ABSTRACT
1. The Island of Macasar (or rather Celebes*) is very large. The Sumbane, which in their Language is the same as Emperor, lives in the most Southern Part of all the Island, which lies in about six or seven Degrees of South Latitude. He [i.e. Hassan Udin] has several petty Kings under him. The Country abounds in Rice. Fourscore Years ago it was an inconsiderable country but since then has throve mightily by reason of the Fairs kept there for Ships met there from Manila, Goa, Macao, English and Dutch, so that abundance of rich Commodities were brought thither from all Parts of that Archipelago, and Trade enrich’d the Country, making its Sovereign powerful. Before this Trade, the knowledg of the Law of God was brought thither by means of the Portuguese then at Malaca, and that of Mahomet came from Siam. At that time they in Macasar were all Gentiles, but thinking it good to receive one of the two Religions they resolv’d to make use of an extravagant Expedient, which was at one and the same time to send away a Vessel to Siam for Mahometans, and another for Religious to Malaca, resolving to admit the Religion of those that should come first. This was their decision to give a true Solution to that Question and not to err in so essential a Matter! The Mahometans came first through the fault of those at Malaca, as I heard it often from grave Portugueses, as well Clergy as Laymen. So the People of Macasar receiv’d them and their Law, which they have since observ’d most strictly, and it has obstructed the Conversion to Christianity of those People. 1 When the Dutch 114took Malaca, most of the Portugueses, the Mungrels, and all others who serv’d them, retir’d to this Country. 1 The King receiv’d and assign’d them a place to live so that in my time there was a great Town of them there, and with the help of these Portugueses the Trade daily increas’d. Many Malayes also repair’d thither, and I have seen an Ambassador there from the great Nababo, that is of Golocondar [India]. No Man paid Anchorage or any other Duty there and saving the Presents that Captains of Ships and Merchants of Note made to the Sumbane, all the Trade was free. This made it the universal Mart of those Parts of the World. 2 The very day I arriv’d, Prince Carrin Carroro [Crain Cronron], a Man very well vers’d in ours and the Portuguese Language, sent me a Message. 3 He was the Son of that renowned, tho’ unfortunate Prince, our great friend Carrin Patin Galoa [Crain Patengaloan]. He sent me word he would see me in the House of a rich and considerable Man, who liv’d by our Residence. He would not go to the Monastery, because a little before [1657] the Sumbane and he had order’d our Dominican Church, and that of the Jesuit Fathers to be thrown down, at the Request of the Governour of the Bishoprick of Malaca, then living there, and of the Secular Curate, either because the Faithful all frequented the Monasteries, or else because there was not so much Alms given to the Secular Parish since the Religious shared in them. 4 This is the Original of all fallings out of this sort, and will 115ever be so. They made the Sumbane and Prince some good Presents to gain their Consent. The Churches were demolish’d by the Moors, but even all of them did not approve of the Action. Insomuch that there being great want of Rain that Year I was there, Carrin Samana [Crain Sumana], a Moor of great Repute and a rational Man, us’d to say, ‘How should God send Rain, when they destroy and burn his Churches?’ I went that Afternoon to see the Prince and he receiv’d me kindly, asking several Questions concerning Spain and Manila.
