Juanga (ship)
The keel of the ribs, as well as the front and rear height are adjusted and painted with fibers (guamuto, in the local language gomuto) through holes made in certain places.
These beams are called ngaju, serve as supports as in galleys, placed carefully until it doesn't wobble anymore.
[13] In the ngaju part of the ship, a floor of split rattan, a kind of upper level or deck, is made, which is called baileo.
If they ever wanted to do evil to the people who sailed on it, namely those who were armed, they could sweep the baileo with their ngaju; and the soldier fell into the water and drowned.
The kolano (kings of northern Maluku) occupy it whilst lying or sitting on halls, and beside it was a place for captains, ministers and armed soldiers.
Above these booths are covered with mats, called kakoya, from the bow to the stern like a tent in a galley (como temdas de geuale) for shelter from the hot sun and rain.
[14] While the king and the captains with the minister sailed on the baileo, their young sons stayed below, the others sat in the cangalha rowing.
The stalk is one covado (± 20 inches, 50.8 cm), the head is a small cross (huma cruzeta peqeuna) as a handle, while the left hand holds the leaf.
The wood is also used as a dinner plate and a place to cut any item (servem de comer neles e d'al qualquer cousa em hum trimcho).
[3] According to the same manuscript, in Maluku there are many types of ships, the most important of which is called the juanga, which resembles a royal galley (guales reaes).
He was also impressed by the speed and craftsmanship of the vessels, remarking:[16] "That care and attention, which govern their boat-building, cause their ships to sail like birds, while ours are like lead in this regard.
[23] In addition to the rowers and crew, every joanga carried a complement of warriors numbering upward of 100 in the largest vessels.
The commander of the marines had no direct say over the sailing of the raiding ship, but he was a superior officer and made decisions in consultation with the nakodah about whether or not to attack a coastal settlement or engage a passing vessel.
[24] Juanga was first recorded in a Portuguese manuscript on the history of Maluku, which was probably written by António Galvão in about 1544 published by H. Jacobs, S. J.
[27] After a rebellion in Tidore ended in 1722, Patani and Maba people who fled to Galela since 1720 were moved to Salawati in the Raja Ampat islands using a total of 30 juanga.
They were maritime expeditions (usually seasonal) against enemy villages for the purposes of gaining prestige through combat, taking plunder, and capturing slaves or hostages (sometimes brides).
This was spurred by the rising demand for slave labor in the Dutch East Indies as well as growing enmity between the Moro Sultanates and the European colonial powers.
Each year, Dutch, Spanish, and English colonies in the region were warned of the "pirate wind", from August to September, when the Iranun and Banguingui ships would traditionally start raiding.
