The Bugis and Makassar ethnic groups in South Sulawesi are including two of the few ethnics in Indonesia who has a tradition of writing. Letters or script used by the Bugis people since hundreds of years ago is the Lontara script which in itself is named "uki Ugi'sulapa eppa'" (Dr. Mukhlis Paeni in Nusantara Manuscript Catalogue). Makassar tribe also has its own letter, called script 'jangang jangang' which resemble the original form of the bird / poultry so-called 'jangang jangang'. In further developments jangang-jangang script is rarely used and the Uki Sulapa Eppa is more frequently used for both Bugis and Makassar writing systeem.
According to historians, the script lontara 'Uki sulapa eppa' and 'jangan jangan' script are both derived characters from the Indian's Sanskrit. A lot of Bugis ancient manuscripts stored in the Library and Archives of South Sulawesi, consisting of a variety of characters, namely lontara Bugis, lontara jangang-jangang script, 'serang' script (written language of the Bugis and Makassar using the Arabic script), and the original Arabic especially for religious manuscripts. Some of those manuscripts are already difficult to read, both the original manuscript or its microfilm. This is because the manuscripts are already too old and very fragile manuscript, the ink used has also been seep into the paper, there are also a lot pages missing or torn.
In the Regional Library and Archive of South Sulawesi is preserved the ancient Bugis manuscripts written on palm leaves. The manuscript is in the form of palm leaf roll. According to the experts this manuscript was written by using a kind of nail to scratch the letter on the palm leaves carefully due to the the nature of palm leaves are easily torn. After one piece of writing, then dusted with black powder so that the writing visible and clearly legible. When a strand was finished then connected with the previous piece by stitching using a needle and thread. When a manuscript is considered finished, and then pieces of palm leaves are rolled up and made the rolls for easy reading. How to read the manuscript? In a position sitting cross-legged with hands palm leaf rollers rotating rolls. Usually accompanied by ritual (ceremony) small.
The number of manuscripts lontara 'Bugis, Makassar and Mandar stored in the Regional Library and Archive of South Sulawesi is 4049 manuscripts. Those manuscripts have all been microfilmed. Researchers or students who need the manuscripts will only access the microfilmed manuscripts. Original manuscript has been inaccessible, because of the nature of the paper which is already very fragile. The original manuscript is usually only for display at an exhibition. The results of this lontara manuscript microfilm can be read on the screen of Microfilm reader.
Various topics written on Bugis manuscripts such as astrological 'kutika' which mentions about the good days and bad days to perform marriages, rising new home (home of the Bugis and Makassar ancient form of houses on stilts), beginning the day working the fields, and other forecasts. The using of herbal is written in the manuscript lontara pabbura'. Various types of mixed and herbaceous plants used to treat certain diseases. There's also called lontara Baddili 'Lompo ie lontara manuscript that discusses the strategies of war and weapons. Another manuscript, talks about different ways of farming called lontara 'Paggalung, tasauf tale story, Syech Yusuf's teachings, religious manuscripts, sex education (lontara akkalaibinengeng), disposition of animals, genealogy (Lontara Pangoriseng), Lontara' alloping- loping which is lontara who investigated the procedures for sailing and fishing. There is also lontara 'pattaungeng which is a diary of the ancient Bugis and others (Rumpakna Bone, translation by Drs. Muhammad Salim 1991).
Literary works of Bugis usually consists poetic literature such as the epic I La Galigo, Tolo ', Meongpalo, Sure' Selleyang, Ugi Elong. While lontara 'which consists of example sentences concatenated lontara saga, story, tasauf, and other religious lontara. The number of letters from the lontara type array is different. Elong Ugi usually consists of three lines each number of letters (lontara ') his or syllables in the Latin alphabet 8', 7 and 6. Sometimes only two rows but the number of letters should be 21. The Tolo ', Menrurana, and Meongpalo is composed of lines that connect connect array consisting of eight syllables or 8 letters of Bugis. I La Galigo and Sure 'Selleyang have amount of lines of 5, 5, 5 or 10, 10, 10.
It is unfortunate that the younger generation seems uninterested in examining the manuscript or lontara Bugis Makassar. In fact, lontara 'Bugis and Makassar is one aspect of local culture containing noble cultural values of the nation. Without attempts to preserve the manuscript lontara Bugis and Makassar it is feared that the Bugis and Makassar younger generation will lose their identity and works of literature will be extinct.
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