Canoe oar

Balolang

Note: The following text is taken from a 19th-century collection catalog and, in its language and perspective, partially reflects colonial thought patterns. We present the text in its original version to make the collection's history transparent and promote a critical examination of the colonial legacy. Certain terms and formulations may be perceived as problematic today. A 2009 research project concluded that most descriptions are factually correct and still usable; only a few details were found to be inaccurate or incorrect. The results of this project were published in the following collection catalog: https://khm-wmw-tm-library.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1457155265

"420. Canoe - "Balolang"
The canoe is the typical means of transport of all of the inhabitants of the coastal areas of the Indian Archipelago. It is called "Lipa-lipa" and is carved and hollowed out from a tree trunk in a very tedious way. The present example belongs to the smaller type, only intended for two people. There are some which are only for one person, with which the natives, using a rudder, glide over the water as quick as an arrow. On the other hand there are large, beautifully worked canoes fitting easily twenty people, five to six meters long, again carved from a single tree trunk.
If such a canoe is used without a sail, then simple oars are used. The men must sit on the bottom either with crossed legs or they must crouch down. They must sit quietly and keep their upper bodies straight and in the middle line of the canoe, since by strong movements the center of gravity can be affected and the boat can begin to rock so that the simply built vessels will not only take water but capsize. Since the boat has been carved from a very light wood, it cannot ever sink when it fills completely with water. In such a case the boatmen, who normally do not wear much clothing, spring into the water and swim around so long until, by rocking the boat back and forth, they are able to get all the water out of the boat, when all of the people climb back on board from both sides of the boat. If the boat turns over in bad weather, this is not too serious, it is quickly brought back to the proper position, bailed out, the floating oars gathered together again and the men retake their places; so in the majority of cases such an incident will occur without consequence. And when, from time to time, in very bad weather the people on the boat never return, no particular impression is made on the relatives and in the village because of the indolent character of this folk.
To reach farther out to sea with this type of vessel and to utilize the wind, three-sided or four-sided sails are used. Since the wind would be too strong for these very large sails on such light weight boats, they have outriggers on both sides: poles that are tied across the canoe and have large "balancing wood" pieces at their ends thus preventing the canoes from turning over without affecting the speed of the boat. A canoe equipped with sails shoots like an arrow across the water by moderate winds and no European boat which is similarly equipped can catch it. For this reason pirates and beach robbers, who are still plentiful in the waters of Celebes, are always able to escape their pursuers even if they have to leave their large boats behind. It is the duty of the Dutch East Indian Navy which patrols the waters to bring in the beach and sea robbers, something which almost never happens. Even though once in awhile they capture a large pirate boat the crew always knows how to escape with their little canoes.
The present example has a small triangular sail, a wide rudder fixed in the back on the left side, two oars, a small bench of bamboo, an original anchor made of a hook-shaped piece of wood on whose upper part a large stone is tied with rattan and finally a water scoop - in this case a large shell which has been specially prepared for this purpose. A native will often dare to go out to sea for miles with this small vessel with provisions of some drinking water, cooked rice, Spanish pepper, dried fish and the inevitable betel. He will go out for an entire day to the open sea and fish with long fishing lines. Usually he leaves the land with a wind which blows from the land to the sea and returns again to the land with a sea wind, loaded with large and small fish that will then be sun-dried, half-decayed and stinking, also fried in coconut oil or baked, his favourite dish."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 95-97). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller