Garay (ship)

''Garay'' were traditional native warships of the Banguingui people in the Philippines. In the 18th and 19th centuries, they were commonly used for piracy by the Banguingui and Iranun people against unarmed trading ships and raids on coastal settlements in the regions surrounding the Sulu Sea.

History

Most ''garay'' were built in the shipyards of Parang, Sulu in the late 18th century. During the early 19th century, Banguingui ''garay'' squadrons regularly plagued the straits of southern Palawan from the months of March to November each year. They raided coastal areas in northern Borneo for slaves as well as cut off trade into the Sultanate of Brunei. These attacks severely affected the economy of Brunei, leading to its decline. The Banguingui purportedly had a saying: "It is difficult to catch fish, but easy to catch Borneans."

Description

''Garay'' were smaller, faster, and more maneuverable than the Iranun ''lanong'' warships. They had a much broader beam and a somewhat round hull with a shallow draft. They had a single tripod main-mast made of three bamboo poles, which was rigged with a large rectangular sail with tilted upper corners (a '' layar tanja''). They also had a foremast and sometimes a mizzenmast, which were rigged with smaller triangular crab claw sails. When the wind was heavy, the mainsail was lowered and only the foresail and the mizzen sails were set.

They were also propelled by oars. Large ''garay'' could have around 30 to 60 oars, usually arranged into two banks, one on top of the other. They were rowed by either people belonging to the ''alipin'' caste, or by captured slaves. The hull was partially or fully decked. The deck was made of split bamboo slats, divided into square sections that could be removed as required. Most of the length of the ship was covered by a house-like structure roofed with nipa leaves. A raised platform over a clay stove was used for cooking. At the sides of the hull were overhanging catwalks, about in width. The ship did not have a central rudder, but had two steering oars located near the stern.

The largest ''garay'' were around long and could carry up to 80 men, but most ''garay'' averaged at with around 60 men. Even smaller ''garay'' also existed with an average crew (''sakay'') of 25 to 30 men. Large ''garay'' can serve as motherships to smaller ''salisipan'' (a covered '' banca'', shielded against arrows and spears), which could carry an additional 15 people.

''Garay'' were led by a ''nakura'' or ''nakuda'' (commander) who in turn is led by a squadron leader, the ''panglima''. The ''julmuri'' (first mate) is in charge of the crew and also controls the rudder (''bausan''). Another officer, the ''julbato'' stays at the prow of the ship and watches out for reefs and enemy ships. The ''julbato'' is also in charge of the anchor (''sao'').

''Garay'' did not possess outriggers (unlike the ''lanong'' and other ''karakoa'' warships). Despite this fact, ''garay'' were commonly incorrectly referred to as '' prahu'' or ''proa'' (both outrigger vessels) in historical records. However, the projecting catwalks can function as a sort of outrigger in instances where the hull was flooded, keeping the ship afloat. In Malay, Javanese, and Portuguese sources, ''garay'' are also sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as ''penjajap''. This term, however, referred specifically to ''penjajap'' (''mangaio'' in Iranun), very long and narrow warships used mostly in Nusantara. They differed from ''garay'' in the width of their beams (''penjajap'' were extremely narrow), and the fact that large ''penjajap'' usually had outriggers and two ''layar tanja'' sails. ''Garay'' were also sometimes referred to generically as ''panco'' (''bangka'').

Role

''Garay'' were lightly armed, in comparison to the ''lanong''. They usually only had a single large cannon ('' lela''). While the ''lanong'' specialized in ship-to-ship combat, the ''garay'' was more suited to raiding coastal villages and attacking unarmed or lightly armed trade ships.

See also

* Spanish expedition to Balanguingui
* Lepa (ship)
* Balangay
* Kora kora
* History of slavery in the Muslim world

References

{{Austronesian ships

Naval sailing ship types
Indigenous ships of the Philippines