390 HISTORY OF CELEBES. trade, and proved no benefit to any party, while • the natives have not borrowed one useful improve- ment from their masters, but continue to this day the same ferocious semibarbarians which we found them when we first interposed in their politics, more than a century and a half ago. The particulars of the story of Celebes, from the establishment of the ascendancy of Boni and the Dutch, are detailed at sufficient length in the chro- nological table ; and it would be unprofitable to insist upon them at a greater one in this place. The most considerable of the rebellions alluded to are those of Bontolangkasa and of Sangldlang. That of the first desolated the country five years, and it re- quired the utmost exertions of the Dutch authori- ties at Batavia to prevent the enterprising and gal- lant chief from subduing the whole island, and ex- pelling the Europeans. The rebeiiion <?f Sanghu lang was still more ruinous, for it lasted during the almost incredible period of sixteen years, yet such was the obscurity of the adventurer, that his birth, parentage, or country, could never be ascertained. * . * The mateiials of this short sketch of the history of Ce- lebes were obtained by the author, when at Macassar, in 18 14. They consist of the manuscript memoir of a Governor Bloii, written in 1759, a judicious performance; and of se- veral native writings, both in the Bugis and Macassar lan- guage, of which translations were made into the Malay for the author's use. The originals are in his possession.
