Banda Isles, a portion of the Moluccas, consisting of 12 islands, 6 of which are uninhabited, about 50 miles to the south of Ceram. Their mean lat. and long. respectively are , and Area, 17 sq. m.; pop. estimated at 500
Europeans and half-castes, and 6000 natives, mostly descendants of the emancipated slaves. The chief production is the nutmeg, the average annual export of which spice amounts to 1,460,000 lb., with a corresponding quantity—over 280,000 lb.—of mace. An active volcano, Gunong-Api (1744 feet), rises near the centre of the group. In 1801-14 the islands were acquired by the Dutch.