Bugis Temasek

1. Forward

Blood-thirsty warriors have been synonymous to a Bugis. Their

co-existence in Asia have spanned across the entire uncharted
oceanic globe, long before the European Navigators. They have
historically sculptured Asian History, establishing their profound
cultures to where they have settled and dominated, yet. Despite
of their compelling approach towards leadership, they were
versatile, easily assimilated with their neighbours. Buginese are
friendly people, with good sense of humour amongst their peers,
but always focused on what they desire to achieve. Yet, these
discoveries were little known to the modern world, due to the
lack of records pertaining to their astounding achievements in
ancient civilization & maritime pursuits. Who are the Bugis?

This book presents the life and culture of the Bugis people in
Singapore, with a touch of its historical origin from Celebes
(Sulawesi). Here, we will gain some insight of the way a typical
bugis lives, despite of them being generally known as Malays
locally. I hope, this short read will enlighten readers of all race in
Singapore.

To start with, Bugis Junction is by no mean a name given to a

shopping complex by accident.

S.Sarafian

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3. Diaspora
In the 1300, bugis ships have been trading between India,
Malacca and China carrying various cargoes, ranging from
spices, opium, fabrics and slaves. The enterprising Bugis
provided shipping charter to the region comprising of
escorting ships sailing along to ensure safe and timely
delivery, while deterring sea-pirates from their persistency in
engaging lone-sailing navigators.

Portuguese  
During the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the fourth and last
Sultan of Malacca, the kingdom was attack by the Portuguese
under their leader, Alfonso D'Albequere.1

Hence the Bugis traders shited their interest to other regions

after the attack, presumably some to have settled in Singapore.
One of the known Bugis trader during that period was
Nakhoda Bonang whom have returned from Malacca to
Makassar, with some of his men, said to have settled in
Singapore. *

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The Fall of Malacca....under attacked by the Portuguese Fleet

When the Portuguese reached Sulawesi in 1511, they found

Makassar a thriving cosmopolitan entre-port where Chinese,
Arabs, Indians, Siamese, Javanese, and Malays came to trade
their manufactured metal goods and fine textiles for precious
pearls, gold, copper, camphor and, of course, the invaluable
spices - nutmeg, cloves and mace which were brought from
the interior and from the neighbouring Spice Islands, the
present day Moluccas.

Dutch 

S ulawesi's colourful history is the story of spices and foreign

merchants of mariners and sultans and of foreign power
wresting control of the spice trade. Much of South Sulawesi's
early history was written in old texts that can be traced back to
the 13th and 14th centuries. 3

The arrival of the Dutch in the early 17th century, altered

events dramatically. Their first objective was to create a
hegemony over the spice trade and their first move was to
capture the fort of Makassar in 1667, which they rebuilt and
renamed Fort Rotterdam. From this base they managed to
destroy the strongholds of the Sultan of Gowa who was then
forced to live on the outskirts of Makassar.

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