of Indonesia. There he met his wife Maria Antonette Ribeiru.
(East Nusatenggara), and Surabaya
in East Java. Passenger ships also call at Pulau Kisar from Ambon, Kupang and Surabaya.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Southwestern Moluccas in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
Description
It is located to the northeast of TimorTimor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
Island in an area of great tectonic activity.
The Oirata language and unrelated Kisar a trade language (also locally known as Yotowawa or Meher) are spoken here.
The Timor Monitor (Varanus timorensis) is found in Kisar.
History
1665 the Dutch VOC built a military base and named the island after the Kisar word for white sand. From the European outpost on Kisar a relatively large Indo Eurasian community developed named the 'Mestizo from Kisar' to this day their descendants live as Rajas and chiefs on Kisar. Surviving family names include: Joostenz, Wouthuysen, Caffin, Lerrick, Peelman, Lander, Ruff, Bellmin-Belder, Coenradi, van Delsen, Schilling and Bakker.1795 Kisar was under English rule, 1803 it was under Dutch/French rule and in 1810 again under English rule. 1817 Kisar was returned to the Dutch until the outpost was abandoned in 1819. After that time Kisar upheld close ties with their Portuguese, Topasses
Topasses
Topasses were a group of people in maritime Asia in the early modern period, who claimed Portuguese ancestry or had taken up Portuguese culture and language. Topasses were found in the various places of South Asia and Southeast Asia which were frequented by the Portuguese, such as Goa, Malacca and...
and Timorese neighbours on Timor.
After WWII and Indonesia's independence the island was temporarily considered part of the segregated RMS, but ultimately became part of the unitary Indonesian state.
Nobility
The current and 12th Raja (king) of Kisar, Johannes J. Bakker, succeeded his father Raja Hairmere Philipus Zacharias Bakker. The first Raja Cornelis Bakker, who also ruled Wetar, Roma and Leti island via his brothers, was crowned ca. 1665.Nowadays the Raja is respected as a traditional dignitary, but has no political power. The present Raja is well educated and for 5 years worked as a government official in nearby East-Timor, when part of Indonesia. There he met his wife Maria Antonette Ribeiru.
Transport
The small and remote Pulau Kisar has a small airport, near desa Purpura on the north side of the island, that receives flights from Ambon (Maluku), KupangKupang
Not to be confused with Tanjung Kupang in JohoreKupang is the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara province in southeast Indonesia....
(East Nusatenggara), and Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
in East Java. Passenger ships also call at Pulau Kisar from Ambon, Kupang and Surabaya.