Kelulus orkalulus is a type of rowing boat used in theNusantara archipelago. It is typically small in size and propelled usingoar or paddle. However, for long-distance voyages, this boat can be equipped with sails.[1]: 261 It is not the same asprahu kalulis of the eastern part of theIndonesian archipelago.
The namekelulus seems to be derived fromJavanese word "lulus", which means "to go right through anything". According to Hobson-Jobson, the literal translation would be "the threader".[2]
The earliest report of kelulus is fromHikayat Raja-Raja Pasai (Chronicle of the Kings of Pasai) of the 14th century, in which they are mentioned as one type of vessel used by theMajapahit empire. Although they are not well described, kelulus is one of Majapahit's main vessel types afterjong andmalangbang.[3]
FromPortuguese sources, they are transcribed ascalaluz (calaluzes for plural form), whereby they are described as "A kind of swift rowing vessel used in theMaritime Southeast Asia".[4]: 681 [5]: 557
In about 1500 CE, theSultanate of Malacca opposed Siam with 200 boats, consisting oflancaran and kelulus. After SultanMahmud Shah of Malacca was deposed fromMalacca in 1511, he took overBintan. In 1519 and 1520 he had a fleet consisting of 60 and 100 boats respectively, both being made up of lancaran and kelulus.[6]: 212
Tome Pires in 1513 reported that the pates (dukes) ofJava has manycalaluz for raiding, and described:
... but they are not fit to go out of the shelter of the land. Kelulus were specialty of Java. They are carved in a thousand and one ways, with figures of serpents, and gilt; they are ornamental. Each of them has many of these, and they are very much painted, and they certainly look well and are made in a very elegant way, and they are for kings to amuse themselves in, away from the common people. They are rowed with paddles.
... They go out intriumphal cars, and if they go by sea [they go] in paintedcalaluzes, so clean and ornamental, with so many canopies that the rowers are not seen by the lord;[7]: 200
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In 1537,Javanese kelulus encountered inPatani was described as having two rows of oars: One was of shortpaddles, the other was "like a galley" (longoars); they carried 100 soldiers, with muchartillery andfirearms. Gonçalo de Souza reported that they have 27 oars and carried 20 soldiers. They are armed withswivel guns (falconselhos) at the bow and stern.[8][9]: 158
Spanish dictionary lists them as "Small boat used in theEast Indies".
Portuguese historianAntónio Galvão in 1544 made a treatise aboutMaluku, which lists the types of boats from the region, including the kalulus. He described the hull as being egg shaped at the middle but sloping upwards at both ends. At the prow they are shaped like highsnake neck with the head of aserpent and the horns of adeer.[10]: 156–157, 162–163
Kelulus were used as transport vessel or war boat. Majapahit overseas invasion used kelulus, usually in uncountable numbers.[11][3] Thepati of Java had many war kelulus for raiding coastal villages. During theDemak Sultanate attack onPortuguese Malacca of 1512–1513, kelulus were used as armed troop transports for landing alongsidepenjajap and lancaran, as theJavanese junks were too large to approach shore.[12]: 74
Queen Kalinyamat ofJepara attackedPortuguese Malacca in 1574 with 300 vessels, 220 of which arecalaluzes and the rest were jongs weighing up to 400 tonsburthen. The attack ended in failure for theJavanese.[13][6]: 212
In 1600, king Chiay Masiuro (or Chiaymasiouro) ofDemak embarked in acalelus fromBlambangan which has been equipped with oar and sail, to the south. After 12 days, he arrived atLuca Antara orJava Major, which is believed to beAustralia. There he received by thesyahbandar, and stayed for several days. Chiaymasiuro found out that the inhabitants were Javanese, but with mixed culture of Java, Sunda, and Bali. After he returned to Blambangan, the news of the voyage made great astonishment and public notoriety in Java.[1]: 61–63
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