CELEBES, an island in the Indian sea, seated under
the equator, and called by some Macassar. The
length and breadth has not been accurately computed; but the circumference, at a medium, is about eight
hundred miles. It had formerly six kingdoms, which
are reduced to one. The air is hot and moist; and
subject to great rains during the north-west winds,
which blow from November to March, at which time
the country is overflowed, and for this reason they
build their houses on piles of wood ten feet high.
The most healthful time is during the northern mon-
soons, which seldom fail blowing regularly in one
part of the year. The chief vegetables are rice and
coconuts; but they have ebony, sanders, &c. Their
fruits and flowers are much the same as in the neigh-
bouring parts of the Indies. They have pepper,
sugar, betel, areca, the finest cotton, and opium. The
natives have bright olive complexions, and the wo-
men have shining black hair. They are thought to
be very handsome by the Dutch and Chinese, who
often purchase them for bedfellows. The men are
industrious, robust, and make excellent soldiers. Their
arms are sabres, and trunks, from whence they blow
poisoned darts, which are pointed with the tooth of a
sea-fish. Some likewise use poisoned daggers. They
were the last of the Indian nations that were enslaved
by the Dutch, which could not be effected till after a
long war. They teach their children to read and
write, and their characters have some resemblance of
the Arabic. Their religion being Mahometan, the
men indulge themselves in many wives and concu-
bines. The employment of the women is spinning,
cookery, and making their own and their husbands
cloaths. The men wear jewels in their ears, and the
women gold chains about their necks. The inhabitants
in general go half naked, without any thing on their
head, legs, or feet, and some have nothing but a cloth
about their middle. The streets of the town Macassar
are spacious, and planted with trees on every side. It
stands by the side of the only large river they have in
the island. The Dutch have a fort here, mounted
with 40 guns, and garrisoned with 700 men. There
is only one other town of note, called Jampandam,
where they also have a fort. The island is not near
so populous as when the Dutch conquered it; the men
being hired for soldiers in most of the neighbouring
countries.
The religion of these islands was formerly idolatry.
They worshipped the sun and moon. They sacrificed
to them in the public squares, having no materials
which they thought valuable enough to be employed
in raising temples. About two centuries ago, some
Christians and Mahometans having brought their opi-
nions to Celebes, the principal king of the country
took a dislike to the national worship. Having con-
vened a general assembly, he ascended an eminence,
when, spreading out his hands towards heaven, he
told the deity, that he would acknowledge for truth
that doctrine whose ministers should first arrive in his
dominions, and, as the winds and waves were at his
command, the Almighty would have himself to blame
if he embraced a falsehood. The assembly broke up,
determined to wait the orders of heaven, and to obey
the first missionaries that should arrive. The Maho-
metans were the most active, and their religion ac-
cordingly prevailed.