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A Pretender on Gowa' Throne. The War of Batara Gowa I. Singkilang in South West Celebes, 1776–c. 1790

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2010

M.P.H. Roessingh
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Extract

The subject of this article is the fight for the throne in the kingdom of Gowa at the end of the 18th century, during the decline of the Dutch East India Company, a period which also saw the downfall of Gowa and the supremacy of Bone. The sources for the history of this period are twofold: on one hand the indigenous sources, “lontara-bilang” (diaries) and other records in Buginese and Makassarese; secondly, the European writings, principally the archival materials from the Dutch government at Makassar, supplemented by travel accounts and reports of the English. My primary sources are almost exclusively Dutch, namely the papers of the VOC, as they are preserved in the General State Archives in The Hague. To be more precise, these sources may be in Dutch, but in addition to the letters etc. written by Company officials, they also contain translations from documents drawn up by the rulers of Bone and Gowa or other of Asians. Moreover, the governors of Makassar often made use of indigenous sources, both oral and written, in preparing their lengthy memoirs about the state of affairs in their district. In 1736, the High Government in Batavia decided that two accurate genealogical tables must be prepared of the royal houses of Bone and Gowa.

Type
Articles
Information
Itinerario , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , July 1985 , pp. 151 - 177
Copyright
Copyright © Research Institute for History, Leiden University 1985

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References

Notes

1. See for indignenous sources and historiography: Cense 1951, 1966, Ligtvoet 1880, Matthes 1875, 1883 (note 4), Noorduyn 1955 and Andaya, L.Y., “Ideas on research in South Sulawesi,” Itinerario 1978–2, p. 59–64 (Bulletin of the Leiden Centre for the History of European Expansion).Google Scholar

2. Realia: register op de generale resolutiën van het Kasteel Batavia (3 vols. in 1; Leiden/'s-Gravenhage/Batavia, 1882–1886) 6 Febr. 1736: “Twee accurate geslagtstafels te formeeren van de koninglijke Bonijse en Goase familiën.”Google Scholar

3. Blok e.d. van Hoëvell 1848; Engl. transl. by J. von Stubenvoll, with appendices; Calcutta, 1817.

4. Matthes, B. F., Kort verslag aangaande alle mij in Europa bekende Makassaarsche en Boeginesche handschriften, vooral die van het Nederlandsch Bijbelgenootschap (Amsterdam, 1875).Google ScholarIdem, Makassaarsche Chrestomathie. Oorspronkel jke Makassaarsche geschriften in proza en poëzij uitgegeven, van aanteekeningen voorzien en ten deele vertaald (Amsterdam, 1883 2).Google Scholar

5. Crawfurd 1820, vol. II, p. 390.

6. Stapel, F.W., Het Bongaaisch Verdrag ('s-Gravenhage, 1922)Google Scholar . The Dutch text of the treaty of Bongaya and following contracts is printed in Corpus Diplomaticum Neerlando-lndicum, ed. and annot. by Heeres, J.E. and Stapel, F.W. (6 vols., 's-Gravenhage, 1907–1955)Google Scholar . See also Andaya, L.Y., “Treaty conceptions and misconceptions: a case study from South Sulawesi,” BKI 134 (1978)p. 275–295. This article was published after the completion of my paperGoogle Scholar.

7. See for Arung Sinkan of Wadjo: Noorduyn 1955.

8. This was La Patau, 15th Arumpone. See genealogical table. Cf. for the kingdom of Bone and the position of La Tenritatta to Unru' (= Arung Palakka): Andaya, L.Y., “The nature of kingship in Bone,” p. 115–125Google Scholar of Reid, A. and Castles, L. (ed.), Pre-colonial State Systems in Southeast Asia; the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, BaliLombok, South Celebes (Kuala Lumpur, 1975)Google Scholar. (Monographs of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society:6). Also of importance for 17th and 18th century history is: Mattulada, , “Some notes on the nineteenth century Dutch colonial system of power control in the South Sulawesi region,” Papers of the Dutch-Indonesian Historical Conference held at Noordwijkerhoud, the Netherlands, 19 to 22 May 1976 (Leiden/Jakarta, 1978), p. 163–177.Google Scholar

9. Friedericy 1933, p. 487. Apparently Friedericy follows closely the exposition by Tideman 1908 p. 359–360, without mentioning this source.

10. Stavorinus ed. Wilcocke 1798, vol. 2, p. 175–291: account of Celebes, esp. Makassar.

11. Lineton 1975, p. 174–175.

12. “Mr. Dalrymple's Account of Celebes. Fort St. George, April 1763.” India Office Records, London, Home Miscellaneous Series, vol. 795(11) p. 33–47. Quoted by Vincent Harlow, T., The Founding of the Second British Empire, 1763–1793. Vol. 1: Discovery and Revolution (London, 1952) p. 141.Google Scholar

13. Blok ed. van Hoëvell 1848, p. 28.

14. Memoir of Governor Loten, J.G. of 1750, printed in Berigten van het Historisch Genootschap 5,1 (1853) p. p 1–44; data about Mangiratu Arung Palakka and Djaliluddin on p. 10–11.Google Scholar

15. Nederburgh Collection, ARA, inv. no. 413: Report of the retiring governor of Makassar C. Sinkelaar to his successor J. Boelen, 4 July 1767.

16. VOC 842, section 9, fol. 1–7: Secret resolution GGRR, 9 Jan. 1767.

17. VOC 3215, OB 1768 XXIX; section 4, fol. 163: J. Smoder to C. Sinkelaar, 25 Febr. 1767. K.A. 697, fol. 455–456: Resolution GGRR, 8 May 1767.

18. VOC 3215, OB 1768 XXIX; section 12, fol. 380–386: King and State Council of Gowa to GGRR, 10 June 1767. Dutch transl. from Malay.

19. Idem; section 12, fol. 379–380: King of Bone to GGRR, 6 July 1767. Dutch transl. from Malay.

20. Idem; section 12, fol. 472: Mangiratu Arung Palakka to Batara Gowa, received at Batavia 10 Nov. 1767. Dutch transl. from Malay.

21. VOC 799, fol. 104–105: Resolution GGRR, 31 Oct. 1769.

22. Van Hoëvell 1854, p. 162. Buddingh 1843, Van Hoëvell 1854, the compiler of “Makassaarsche Historiën” 1855 and Erkelens 1901 have written chronicles of the Sankilangperiod and after, partly based on original sources. These accounts differ considerably as to dates, spelling of personal and geographical names and the proper sequence of events.

23. Carteret's voyage ed. Wallis, Helen 1965; the incident at Bonthain in vol. 1, p. 84, 229–232; documents concerning Carteret's transactions with the Dutch in vol. 2, p. 365–437.Google Scholar

24. H. 352: 11 Nov. 1776. (KITLV, H 352: Abstracts from the diary and the secret diary of the Governor of Makassar, 1669–1800, 1808–1826. 2 vols., copied at Makassar in 1836 and 1837. Vol. 1, p. 247–287: abstracts covering 1771 Oct. 18–1785 Nov. 11. These abstacts are generally identical with the copies in the VOC archives, ARA, dispersed in VOC 3332–3596, OB 1772 XXV - 1786 XXVII, sections “Makassar.” To facilitate reference I have quoted mostly from KITLV H 352).

25. Matthes 18852, p. 721.

26. Tideman 1908, p. 360–361; Abdurrazak Patunru c. 1967, p. 135–136. The English translation was done for me by Leonard Y. Andaya.

27. II 352: 14 Nov. 1776. OB 1777 XXV: Brugman to Governor Van der Voort, 4 Dec. 1776.

28. H 352: 18 and 28 Nov. 1776.

29. H 352: 17 Dec. 1776.

30. H 352: 18 and 20 Dec. 1776.

31. H 352: 12, 21, 26 and 29 May, 2 June 1777.

32. OB 1778 XXX: Secret diary 17 May 1777.

33. Idem: 27 May 1777.

34. H 352: 8 June 1777.

35. OB 1778 XXX: Secret diary 16 May 1777.

36. Idem: 26 May 1777.

37. H 352: 15, 16, 17 and 20 June 1777.

38. H 352: 5 July 1777. OB 1778 XXX: Secret diary 7 July 1777.

The part concerning the Gowarese regalia reads as follows:

“Dat gemelde eerste Tomilalang, daarop met den vijand gesproken hebbende, vervolgens bij hem (=Zainuddin) gesonden had om de rijksornamenten van hem af te vorderen, hij daarop hadde geantwoord: ‘gijlieden Makassaeren hebt mij tot koning verkooren, en nu wilt gij die goederen weder van mij afnemen; het is wèl, maar permitteerd mij eerst om uit Goa te trekken, en dan kunt gij deselve neemen, als sijnde op mijn huis, of ik sal se daar laeten.' Gelijk hij sig dan ook 's anderen daags morgens uit Goa begeeven had met een enkel kleedje en 't geen hij aan sijn lijf had; betuigde nogthans op nadere afvrage dat hij nog van de rijksornamenten de volgende geborgen en meedegenomen hadde, naementlijk:

Een goude tatrappang genaamd Daing Tama Tjinna

Een kris genaamd Panjangalowea

Een dito, genaamd Kalang Bodoa

Een wondersteen, genaamd Kalau Nagaya

Een Japanse snaphan genaamd Angebanko

Een assegaay genaamt Toeny Palangu

Het wetboek van Goa genaamt Oeloe Kanaya

En dat de resteeerende die hij daar gelaeten hadde bestonden in de volgende, te weeten:

Een buyksnijder genaamd Soedang

Een buiksgordel gemaand Baraya

Twee ballen van een buffel genaamd Tamalauloeng

Een stukje van een goude ketting genaamd Itanisamang

Twaalf goude tockens of halsverciersels, alle met goude penningen

Een goude kroon genaamt Makotaya

Een paar porcelaine schotels genaamd Patana Jamang

Een paar goude ringen genaamd Pamoenko Klappaya

Twee paaren goude pentos of armgingen genaamd Ponto Nagaya

Een spat genaamd Poeleh

Een assegay genaamt Panjanya Lowea

Een dito genaamt Pana Baka

Een hofstandaart genaamt Soeleng Ankaya en

Een dito genaamd Pangkalang Oting.”

A 19th century description of the regalia in Eerdmans 1895–1896, p. 63–64.

39. Friedericy 1933; summary about regalia on p. 491–501. See also Nooteboom 1937 and Koerts, H.J., “Bestuursambtenaren in Zuid-Celebes,” p. 45–72 of Besturen Overzee, ed. by Wal, S.L. van der (Franeker, 1977) esp. p. 56–63: “De adatstructuren.”Google Scholar

40. OB 1778 XXX: Secret diary 29 March 1777.

41. Idem: 22 July and 18 August 1777.

42. Idem: 24, 25 and 28 June 1778.

43. Bassett, D.K., British trade and policy in Indonesia and Malaysia in the late 18th century (Zug/Hull, 1971) p. 28: “In the Anglo-Dutch war of 1780–4 the British Company captured Padang and planned to overthrow Dutch rule in Celebes, but these were the products of unusual circumstances.” See also p. 39–40: the proposed voyage to Ce-lebes of Thomas Forrest with the “Fly,” 1781–1782.Google Scholar

44. H 352: 16 Oct. 1781. See also the list of sources and literature: Rickleffs & Voorhoeve 1977, N.B.

45. II 352: 6 June 1785.

46. VOC 3765, OB 1778 XXVII; La D, fol. 73–77: King of Bone to A.J. van Halm, August 1787. Dutch transl. from Buginese.

47. The Arumpone's reply exemplifies the difference of conception between the Dutch and the indigenous population as regards the meaning and use of treaties. See Andaya in BKI 1978 (mentioned in note 6): “Whereas the Dutch would cite a particular provision within the detailed Bungaya treaty, the native states would simply refer to “the treaty” without mention of any specific clause. Often they rested their case on the fact of the existence of the treaty alone and dismissed out of hand any Company efforts to counter their arguments based upon the formal terms of the treaty.” (p. 278). “The idea of treaties, not as an instrument of oppression but as a means of establishing proper and peaceful relations with other states in the diplomatic sphere, was comprehensible in South Sulawesi because it resembled the concept of siri' in the sphere of personal relations. In this society each individual is governed by siri' a term approximating our understanding of the English words ‘shame’ and ‘self-respect’ or ‘self-worth’.” (p. 284).

48. VOC 3769, OB 1789 IV; fol. 1578–1591: King of Bone to GGRR, 10 Sept. 1787. Dutch transl. from Buginese.

49. The report of A.H.C. Staringh with annexes in OB 1792 I; resolutions GGRR, 9 Febr. 1791, concerning Staringh's voyage to Celebes in OB 1791 X, fol. 4600–4606; see also Jonge, J.C. de, Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen (5 vols., Haarlem, 1858–1862) vol. 4, p. 743–751.Google Scholar

50. VOC 3740, OB 1788 II; fol. 246 verso: GGRR to Directors VOC, 13 Nov. 1787.

51. Abdurrazak Parunru c. 1967, p. 145–149.

52. See for movements of Karaeng Data in the 19th century the surveys in Kooreman 1883, Tideman 1908 and KITLV H 607 I (manuscript of A. Ligtvoet).

53. See for instance Friedericy, H.J.'s story “De dubbeleaar,” in: Vorsten, Vissers en Boeren, 1957.Google Scholar

54. Steinberg, D.J., ed., In Search of Southeast Asia: A Modern History (Kuala Lumpur/Singapore, 1971) p. 77Google Scholar; quoted by Lineton 1975, p. 176–177. The “decay” theory for which Raffles' writings are responsible; widely upheld by contemporary historians of the area; see Jim Warren on Sulu in JAS May 1980 p. 477–490, esp. 481 and note 9!

55. The alleged right of the Dutch to meddle with the succession of a new ruler was a frequent cause of misunderstanding: “When a delegation from Bone came to Fort Rotterdam in 1714 to inform the Dutch that a new ruler of Bone had been chosen, it was told that such a selection required approval from the Dutch leaders in Batavia. The delegation coldly retorted that it had come not to consult but inform them of Bone's decision.” (Andaya in BKI 1978 p. 290; see notes 6 and 47 above).

56. Archives Oost-Indisch Comité 1796–1800, ARA, inv. no. 71, fol. 155: Resolution GGRR, 17 Sept. 1793. Idem, inv. no. 73, fol. 93: GGRRR to Governor Ceylon, 4 Oct. 1793.