MACASSAR, the chief port in the island of Celebes, Dutch East Indies, and capital of the Government of Celebes and its de pendencies. (Also spelt Makassar; native Mangkasar.) The first Dutch settlement here was in 1607; it was known then as Vlaardingen. In 1618 the colonists were massacred, but in 1667 the power of the sultan of Macassar was shattered by the Dutch, who established themselves very firmly at Macassar, seizing the old fort built in the time of a Portuguese settlement, which was styled Fort Rotterdam, and the place was granted a coat-of-arms. Since that time it has been in Dutch occupation and has served as a very useful base for the Dutch in their various operations against the sultans of states in Celebes. It has always been a port of some importance, though retarded from natural growth by lack of harbour and wharf facilities. In this direction a very great change has taken place recently and Macassar is now a first-class port. Between the shore and a ridge of coral reefs, half a mile out, there is a safe anchorage in deep water ; and for wharfage purposes a caisson quay, 1,34o metres in length, has been built out into the sea, available at depths of from 9 to 10 metres at low tide. For the protection of the quay, a breakwater has been constructed over the coral islands and the banks in front of the roadstead. Behind the quay, at the south end, there is a harbour for lighters, with a length of 28o metres, and there are store sheds for coal and petroleum. Recent annual tonnage figures of vessels entering the port were 1,308,481, with number of vessels 4,542, and the customs revenue 3,126,372 guilders. Macassar deals with the trade of Celebes (excluding Menado), the Moluc cas, New Guinea and the eastern islands of the Lesser Sunda group, the commodities exported including coffee, kapok, copra, maize, gum copal, rattans, hides, deerskins, sandal wood, cajeput oil, shells and spices. It is the great centre for distribution of
imports, from Europe, America, India and the Far East and destined for Celebes, the Moluccas, Lesser Sundas and New Guinea, which are transhipped here, and it is in steamer com munication with the leading ports of the world and all the ports of the Archipelago, with the latter mainly by means of the well organized service of the Dutch Royal Packet Navigation company.
Macassar town, pop. 53,699 (2,796 Europeans and Eurasians, and 9,371 foreign Asiatics, many of them Chinese, some Arabs), is picturesque, seen from the sea. Parallel roads run from the harbour along by the sea, through old Macassar and China-town, to the old Fort Rotterdam, facing which there is a large green plain around which are grouped official buildings, business prem ises, a large club, the residence of the Governor and, on the plain, a monument in memory of the officers and men who fell in the last expedition to South Celebes. The newer part of the town is well laid out, with good roads, electric light and telephone service. Macassar is a garrison town, and has a naval school and a wireless station. In the neighbourhood, which is very picturesque—the forest-clad hills of Maros and the beautiful water-fall of Banti murung are not far distant—is the grave of Dipa Negoro, leader of the Java rebellion of 1825, who was exiled and died here. A steam tramway runs from Macassar to Takalar (47 kilometres), and good roads link up the capital with the hinterland.
(E. E. L.) The natives, the Mangkassaras, are a branch of the Malay race similar to if not identical with the Bugis (q.v.) of Sumatra.