Sailcloth

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

"279. Sail cloth.
A piece of sail cloth such as that which is made by the natives themselves, very well woven from bast fibre into a durable cloth that is resistant to moisture and in some cases is to be preferred to European sail cloth. On South Celebes very large quantities of this sail cloth is woven so that it is exported to all parts of the archipelago. The variously shaped boats of the Buginese, who are all daring seamen and who sail into all parts of the entire archipelago as far as China, are equipped with a large number of sails of different shapes, all of which have special names. The Buginese understand sailing on the high seas masterfully, even in the foulest weather and they outdo each other in dare-deviltry and lust for adventure. The large square sails are becoming the ones most used. The triangular sail plays a less important role."

Translation of: Czurda, F. A. J. (1883). Catalog mit Erklärungen der Etnografischen Privatsammlung des Dr. F. A. J. Czurda in Postelberg (Böhmen). (p. 58-59). Wien, Wilhelm Braumüller