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TERNATE 86 TOPOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL DESCRIPTIONS
VIII
Banggai and Dependencies
[p. 123] There is little agreement on the exact position of the Banggai archipelago.
According to Bosscher and Matthijsen 1 these islands lie between 1° and 2° south latitude
and 122°52’ and 124°26’ east longitude, but on the adjacent map the location of the
farthermost islands is more western and southern, and a more accurate survey of these
waters is needed. That sketchy outline has only been included to give an idea of the extent
of the Banggai area and, wherever possible, to indicate where, approximately, the main
kampongs are situated.
The four most important islands are Banggai, Labobo, Bangkulu, and Peleng. 2 All
four are inhabited, and surrounded by numerous smaller islands, where the inhabitants
live by fishing and burning salt [evaporating seawater to make salt]. Some of them
cultivate small gardens for a time to meet their daily demands.
The following islands belong to Banggai: Baluka, Bakakang, Togong Akat 3 , Togong
Totolu, Taulang, Sasar, Togon, Potil, Salui, Pandoboboi, Molilis, Kambongan, Tibalat,
Pufat, Tatapon, Buong-Buong, Timpaus, and Masoni. 4 [p. 124]
To Labobo belong the islands of Malambulang or Pedal, Saibumanuk, Tumbak
Pauno, and Pulu Tumbak.
The following islands go with Bangkulu: Lamunan, Linsawak, Togong Pilogot,
Masibubu, Totubek, Tambatun, Telok Bulu, Sagu, Mandibolu, Tunuan, and Togong
Bayoko.
In front of Seasea, which is on the west coast of Peleng, are the following islands:
Dilepaan, Togong Badang, Susung Puong, and Mengkelu.
1 [p. 123, n. 1] Only C. Bosscher and P.A. Matthijsen have described Banggai, in TBG, II:90 ff.
The report on the journey of van der Hart is quite lacking in value.
2 [p. 123, n. 2] Peleng is not called Gape by the people, as de Hollander claims (1877, II:282).
Traders sometimes call it Pulu Tengah, because it lies between Banggai and Celebes. Perhaps
Riedel’s “Duitanga” is derived from the latter name (see Bijdragen van het Koninklijk Instituut,
XXXVIII:13).
3 [p. 123, n. 3] Togong means “island” in these regions. Non-natives write “togon,” but in
Malayan characters it is always .
4 [p. 123, n. 4] When we compare the names given by Bosscher and Matthijsen and the official
names, reported by de Hollander in a footnote, the latter seem to be more accurate. I got these
names from the headmen who were familiar with these places and the information was
supplemented by the post-holder, who has visited almost all these islands. To verify the correct [p.
124] manner of writing and to obviate later mistakes, I had them transcribed by the native Jurtulis
of the Rajah in Arabic characters.
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