Karakoa were largeoutriggerwarships from thePhilippines. They were used by native Filipinos, notably the Kapampangans and the Visayans, during seasonal sea raids.Karakoa were distinct from other traditional Philippine sailing vessels in that they were equipped with platforms for transporting warriors and for fighting at sea. During peacetime, they were also used as trading ships. Largekarakoa, which could carry hundreds of rowers and warriors, were known asjoangas (also spelledjuangas) by the Spanish.
Panday Piray of Pampanga, Philippines, was also known for forging heavy bronze lantaka to be mounted on Lakan's (Naval Chief/Commander) ships called 'caracoas' doing battle against the Spanish invaders and cannons were also commissioned byRajah Sulayman for the fortification of Maynila.
By the end of the 16th century, the Spanish denouncedkarakoa ship-building and its usage. It later led to a total ban of the ship and the traditions assigned to it. In recent years, the revitalization ofkarakoa ship-building and its usage are being pushed by some scholars fromPampanga.[citation needed]
Karakoa was usually spelled as "caracoa" during the Spanish period. The name and variants thereof (includingcaracora,caracore,caracole,corcoa,cora-cora, andcaracolle) were used interchangeably with various other similar warships frommaritime Southeast Asia, like thekora kora of theMaluku Islands.[1][2]
The origin of the names are unknown. Some authors propose that it may have been derived fromArabicqurqur (pl.qaraqir) meaning "large merchant ship" viaPortuguesecaracca (carrack). However, this is unlikely as the oldest Portuguese and Spanish sources never refer to it as "caracca", but rather "coracora", "caracora" or "carcoa". The Spanish historianAntonio de Morga explicitly says that the namekarakoa is ancient and indigenous to theTagalog people inSucesos de las Islas Filipinas (1609). There are also multiple cognates in the names of other vessels of Austronesian vessels (some with no contact with Arab traders) like theIvatankarakuhan,Malaykolek,Acehnesekolay,Malukukora kora,Bandakolekole,Motukora, and theMarshallesekorkor. Thus it is more likely that it is a trueMalayo-Polynesian word and not aloanword.[3]
Karakoa is a type ofbalangay (Philippinelashed-lug plank boats).[3] It can be differentiated from other balangay in that they possessed raised decks (burulan) amidships and on the outriggers, as well as S-shaped outrigger spars. They also had sharply curved prows and sterns, giving the ships a characteristiccrescent shape. Their design was also sleeker and faster than otherbalangay, even thoughkarakoa were usually much larger. Likebalangay, they can be used for both trade and war. Their main use, however, were as warships and troop transports during the traditional seasonal sea raids (mangayaw) or piracy (especially against European trade ships). They were estimated to have speeds of up to 12 to 15 knots.[4][5][6][7][8]
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The Spanish priestFrancisco Combés describedkarakoa in great detail in 1667. He was also impressed by the speed and craftsmanship of the vessels, remarking:[10]
"That care and attention, which govern their boat-building, cause their ships to sail like birds, while ours are like lead in this regard."
— Francisco Combés,Historia de las islas de Mindanao, Iolo y sus adyacentes (1667)
Like otheroutrigger vessels,karakoa had very shallowdrafts, allowing them to navigate right up to the shoreline. The hull was long and narrow and was made from lightweight materials. The entire vessel can be dragged ashore when not in use or to protect it from storms.[5][7][8]
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The keel was essentially adugout made from the single trunk ofhardwoods liketugas (Vitex parviflora) ortindalo (Afzelia rhomboidea).Strakes were built up along the sides of the keel, forming the hull. They were usually made fromlawaan wood (Shorea spp.) and were tightly fitted to the keel and with each other bydowels reinforced further with fiber lashings (usually fromsugar palm) on carved lugs. Ribs for support and seating connected the strakes across, which were also lashed together with fiber. The use of dowels and lashings instead of nails made the hull flexible, able to absorb collisions with underwater objects that would have shattered more rigid hulls. Strongly curved planks were fitted at both ends of the keel, giving the ship a crescent-shaped profile. These were usuallyelaborately carved into serpent or dragon (bakunawa) designs. Tall poles festooned with colorful feathers or banners were also affixed here, called thesombol (prow) and thetongol (stern).[note 1] The anterioposterior symmetry allowed the boat to reverse direction quickly by simply having the rowers turn around in their seats.[5][7][8]
Karakoa had tripod bamboo masts (two or three in larger vessels), rigged with eithercrab-claw sails or rectangulartanja sails (lutaw). The sails were traditionally made from woven plant fibers (likenipa), but were later replaced with materials likelinen. In addition to the sails,karakoa had a crew of rowers (usuallyuluhan warriors from thealipin caste) withpaddles (bugsay),[note 2] oroars (gaod orgaor)[note 3] on either side of the hull. In between the rowers was an open space used as a passage for moving fore and aft of the ship. Various chants and songs kept the pace and rhythm of the rowers. Above the rowers was a distinctive raised platform (burulan) made of bamboo where warriors (timawa) and other passengers stood, so as to avoid interfering with the rowers. This platform can be covered by an awning of woven palm leaves (kayang, Spanish:cayanes) during hot days or when it rains, protecting the crew and cargo.Karakoa lacked a centralrudder and was instead steered bylarge oars controlled by thenakhoda (helmsman) seated in a covered structure near the back of the ship. These oars could be raised at a moment's notice to avoid obstructions like shallow reefs.[7][8]
The hull was connected to the outrigger structure, which was composed of the S-shaped crosswise outrigger spars (tadik) attached to the outrigger floats (katig orkate) at water level. Thekatig provided stability and additional buoyancy, preventing the boat from capsizing even when the hull is entirely flooded with water. Thekatig, like the hull itself, curve upwards at both ends, minimizingdrag and preventing rolling.Katig were usually made with large bamboo poles traditionallyfire hardened and bent with heat. In between thekatig and the hull was another lengthwise beam called thebatangan. This served as the support structure for two additionalburulan on either side of the boat called thepagguray, as well as additional seating for rowers calleddaramba.[7][8]
Karakoa can reach up to 25 metres (82 ft) in length. Very largekarakoa can seat up to a hundred rowers on each side and dozens warriors on theburulan.[5][7][8] Vessels of this size were usually royal flagships and were (inaccurately) referred to by the Spanish asjoangas orjuangas (sing.joanga, Spanish for "junk", nativedyong oradyong).[8][11]
Karakoa were an integral part of the traditional sea raiding (mangayaw) of Filipinothalassocracies. They were maritime expeditions (usually seasonal) against enemy villages for the purposes of gaining prestige through combat, taking plunder, and capturing slaves or hostages (sometimes brides).[5]
Before a raid,Visayans performed a ceremony called thepagdaga, where the prow and the keel of thekarakoa warships were smeared with blood drawn from a captured member of the target enemy settlement.Karakoa and attending smaller ships usually raid in fleets called anabay. A fast scout ship, called adulawan (lit. "visitor") orlampitaw, is usually sent in advance of theabay. If intercepted by defending enemy ships,karakoa can engage in ship-to-ship battles calledbangga. The pursuit of enemy ships is calledbanggal.[5]
Warriors aboard karakoas were shielded from projectiles by removable panels of bamboo or wovennipa, in addition tokalasag personal shields. They were commonly armed with various swords like thekalis and metal-tipped spears calledbangkaw. In addition,karakoa also had throwing javelins calledsugob, which were thrown in large numbers at enemy ships. Unlike thebangkaw, they didn't have metal tips and were meant to be disposable. They were made from sharpenedbagakay (Schizostachyum lumampao) bamboo whose compartments were filled with sand to add weight for throwing. They sometimes had wooden tips laced withsnake venom. Short-ranged bows (pana orbusog) were also sometimes used in close-quarter volleys at enemy ships.[5]
Like other ships for trade and war in maritime Southeast Asia,karakoa were also usually armed with one or more bronze or brassswivel guns calledlantaka,[5] and sometimes also larger guns.[12]
There was a great deal of honor involved in participating in a raid. Exploits during raids were recorded permanently in thetattoos of Visayan warriors and nobility (timawa andtumao), earning them the name ofpintados ("the painted ones") from the Spanish.[5]
