 |
| The province of South Sulawesi comprises the narrow
south-western peninsula of this orchid-shaped island which is mainly mountainous. The
seafaring Bugis dominate the southern tip, whereas the northern part of South Sulawesi is
inhabited by the Torajas whose unique culture rivals that of the Balinese. Famed for their
seafaring heritage and Pinisi schooners for centuries, the Bugis possess to the present
day one of the last sailing fleets in the world. The Bugis vessels have sailed to as far as the Australian coast, leaving behind drawings of their ships on stone with words that have been integrated into the Aboriginal language of north Australia. Situated on the crossroads of well traveled sea lanes, its capital and chief trading port of Ujung Pandang, is till today the gateway to eastern Indonesia. Spanish and Portuguese galleons, followed by British and Dutch traders sailed these seas in search of the spice trade, escorted by their men of war to protect them against the daring raids of the Bugis and Makassarase who attacked the intruders. |
