CELEBES, s'il'e-be's or sen-bez, Dutch East Indies, one of the larger islands of the Indian Archipelago, between Borneo on the west and the Moluccas on the east, extending from lat. 1° 45' N., to 45' S., and from long. 118° 45' to 125° 17' E. and remarkable for the singularity of its shape. It consists mainly of four large peninsulas stretching to the east and south, and separated by three deep gulfs. This singular conformation gives it a shore line of 3,500 miles. The total area of the island is a little over 71,000 square miles.
Celebes is high and mountainous chiefly in the centre and the north, where there are several active volcanoes. Mount Bonthain, which is in the southern part of the island, is over 10,000 feet high. The absence of extensive deltas, and the intervention of broad grassy plains between the forests, distinguish it from the other larger islands of the Indian Archipelago. All that is most majestic and lovely in these are concen trated in this island. It abounds in the most picturesque and varied scenery, and the most beautiful and magnificent tropical vegetation. Though cut by the equator, and wholly within the torrid zone, Celebes is considered remark ably healthful, the natives often enjoying a vigorous old age, and Europeans living longer than anywhere else in the East. Its extreme heats are tempered by the sea-breezes, by monthly rains, and by the north winds that prevail for part of the year. The east monsoon lasts from May to November, and the west during the remaining months. The soil gen erally consists of a bed of vegetable mold from 10 to 20 feet thick, on decomposing basalt. Gold is found in all the valleys of the north peninsula, which is often convulsed by earth quakes and abounds in sulphur. Copper of good quality occurs at various points, and in Macassar tin also, as pure as that of Banka. Diamonds are sometimes found almost at the surface of the ground, and precious stones are carried down in the sand of the torrents. The island is entirely destitute of the large carnivo rous animals and pachyderms. None of the cat kind are seen in its forests; nor has it the elephant, the rhinoceros or the tapir. Deer and wild hogs abound, together with the babirussa and herds of antelopes. Pouched animals, un known in the Sunda Islands, here first occur, and there is a black tailless baboon or ape. Among domesticated animals are found small but vigorous horses, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs. Trepang and turtle are caught in abun dance. Among the trees are the oak, teak, cedar, upas, bamboo, etc.; among plants requir ing more careful cultivation, the coffee-tree, indigo, cacao, sugar cane, manioc root and tobacco.
The maritime districts of Celebes are inhab ited by Malays; the peninsula of Macassar by Bugis and Macassars. Mandhars dwell in the
west of the island, and the mountainous regions in the interior are inhabited by Alfurese. In the harbors also there are many Chinese and Oorang Badjus or Oorang Laut, a mixed race partly of Malay and partly of Battak origin, who live in their boats, and roam over the whole archipelago, gaining their livelihood by fishing. The natives are subject to several petty rulers, more or less dependent on the Dutch. The capital is the town of Macassar (pop. 26,000), in the southwest of the island, in the bazaar of which are sold all the products of the neigh boring islands as well as of Celebes itself. Among these are bamboo canes, sandal-wood, cajeput oil, nutmegs, rice, coffee, pearls, birds' nests, trepang, birds of paradise, etc. The trade in trepang is very important, Macassar being the chief staple place for this article of commerce. The chief harbor of the north is that of Kema, on the east coast of Minahassa. The coffee of Menado is excellent, and is even preferred to the best Javanese coffee. The harvest of cocoanuts is considerable. Imports and exports average about $13,000,000. A European controller superintends the cultivation of the coffee-tree in his own district, advises the village chieftains, acts as the protector of the natives and negotiates between them and the Dutch government.
The languages and literature of Celebes differ essentially from those of the countries to the west. The letters of its alphabet are in form as unlike the Javanese as the latter are unlike the Arabic or Roman. The three great languages of the island, not reckoning the dia lects of the savage tribes, are those of the Bugis, the Macassars and of Mandhar. The modern Bugis is the most cultivated and copious; the Macassar is simpler and its litera ture more scanty; both are distinguished for a soft and vocalic pronunciation. The Bugis have a considerable body of literature. The more civilized inhabitants profess Mohammedanism; but previous to the introduction of that faith the Hindus had brought their religion to the island.
The island of Celebes was first visited by the Portuguese in 1512. In 1607 the Dutch entered into commercial relations with Macassar, and gradually acquired and extended control until, early in the 19th century, they made their su premacy complete. There was a serious revo lutionary outbreak in 1905-06. The population is estimated at 2,000,000, of which about 1,400 are Europeans. Consult Lahure, Vile de Celebesi (1879) ; Wallace, The Malay Archi pelago' (1880) • Sarasin, 'Reisen in Celebes' .(1905) ;