Run (island) facts for kids

Run, a small island in Indonesia.

Run is located in the western part of the Banda Islands.

Pulau Run is a tiny island in Indonesia. It is one of the smallest islands in the Banda Islands group. This island is only about 3 kilometers (2 miles) long and less than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide.

Even though it's small, Pulau Run was once very important. This was because of two valuable spices: nutmeg and mace. Both of these spices come from the same tree. For a long time, these special trees only grew on the Banda Islands.

The Spice Trade and Early Visitors

During the exciting history of the spice trade, sailors from the British East India Company first arrived at Pulau Run in 1603. These explorers, including James Lancaster, John Davis, and John Middleton, had been staying in Bantam on the island of Java. When they reached Pulau Run, they made good friends with the local people.

Nutmeg and mace were incredibly expensive spices. This made Pulau Run a very desirable place. Because of its value, two wars were fought over control of the island and its precious spices.

Wars Over Spices and Treaties

The Treaty of Westminster officially ended the First Anglo-Dutch War (from 1652 to 1654). This treaty stated that Pulau Run should be given back to England. However, the first attempt to return the island in 1660 failed because of rules set by the Dutch. A second attempt in 1665 also failed. The English traders were forced to leave that same year, and the Dutch even destroyed the nutmeg trees on the island.

After the second Anglo-Dutch War, which lasted from 1665 to 1667, England and the United Provinces (the Netherlands) made a new agreement. This was called the Treaty of Breda. They decided to keep things as they were. The English got to keep the island of Manhattan. A fleet sent by the Duke of York (who later became King Charles II) had taken Manhattan illegally in 1664. They renamed it from New Amsterdam to New York. In return, Pulau Run was officially given to the Dutch.

The End of the Spice Monopoly

The Dutch had a special control, or "monopoly," over nutmeg and mace. This meant they were the only ones who could sell these spices. But this monopoly ended when nutmeg trees were taken from the Banda Islands. In 1810, Captain Cole captured the main island of Bandalontor. After this, nutmeg trees were moved to other places like Ceylon, Singapore, and other British colonies in 1817.

This event caused the Dutch to lose their main power in the spice trade. Even today, you can still find nutmeg trees growing on Pulau Run.

Images for kids

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  Map of Run Island dated 1623

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  Pulau Run around the year 1790

See also

In Spanish: Isla de Rhun para niños