Voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga : $b through the southern and little-known parts of the Moluccan Archipelago, and along the previously unknown southern coast of New Guinea, performed during the years 1825 & 1826Kolff, D. H. (Dirk Hendrik)
History
Voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga : $b through the southern and little-known parts of the Moluccan Archipelago, and along the previously unknown southern coast of New Guinea, performed during the years 1825 & 1826
Kolff, D. H. (Dirk Hendrik)
Dourga (Brig); Maluku (Indonesia) -- Description and travel; New Guinea -- Description and travel
The mode of warfare which obtains among the Macassars, differs
considerably from that adopted by the other natives of the Archipelago,
than whom they are more wealthy and better armed, while at the same
time they take the lead in cleverness and ferocity. When under their
own chiefs, they are not remarkable for shewing that courage which
is commonly ascribed to them, especially to the Bughis, this being
displayed rather upon the sea than on land. They will rarely stand
firm against the attacks of regular troops in the field, but fight
well from ambuscades or from behind entrenchments. Their arms consist
of very good guns, manufactured by themselves, with spears, krisses,
klewangs and lelahs.[4] The chiefs and head warriors wear armour, made
of plaited iron or copper wire, which they call baju-ranti or chain
shirt: it will resist a thrust from the klewang or kriss, but affords
no protection against a musket ball.
In the southern parts of Celebes, horses of a very good description
are to be met with, which the natives manage with considerable skill.
A cushion stuffed with cotton, and laid upon the animal's back, forms
their saddle, on which they sit cross-legged, and with this simple
contrivance their seat is so firm that they take bold leaps, and scour
across the country in a manner truly surprising. When a chief is
killed, his relatives and slaves do not care to survive, but a case of
this sort rarely takes place, as the former usually remain on spots
free from danger. The Bughis will carry their slain off the field of
battle at every risk, and will submit to great loss rather than fail
in this object. It is difficult, however, to draw them into making an
assault _en masse_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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