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TERNATE 94 TOPOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL DESCRIPTIONS
IX
From Banggai to Tobungku 1
[p. 135] None of the Ternatese possessions is as little known as the small state of
Tobungku, situated on the east coast of Celebes and bordered to the west and south by the
small states of Luwu and Kendari. It stretches down along the coast from Togong Teong as
far as Cape Nipa-Nipah at the southernmost point. A deep bay forms the northernmost
coastal area, which in many writings is called the Gulf of Tomori, but is locally known as
Telok Tomaiki.
Due to the extensive Malapati reef, which has not yet been properly charted, and to
unfamiliarity with the waters to the south of Peleng, progress with a steamer from Banggai
is rather slow. Along the way, precaution soundings are continually taken to avoid
unpleasant surprises. Moreover, the map by Edeling shows Lanona or Tombuku as the
capital, but this is only confusing. Although the government was established there before
Tobungku was subjected to Ternate, the Rajah has lived at Sakita for almost 200 years. 2 It
also appears that the position of Sakita has been shown too much to the north on Edeling’s
map. This also is not conducive to a speedy arrival: at one time it took me two and one-half
days to cover the distance from Banggai to Tobungku.
After the ship has dropped anchor, the Rajah and his retinue [p. 136] soon arrive to
pay their respects. Then we go ashore to return the visit. On the beach a bodyguard is
waiting to receive us and to the sound of the cymbal, preceded by a few shieldbearers, he
leads us through a few dilapidated gates to the fortifications, which, surrounded by a
wooden palisade, are in a most dilapidated state, and in which the Ternatese officials are
living. 3
Continuing in a southerly direction, along a long bamboo bridge through a marshy
sago forest, we reach the house of the Rajah. We are invited to sit down in the inner
gallery, where it is so dark, because of the closed curtains, that at half past two in the
afternoon a few lamps are lit. One of the officials who came with us on this trip hands over
the letter from the Sultan, which makes its rounds on a tray; the Rajah and then all the
officials honor it first by kissing it and then pressing it for a moment against their
foreheads. A Khatib (mosque official) comes closer to read out the contents; the man is
quite old and it takes a long time before one of the followers has fetched his glasses. He is
1 [p. 135, n. 1] This is the real name and not Tombuku, as is written in Bosscher and Matthijsen,
TBG, 65 ff. I will refer several times to the description of the state given by Bosscher and
Matthijsen.
2 [p. 135, n. 2] This information was given to me by the Rajah and his officials. Later on I read in
the report by Revius, who traveled in this area in 1850 as a delegate, that he had recommended
Sakita as the seat of the government instead of the then-capital, Lanona. I have not been able to
find out which statement is true.
3 [p. 136, n. 1] The large number of lillas and rantakas (brass cannons) scattered all over the
ground is striking. In the times of the pirates these were used to arm the trade proas.
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