Waisama is situated on Buru, a big island at the far west side of the Ambon Islands. In the first half of the 17th century, it was officially under indirect rule from the Sultan of Ternate. As opposed to Western Seram, the VOC did not have much involvement in the region in this period. However, as the island was sometimes used as a hiding place and staging area by opponents of the VOC monopoly from e.g. Makassar, when they came to fight and/or trade in the islands, the VOC sometimes sent expeditions there to find and destroy such fleets. In 1657 the VOC officially became the ruler of Waisama, along with all of Buru, when the indirect rule of Ternate was abolished. Even after that time, however, the VOC had limited power and influence there.
