The Makassans - First Muslim Contact
Many centuries before any Europeans had even heard of Australia, Muslims from the island of Sulawesi (today in Indonesia) sailed their small ships called prahus to the northern tip of Australia. These people were Makassan from the islands of Makassar.
In the 15th and 16th centuries it is believed that they traded Trepang or sea cucumbers with the Yolgnu people in places now called Elcho Island, Gove island and on the mainland near Darwin.
The Makassans established a long term relationship with local Aborigines and eventually married with many of the women and some settled in Australia. There is evidence of Makassarese language in Aboriginal dialects and cave paintings depicting prahus and Makkassan huts.
In the 1900's the newly federated nation of Australia enacted new legislation making it impossible for Makkasans to continue their trade in the north and the Makassan influence was lost with the Anglo-centric dominance of the new government.
Makassan prahu sail boats used for trading with Indigenous Australians
Artifacts showing evidence of Makassan presence in northern Australia
The group of Makassan people