Pobasso, also speltProbasso orPobassoo, was the chief of a division of theMakassan fleet ofperahu in the waters between northernAustralia andIndonesia in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The fleet harvestedtrepang, or sea cucumber, trading it to China.[1] Pobasso was a key informant on theearly Makassan relationships with Australia's Indigenous peoples prior to European settlement.
On his 1803 voyage mapping the coastline ofTerra Australis,Captain Matthew Flinders came upon six perahu vessels on the 17 February at the English Company's Islands' Malay Road, north ofArnhem Land. Thinking they wereChinese pirates he approached with caution. Pobasso, who Flinders described as a "short, elderly man" and five other chiefs came aboard Finders's ship theInvestigator where he was extensively questioned by Flinders about the trepang trade. He was able to communicate through his cook, Abraham Williams, who acted as interpreter. Williams was of Javanese background, though generally described as a Malay by the British. It is most likely that Flinders took Williams on board in Cape Town, South Africa a port which Flinders visited on his way to Australia and where many Malays had been transported by the Dutch.[2]
Pobasso educated Finders about their fleet. He said its commander-in-chief was a man named 'Salloo' and was owned by the 'Rajah ofBoni'. It boasted separate divisions totaling 60 perahu and 1000 crew. Each perahu was 25 tons with a crew of 20 to 25 men.[3] He said that he had made at least six voyages to the Australian coast over 20 years and was the first to do so. They had no knowledge of any European settlement in Australia and upon Flinders telling him aboutPort Jackson, Pobasso's son took notes about the settlement in "foreign characters,writing from left to right".[3] He also claimed to never have seen another foreign ship in the waters of the northern Australian coastline.[4][5]
Pobasso's fleet had no charts nor were they able to make astronomical observations. They had no navigational tools other than a smallcompass. They carried a month's water supply in joints of bamboo as well as dried fish, coconuts, rice and poultry.[4] Flinders noted that Pobasso carried two small brass guns, obtained from theDutch. The other chiefs were also armed, each carrying "a short dagger orcress".
Pobasso warned that his fleet "sometimes had skirmishes with thenative inhabitants of the coast". He had formerly been speared in the knee, cautioning Flinders, ‘beware of the natives’.[3]
He was sketched by artistWilliam Westall who was aboard theInvestigator.[6]
Pobasso delayed his journey by a day to spend time with Flinders, accepting gifts of iron tools and a letter written in English to show to any other ships he might meet on his travels.[3]
Flinders named an island after Pobasso,Pobassoo Island.[3][7][8]
A fictional representation of Pobasso features inSteven Marcuson's novelThe Bunting Quest.[9] Pobasso is also a central character in the musicalPobasso and the Cucumbers by Chris James, primarily performed for high schools.[10]