Celebes

Etymology and other names

Modern	Sulavesi
	Celebes
	Macascar
	Macassar
	Macasaria

Sources from old books

1638. The merchants mappe of commerce wherein by Lewes Roberts.

Of CELEBS Iland, and the Trade thereof.

THe Iland Celebs is the next in this Tract, not farre distant from Borneo Iland, through part of which runneth the Equator, yeelding by the vicinity of the Su•… the same commodities proper to Sumatra, Borneo, Gilolo and others, seated under the same line; it is subject to severall Princes, and injoyeth some eminent Townes frequented by European Merchants, for the sake of their rich commodities, as Durati, Mamaio, Tubon and Maccasar, the chiefest Port for the trade and commerce of this Iland, and where the English have a residencie and factory, and following their observations made in this place, I find,

Their coines currant here in use is found to be the Mass, Cuppan and Taile thus valued.

A taile is accounted for 16 masses in currant value, and is reckned to be worth 15 rialls of eight.

A mass is a gold coine, as is the taile, and wants somewhat of 5 sh. or a riall of 〈◊〉 Spanish.

And this mass is 4 cuppans, each cuppan esteemed to be about 14^d starling money; and by this calculation the taile should make starling 3 li. 14 sh. 8 d. and by the account of R 〈◊〉 at 5 sh. starling, the taile is 3 li. 15 sh. starling.

The common weights in use is the Ganton, Zicoyan and Masse, thus agreeing with the English weight haberdepois.

The Ganton is both a weight and measure, in weight it is found to be about 5 li. English, and in measure about two English gallons.

A Mass in weight is 40 Gantons, which is 200 li. English, or 80 gallons English.

A Zicoyan is 20 Masses in weight, which is 4000 li. English, or 800 Cantons of this place.

To proceed to the rest of the Ilands in these Seas, is a worke past my skill, or I thinke most mens els, considering the multitude thereof, the Philipins being discovered by the Spaniard in Ann•… 1564, being in number 110 thousand, as some Authors report. Over against China are also found 7448 Ilands, and about India 127000 great and small more, which in many places stand so •…igh one to another, that they seeme not onely to such as are afarre off to touch and to be all as one firme land, but whosoever passeth betweene them, may with his hands touch the boughes of the •…es, both on the one and on the other side. Many commo•…es are found growing upon these Ilands, with which the In•…itants of many of them, maintaine a Traffique with their •…ghbours; the knowledge whereof I leave to the better ex•…ienced.

Now forasmuch as Portugals, Dutch and English have of late •…ares discovered those Countries of India, and that some of them •…ve since setled themselves by Forts and Castles there: It will •…t be improper I should here survey their strengths and holds •…ilt for defence, and their factorie setled for traffique throughout is continent of Asia and the Ilands thereof. The Portugals •…en were the first that brake the ice, and in Anno 1498 departing •…om Lixborne, under command of Vasco di Gamma, doubled the •…e of bona Esperance, which hath proved so successefull to them •…ce that time that they have mastered, conquered and fortified •…emselves beyond that cape in Soffala, Quiloa, Mosambique, Mom•…a, and in Ormus in the Persian gulph, lately againe lost. In In•… they have the Castles and Townes of Diu, Daman, Basain, •…aul, Goa, Honor, Barsola, Mongalor, Cananor, Cronganor, Cochin •…d Colan. In Silon they have Collumbo, bragging of one of the •…st Ports of the World, on the coast of Cormandell; they hold •…egapatam and S. Thomas: In Bengala they have Porto pequenio, and •…rto grande, and Serapure; also Serone, Mollucca; and some holds 〈◊〉 the Mollucca Ilands, Macao, and Nungasarke in Iapan and divers •…hers; in all which they are found to be both strong, powerfull, •…nd great, and masters of all the rich traffique of these places, •…hich thus for 100 yeares very neere, they have both peaceably •…nd quietly injoyed at their owne termes and conditions, till the •…utch disturbed them, who seconded them in the trade of India, •…ho were the next who envying, that this rich streame should •…nely run his current to Lixborne, and that all the pretious commo•…ities of India should first salute Portugall, set out from Amsterdam〈◊〉 Anno 1595, and have since so well played their cards, and plea•…ed as some alledge so strongly with Cannon law and steele argu•…ents, that within 30 yeares they have found themselves to be Masters and commanders. In these Countries and Seas of 28 Forts •…nd Castles, and of 44 or 45 factories, for the preservation and pro•…ecution of their trade and government; the names and draughts of which, some of their owne Nation have published to their no lit•…le honour, and no small estimation; so that it may be imagined •…hat their flood and the Spaniards ebbe, will in few yeares bring the Indies to be more theirs then the Portugals, notwithstanding their so long possession.

The English Nation are the last and least in this trade and discovery, for they imitating onely the Portugals and Dutch in the due rules of the prosecution of a trade, but not in the prosecution of the natives; begun their discoveries in Anno 1600, under the command of S r. Iames Lancaster, with 4 Shippes, the Dragon, Hector, Asenton and Susan, whose indeavours have since by the blessing of GOD, and the good government of that company so well succeeded, that they have sent forth above 30 Fleets or voyages; and have setled their residence and Factors in 20 or 24 severall place•… of note, as at Ormus and Iasques, in the entrance of the Persian gulp•…, under the Persian Monarch at Cambaia, Surrat and Agria, and other places in the great Moguls Countrey, at Musulapan, Armago•… Petipoly, Pottana, Siam and other places on the coast of Cormandel•… and the continent of Asia: at Achin, Ticko, Iambe and Prianian, o•… the Iland Sumatra, at Bantam, Iaccettra and Iaparra on the Iland 〈◊〉 Iava, at Socodana, and Benier masa on the Iland Borneo; at Mogass•… in the Iland of Celebs, at Palleron on the Iland Banda, at Firando i•… Iapan; and lastly in Amboina, Hitto, and other of the Molucco•… which they quietly injoyed, untill the traiterous and bloody mind•… Dutch did butcherly betray their lives, purposely to deprive them of th•… trade, and to satisfie their unsatiable blood-thirstinesse; as is extant 〈◊〉 the passages of that act in severall languages in the World.

These are then the onely three European Nations that now contend and get share amongst them; the traffique and commodities of these easterne Countries, the Portugals making Lixborne the scale of the East India commodities; the Hollander making their Amsterdam the staple for their parts, and the English London for their emporium; which within these late yeeres, notwithstanding the sundry crosses and losses, is increased to that height and eminency, that these Merchants doe not onely furnish Italy, but also Constantinople, Aleppo, Smyrna, and other parts of Turkey, with all those Indian commodities, which within lesse then these twenty yeeres, they brought from thence into England, to the prejudice of Syria and Aegypt, and to the enriching of the English subjects in general: as hath been most judiciously and at large demonstrated (by that right honourable Knight S^r. D. D. in severall particulars; as first by the riall founders thereof; secondly by the equitie and justice of the trade; thirdly by the honour arising thereby to the English nation, in the strength added to the Navie Royal of this land; fourthly by the former fortunate successe of it, and the profit that may be yet reaped thereby to the whole Kingdome, and to the fellowship of that societie; besides the increase of Mariners, and of arts and knowledge; fifthly, by farre discoveries and hopes of propagation of religion in those yet heathenish Countries.

But leaving thus the Indian Ilands, and the further survey therof to those late Masters of that trade, I will proceed in what is yet resting to passe through, as belonging to Asia, which are the Ilands of Ciprus and Rhodes, seated in the mediterranean Sea, to which I shall now hasten.

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Macascar, Macassar, Macasaria, a great Island in the Indian Sea, sometimes called Celebes. Extended from North to South two hundred French Leagues; and one hundred broad: there are in it six Kingdoms, Macasar, Cion, Sanguin, Cauripana, Getigan and Supara: the two principal Cities, are Macasar and Bantachia. The South parts are much frequented by the English and Dutch: which latter of late in 1669. have severely treated the King of Macascar; whose Dominions lie in the South of the Island, and comprehend the far greatest part of it. This Island lies between the Molucco's to the East, and Borneo to the West; and is sometimes ascribed to the former. The Line cutteth the Northern part of it. The Inhabitants heretofore went naked; did eat Mans Flesh, and had all the Criminals of the Molucco's sent over to them for that purpose: but they are much civilized. Two young Princes of this Country, Brothers, that were bred at Siam in the Mahometan Religion, and sent to Paris by the King of Siam to be instructed in Christianity, on October 17. 1687. received Christian Baptism at Paris. It produces plenty Rice, Fruit, Cocao, Cattle, Fish; besides Gold, Ivory, Cotton, &c. The City Macasar stands in the South part, and enjoys the benefit of a good Port.