Located in South Sulawesi Province, Selayar Islands have more than a fascinating nature and potential for tourism. In the past, it also played a significant role in the Spice Routes. In his analysis entitled Situs Bonto Sikuyu, Kepulauan Selayar, Shinatria Adhityatama, an archaeologist, marked the strategic location of Selayar that connected the western to the eastern parts of Indonesia, and vice versa.
Concerning the Spice Routes, Selayar played a stopover for merchants who wanted to fulfill their supplies and a place to repair their wooden ships headed to the spice islands. This strategic value attracted the rulers to put Selayar into their territories. Thus, not only the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom, which expanded their territory to the east part, but also the Tidore Kingdom, ruled Selayar for several periods.
Some evidence strengthened the narration of Selayar’s role in the shipping routes traffic in Nusantara, such as the bronze nekara, ancient anchor and cannon, also Chinese ceramics and coins. The ancient anchor and cannon, the historical items dated from the 17th century, are now placed in Kampung Padang, Bontosunggu Village, Bontoharu district, Selayar Islands Regency.
The Shipping and Trade Law of Amanna Gappa, written in the 17th century, stated that Selayar was one of the trading destinations. Because Selayar stretched from northern to eastern parts of Indonesia, it became a stopover for sailors from the west or east monsoon, and the location was traversed by the routes to the west and east. The script of Amanna Gappa also mentioned the rent for people who sailed from Makassar to Aceh, Kedah, and Cambodia with the price of 7 real for every 100 people, and if they boarded from Selayar, Malacca, and Johor, they needed to pay 6 real for every 100 people. Real was Spanish coins made of silver.
According to the local information, the ancient cannon in Kampung Padang belonged to Baba’ Desan, a merchant from China who once lived there. The cannon from Baba’ Desan’s vessel was used as a defensive tool from the pirates’ attack. Baba’ Desan traded to get seafood; he conducted trades with other local merchants by sailing. Kampung Padang played a stopover to fulfill the water supply and a shelter from unconditional weather and season in one sailing route. In its development, besides taking shelter in Kampung Padang, the merchants also married the locals and lived there.
At the end of the 17th century, a merchant from China named Gowa Liong Hui sailed a great merchant ship, crossing the Kampung Padang for years, and later stayed there until the ship was broken. The locals saved the gigantic ancient anchor along with Baba’ Desan’ cannon.
There are several anchors and canons kept in the Anchor and Cannon Museum in Selayar Islands. Among them are an anchor with 270 cm long and 3 cm thickness; an anchor with 240 cm long and 3 cm thickness; a canon with 145 cm long, 11 cm for its upper diameter, and 23 cm for its lower part; a canon with 137 cm long with the diameter of 9 cm and 46 cm for its lower diameter; and a canon with 119 cm long, 9 cm upper diameter, and 16 cm for its lower diameter.
References:
Adhiyatama, Shinatria. 2015. Data Analysis (Situs Bonto Sikuyu, Kepulauan Selayar). Article. Research Gate.
Budaya Saya. 2020, Webinar Dari Selayar ke Makassar. Jejak Rempah Mendunia. 25 September 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKnXKhV1Irg&t=1345s
Anchor and Canon Museum of Selayar Islands.
Technical Implementation Unit of Nekara Museum Education and Culture Department of Selayar Islands Regency.
Text: Putri
Editor: Tiya Septiawati
Translator: Izaz Ahlanda Putra
Reviewer: Dhiani Probhosiwi
