Caracoa (Karakoa)

''Karakoa'' were large outrigger warships from the Philippines. 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. Large ''karakoa'', which could carry hundreds of rowers and warriors, were known as ''joangas'' (also spelled '' juangas'') 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 by Rajah Sulayman for the fortification of Maynila.

By the end of the 16th century, the Spanish denounced ''karakoa'' 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 of ''karakoa'' ship-building and its usage are being pushed by some scholars from Pampanga.

Etymology

''Karakoa'' was usually spelled as "" during the Spanish period. The name and variants thereof (including , , , , , and ) were used interchangeably with various other similar warships from maritime Southeast Asia, like the '' kora kora'' of the Maluku Islands.

The origin of the names are unknown. Some authors propose that it may have been derived from Arabic (pl. ) meaning "large merchant ship" via Portuguese (carrack). However, this is unlikely as the oldest Portuguese and Spanish sources never refer to it as "", but rather "", "" or "". The Spanish historian Antonio de Morga explicitly says that the name is ancient and indigenous to the Tagalog people in (1609). There are also multiple cognates in the names of other vessels of Austronesian vessels (some with no contact with Arab traders) like the Ivatan '' karakuhan'', Malay '' kolek'', Acehnese , Maluku '' kora kora'', Banda , Motu , and the Marshallese '' korkor''. Thus it is more likely that it is a true Malayo-Polynesian word and not a loanword.

Description

''Karakoa'' is a type of '' balangay'' (Philippine lashed-lug plank boats). It can be differentiated from other balangay in that they possessed raised decks () amidships and on the outriggers, as well as S-shaped outrigger spars. They also had sharply curved prows and sterns, giving the ships a characteristic crescent shape. Their design was also sleeker and faster than other , even though ''karakoa'' were usually much larger. Like ''balangay'', 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 () or piracy (especially against European trade ships). They were estimated to have speeds of up to 12 to 15 knots.

The Spanish priest Francisco Combés described in great detail in 1667. He was also impressed by the speed and craftsmanship of the vessels, remarking:

Like other outrigger vessels, had very shallow drafts, 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.

The keel was essentially a dugout made from the single trunk of hardwoods like ('' Vitex parviflora'') or ('' Afzelia rhomboidea''). Strakes were built up along the sides of the keel, forming the hull. They were usually made from ''lawaan'' wood ('' Shorea'' spp.) and were tightly fitted to the keel and with each other by dowels reinforced further with fiber lashings (usually from sugar 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 usually elaborately carved into serpent or dragon (''bakunawa'') designs. Tall poles festooned with colorful feathers or banners were also affixed here, called the (prow) and the (stern). means "to behead" or "severed head" in Visayan, which may have been the original item placed on the stern pole The anterioposterior symmetry allowed the boat to reverse direction quickly by simply having the rowers turn around in their seats.

had tripod bamboo masts (two or three in larger vessels), rigged with either crab-claw sails or rectangular tanja sails (). The sails were traditionally made from woven plant fibers (like nipa), but were later replaced with materials like linen. In addition to the sails, had a crew of rowers (usually ''horohan'' warriors from the '' alipin'' caste) with paddles (), were carved from a single piece of wood, around in length, with leaf-shaped blades or oars ( or ) had disc-shaped blades 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 () 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 (, Spanish: ) during hot days or when it rains, protecting the crew and cargo. ''Karakoa'' lacked a central rudder and was instead steered by large oars controlled by the ''nakhoda'' ( 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.

The hull was connected to the outrigger structure, which was composed of the S-shaped crosswise outrigger spars (''tadik'') attached to the outrigger floats ( or ) at water level. The provided stability and additional buoyancy, preventing the boat from capsizing even when the hull is entirely flooded with water. The , like the hull itself, curve upwards at both ends, minimizing drag and preventing rolling. were usually made with large bamboo poles traditionally fire hardened and bent with heat. In between the and the hull was another lengthwise beam called the . This served as the support structure for two additional on either side of the boat called the , as well as additional seating for rowers called .

can reach up to in length. Very large can seat up to a hundred rowers on each side and dozens warriors on the . Vessels of this size were usually royal flagships and were (inaccurately) referred to by the Spanish as or (sing. , Spanish for " junk", native or ).

Sea raiding

were an integral part of the traditional sea raiding () of Filipino thalassocracies. 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).

Before a raid, Visayans performed a ceremony called the , where the prow and the keel of the ''karakoa'' 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 an . A fast scout ship, called a (lit. "visitor") or , is usually sent in advance of the . If intercepted by defending enemy ships, ''karakoa'' can engage in ship-to-ship battles called . The pursuit of enemy ships is called .

Warriors aboard karakoas were shielded from projectiles by removable panels of bamboo or woven nipa, in addition to '' kalasag'' personal shields. They were commonly armed with various swords like the '' kalis'' and metal-tipped spears called '' bangkaw''. In addition, ''karakoa'' also had throwing javelins called , which were thrown in large numbers at enemy ships. Unlike the ''bangkaw'', they didn't have metal tips and were meant to be disposable. They were made from sharpened (''Schizostachyum lumampao'') bamboo whose compartments were filled with sand to add weight for throwing. They sometimes had wooden tips laced with snake venom. Short-ranged bows ( or ) were also sometimes used in close-quarter volleys at enemy ships.

Like other ships for trade and war in maritime Southeast Asia, ''karakoa'' were also usually armed with one or more bronze or brass swivel guns called '' lantaka'', and sometimes also larger guns.

There was a great deal of honor involved in participating in a raid. Exploits during raids were recorded permanently in the tattoos of Visayan warriors and nobility ('' timawa'' and '' tumao''), earning them the name of '' pintados'' ("the painted ones") from the Spanish.

See also

* Balangay
* Lashed-lug boat
* Lanong
* Garay
* Kora kora, similar warships from the Maluku Islands
* Outrigger boat
* Paraw
* Borobudur ship
* Jong, large cargo and passenger ship from Java

Notes

References

{{Austronesian ships

Merchant sailing ship types
Naval sailing ship types
Outrigger canoes
Indigenous ships of the Philippines
Multihulls
Tall ships