Aotahi, Chinois Habitant Makassar (Iles Celebes)

Superb lithograph of a seated Chinaman from Makassar, the capital of present day South Sulawesi, Indonesia, made when Dumont D’Urville visited the town.

The first European settlers were Portuguese sailors and upon reaching Sulawesi in 1511, they found Makassar a thriving town where Chinese, Arabs, Indians, Siamese, Javanese, and Malays were free to trade their manufactured
metal goods and textiles for pearls, gold, copper, camphor and spices. Nutmeg, cloves and mace were imported from the interior and the neighbouring Spice Islands of Maluku. By the 16th century, Makassar had become Sulawesi’s major port and centre of the powerful Gowa and Tallo sultanates, who held between them a series of eleven fortresses and strongholds plus a fortified sea wall which extended along the coast.

From D’Urville, D. Voyage au Pole Sud et dans l’Océanie sur les corvettes l’Astrolabe et la Zélée, exécute par ordre du roi pendant les années 1837-1838-1839-1840...Paris

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 3184.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 : 508.
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967 : 21256.
Phillips, P. A List of Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress. Washington 1973 : 3244.

Collections:
Bibliotheque Nationale de France: ark:/12148/bpt6k976783
National Library Australia: Bib ID 1616679
Te Papa Museum of New Zealand: RB001474
State Library New South Wales: MMS ID 991011821529702626
State Library Victoria: RARELT ; 508.3 D89
State Library South Australia: 508.3 d++
Yale University Library & Art Gallery: Call Number 1998 Folio 16