SULAWESI TENGGARA

English Southeast Celebes propinsi (province), southeastern arm of Celebes, Indonesia, bounded by the Teluk (gulf) Bone on the west, the Banda Sea on the east and south, and the provinces of Sulawesi Selatan (South Celebes) on the northwest and Sulawesi Tengah (Central Celebes) on the northeast. It covers an area of 10,690 sq mi (27,686 sq km) and includes the islands of Wowoni, Butung, Muna, and Kabaena and the Tukangbesi island group in the Flores and Banda seas. The area was part of the Buddhist Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra until the 14th century and of the Majapahit Empire of eastern Java until the close of the 15th century. The southern Celebes states of Makasar (now the city of Ujung Pandung) and Bone (now Watampone) subsequently controlled the region, and the rulers of these and other smaller states on the island converted to Islam at the beginning of the 16th century. The Dutch established trading posts on the island in 1609. The emergence of rivalry between Makasar and Bone led to intermittent wars and the eventual defeat of Bone. In 1660 Arung Palakka from Bone rebelled but was defeated and took refuge on the Pulau (island) Butung off the eastern coast. The Dutch, in support of Arung Palakka, defeated the Makasarese state of Gowa. Arung Palakka became the ruler of Bone, controlling most of southeastern Celebes. He had extended his power over the other smaller states of the island by the time of his death in 1696. The 18th century was dominated by continuing military rivalry between the Makasarese and Buginese states, with Dutch intervention in their wars. By the end of the 18th century the Dutch had established colonial supremacy over Makasar and Bone. Temporary occupation by the British (181016) encouraged the state of Bone to rebel against the Dutch in 1825; this resistance was not crushed until 1860. Southeastern Celebes was occupied by the Japanese during World War II and was part of the state of East Indonesia created by the Dutch in 1946. It was incorporated into the Republic of Indonesia in 1950. Pegunungan (mountains) Tanggeasinua and Pegunungan Mekongga are parallel ranges in the northwestern part of the province, the latter rising to an elevation of 9,117 ft (2,779 m) at Gunung (mount) Mekongga, a volcanic peak. Rift valleys with steep sides are common. The low-lying eastern and western coastal margins are comparably narrow. The Lalinda, Lasolo, and Sampara are the major rivers and drain eastward. The offshore islands of Muna and Butung (to the southeast) have a general elevation of about 3,300 ft. The uplands of the province are covered with dense forests of teak, pine, rattan, and oak; tall grasses, shrubs, and bamboo grow in the river valleys. The principal means of livelihood is agriculture, and the chief products include rice, sugarcane, and coffee. Resin, rattan, and timber are also important. Industries are wood carving, mat and basket making, food processing, printing, leather working, rice milling, and gold and silver filigree working. Inland transport is primarily by river. Kendari, the provincial capital, has an airport; Lawow, Bone, Baubau, and Kolaka are the chief towns. The Buginese are the main ethnic group and account for most of the population. Pop. (1980) 942,302.