Attack near Waisamma, Buru, 17 February 1653

Attack near Waisamma, on the island of Buru, 17 February 1653. During the Great Ambon War (1651-1656), the leaders of the fight against the VOC received military support from Makassar from mid-1652 onwards. By the end of that year, Arnold de Vlamingh, commander of the VOC troops in that war, learned that a Makasar fleet had arrived near Waisamma, on the island of Buru. The drawing shows how VOC troops march upriver to the location of the Makasar vessels. After a fierce battle, the Makasars are driven from their hastily erected fortification, and their vessels are burned. The VOC troops return following the river and burn the village along the way. A poem on the top right praises the victory.

Legend: A sijn onse soldaten, B sijn onse landwaerd in marserende soldaten, C is vijands vesting die we winnen, D der vijanden vaertuigh die verbrand worden, E der vijanden negrij, F onse aftrekkende soldaten, G onse roejachten.

Part of an illustrated manuscript version of Livinus Bor, Amboinse Oorlogen, describing the events of the Great Ambon War (1651-1656), and defending and glorifying the acts of the VOC commander in this conflict, Arnold de Vlamingh van Oudshoorn.

See also: Koninklijke Bibliotheek KW 75 D 23, na fol. 72v.

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