Volume 14 Australasia - dana ward's homepage

CELEBES. 227Topography ofCelebes.The most famous city in Celebes is Mangkassar (Macassar), tlieUJitng Pandangof the natives, and by the Dutch often called Vtaardingen, from the fort of thatname erected in the centre of the town. Xorth of this fort stretches the busynative quarter, with its crowded streets, shipping, and Bugi, Chinese, and Arabtraders ; to the south lies the European quarter, with its avenues of large trees,and numerous shady gardens. Macassar, occupjing one of the most convenientpositions for trade in Indonesia, had already been much frequented \>\ the Malayswhen it was seized by the Portuguese in 1538. The Dutch occupation dates fromthe erection of Fort \laardingen in 1665, after which trade rapidly increased tiU1846, when Macassar was declared a free port, to the detriment of its commercialprosperity. A chief item of the export trade is the lakalava extract from the pulpof the badu plant, long known in Europe by the name of Macassar oil. Theroadstead is well sheltered from all winds hj the numerous chains of islets andreefs forming the Spermonde Archipelago.Although held by the Dutch for over two centuries, the province ofMacassarhas but few good roads.The most important is the route skirting the coast northand south of the capital, leading northwards to Maros, residence of a vassal prince,and running thence through several petty states to Tanette. Another highwayrunning east crosses the rugged region north of Mount Bonthain, reaching theeast coast at Sinjai and Baking JVipa. The southern route, after passing Goa{Gowa), residence of a former powerful sovereign, traverses Glisong, Takalar, andother coast towns inhabited by daring mariners. On the south coast of theMacassar penins-ula the chief place is Bonthain [Banfaeng), which has succeededBulakomba as capital of the district."Other "kingdoms" occupy the eastern slope of Macassar and of the two peninsulasradiating eastwards ; but their capitals are mere hamlets, like the numerousfishing stations on the creeks and sheltered straits of these waters. Bajoa, theport of Boni, at one time the most powerful state in Celebes, is an active centre oftrade. But the eastern shores of Celebes present little but a monotonous successionof headlands, inlets, and wooded tracts, mostly destitute of inhabitants, andvisited onh* by the Orang-Bajo, the " Gipsies ofthe sea," in quest of trepang andtortoise-shell.Farther north the shores of the gulf ofTolo or Tomaiki, with all their naturaladvantages, present the same desolate aspect. Even most of the adjacent islandsare deserted, and of the Sula (Xula) Archipelago the only inhabited islands areSula Besi and Sula Taliabo. The Togean Archipelago also, which lies in thenorthern gulf of Tomini (Gorontolo), has a mixed joopulation of not more thanfour hundred souls. Parigi, at the neck of the northern peninsula, occupies afavourable position for trade at the narrowest part of the connecting isthmus, andwithin 21 miles of the Bay of Fains on the opjiosite coast. Palos itself, lying in afertile district on a deep and well-sheltered bay, enjoys quite exceptional commercialadvantages.q2