The first significant foreign influence in Bacan came from the Portuguese, who established a fort on the island in 1558. In 1609, however, this fort was captured by the Dutch East India Company, marking the beginning of Dutch rule over Bacan. After 1889, the island's monarchy was replaced by committee of chiefs under the control of Dutch officer.
Colonial interest in Bacan was primarily driven by the spice trade, which was flourishing in Ternate, Tidore, and Halmahera. The island of Bacan was not particularly sought after for its own resources, but rather, to assist control of the more valuable islands nearby. From 1882 onwards, the Batjan Company attempted to exploit the island, but was largely unsuccessful owing to a deficient knowledge of the soil and its capabilities and a lack of labourers.
Bacan has more recently been in the news due to violence between Christian and Muslim inhabitants of the island.
Population
The interior of the island is relatively uninhabited and none of the dwellers on the coast are indigenous. They consist of the Sirani (Christian descendants of the Portuguese), of Malays, Papuans, and immigrants from other islands. The total number of inhabitants is about 13,000. The most significant town on the island is Labuha, situated on the west side of the island. Nearby is the town of Amasing (or Amasingkota), once a significant settlement on the island.Geography
The island is of irregular form, consisting of two distinct mountainous parts, united by a low isthmus, which a slight subsidence would submerge. The total land area is around 5,416 square kilometres. The island is in part of volcanic formation, and the existence of hot springs points to volcanic activity. There are, however, especially in the southern portion, ancient and non-volcanic rocks. The highest elevation occurs at the south of the island, the mountain of Labua reaching 6950 ft. Coal and other minerals have been discovered. A large portion of the island is richly wooded, and sago, cocoa-nuts and cloves (which are indigenous) are abundantly produced. Natural life
Bacan is of interest to zoologists as the most eastern point on the globe inhabited by any of the Quadrumana, a black ape occurring here as in the Moluccas. The island is very rich in birds and insects.History
Bacan was once governed by an indigenous sultan, with a similar political structure to the more powerful sultanates in Ternate and Tidore. Reference