Benawa
Extinct horse- and buffalo-transport ship from Gowa, Sulawesi.
Tim WikiBatang - WikiBanua · CC BY-SA 4.0
The benawa, also called banawa, was a vessel from the old principality of Gowa, located in the southwest corner of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The earliest known mention of this ship appears in the *Hikayat Banjar*, a text written in or shortly after 1663. Today, the benawa is extinct, having been replaced by similar-hulled ships like the palari and padewakang.
The word *benawa* or *banawa* comes from Old Javanese, meaning boat or ship. In other languages, the same word can refer to different types of vessels depending on context.
The benawa was built to transport horses and buffaloes. Its hull was wide with a convex keel, and both the stem and sternpost were high. On each side, paths were attached to transverse beams that also divided the deck into equal compartments for animals. Above this stable area was a deck made of bamboo lattice. The ship was steered by two quarter rudders, with helmsmen standing on outboard galleries. These rudders were mounted on heavy crossbeams so they could be quickly released in an emergency. Below the poop deck was a cramped cabin for the captain. The vessel had two or three masts, each a three-legged post with the hind legs fitted into heavy tabernacles, allowing the mast to be lowered easily if the forelegs popped out of their hooks. The sails were tanja, made from karoro matting. In later centuries, under European influence, western-style sails were also used. In the past, Makassarese sailors may have sailed these ships as far as New Guinea and Singapore.
- Type
- Ship
- Origin
- Gowa, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Earliest record
- Hikayat Banjar, written in or not long after 1663
- Status
- Extinct
- Primary use
- Transporting horses and buffaloes
- Sail type
- Tanja, made with karoro matting; later also western-styled sails
Lore & Background
The benawa was made for transporting horses and buffaloes. Its hull is wide with a convex keel, and it has a high front and back stem and sternpost. On either side, paths are attached to a number of transverse beams that are attached to supports; these beams also divide the deck space into equal compartments for animals. The deck above the stable consists of bamboo lattice. The vessel is steered with two quarter rudders, with helmsmen standing on outboard galleries. The rudders are mounted on heavy crossbeams in such a way as to allow rapid emergency release. There is a cramped cabin for the captain below the poop deck. The vessel has two or three masts, which are three-legged posts with hind legs attached to heavy tabernacles; the mast can be lowered easily if the forelegs pop out of the hooks that hold them in place. The sails are tanja and made with karoro matting. With European influence in the latter centuries, western-styled sails could also be used. In the past, Makassarese sailors may have sailed them as far as New Guinea and Singapore.
Reader's Guide
The benawa represents a specialized maritime technology from the Makassarese region of Sulawesi, designed primarily for the transport of livestock such as horses and buffaloes. Its construction features—a wide hull, convex keel, high stems, and internal compartments for animals—reflect a practical adaptation to its cargo. The vessel's steering system, with two quarter rudders and emergency release mechanisms, indicates a sophisticated understanding of nautical engineering. The use of tanja sails made from karoro matting, later supplemented by western-styled sails, shows a blend of indigenous and European influences. Although now extinct, replaced by palari and padewakang, the benawa is historically significant as a record of pre-colonial and early colonial Indonesian shipbuilding. Its mention in the Hikayat Banjar, a text from the 17th century, provides a rare written reference to this vessel type. The possible voyages of Makassarese sailors to New Guinea and Singapore suggest the benawa's role in regional trade and travel.
Did You Know?
- The earliest record of the benawa is from the Hikayat Banjar, written in or not long after 1663.
- The benawa was made for transporting horses and buffaloes, with a deck above the stable made of bamboo lattice.
- The vessel had two or three masts that could be lowered easily if the forelegs popped out of their holding hooks.
- Makassarese sailors may have sailed benawas as far as New Guinea and Singapore.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Benawa?
The Benawa (also spelled Banawa) was a traditional sailing vessel from the old Gowa principality in southwestern Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is now extinct, having been replaced by similar-hulled ships such as the palari and padewakang.
What does the name 'Benawa' mean?
The word traces back to Old Javanese, where it simply denotes a boat or ship. In other regional languages, the same root can refer to different vessel types depending on the local context.
What was the Benawa built to do?
Its primary purpose was transporting livestock, specifically horses and buffaloes, across the waters around Sulawesi. The hull was designed to bear the weight and movement of these animals safely during voyages.
When is the earliest known record of a Benawa?
The first surviving mention of this ship type appears in the Hikayat Banjar, a text composed in or shortly after 1663. That reference makes it one of the better-documented vessels of the Gowa maritime tradition.
What kind of sails did the Benawa use?
It originally carried tanja-type sails woven from karoro matting, a traditional material common to the region. Later in its history, western-styled sails were also fitted onto these vessels.
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