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Traditional
shipbuilder As'ad Abdullah: Relying on 'God-given' skill
The Jakarta Post, Slamet Susanto,
Yogyakarta
A father of six,
70-year-old As'ad Abdullah from Pegerungan Kecil, Madura is known as a
traditional shipbuilder.
He relies on traditional
instruments like a pasah (plane), a handsaw, a screwdriver and a tatah
(chisel). When he needs to measure a piece of wood for his ship, he does
it by eye, without relying on tools.
"The most important thing is
the union of your eyes and heart. When your eyes look at something and
you do not waver in your heart, rest assured your measurement will be
accurate," Abdullah said. Your eyes and your heart will be united, he
added, if you keep your heart clean.
"You must refrain from any
feelings of envy or jealousy and submit yourself totally to God."
Owing to his traditional
boat-making skills, As'ad has been assigned the job of making a vessel
engraved as a relief at Borobodur temple, later called Borobodur
Samudraraksa (Guardian of the Sea).
The vessel symbolizes the
grandeur of the Indonesian people's ancestors, who were known to be
seafarers as far back as the seventh century AD. The vessel that As'ad
made on the basis of a model in the relief of Borobudur temple was later
used for a voyage to trace what is historically known as the Cinnamon
Route up to Madagascar and Ghana in Africa.
As'ad made this vessel
traditionally, using neither a ruler nor nails. To obtain the curved
shape of the wood, for example, he would simply put the wood in embers
for some time.
"I saw only once the picture
of the vessel I would later make and then remembered it well," he said.
It took him four months to
make the vessel. In the process, As'ad, who was accompanied by a British
expert, Nick Burningham, often debated with his British colleague.
Burningham once doubted whether As'ad's vessel could ever float because
it had been made in the traditional manner.
Burningham told him, As'ad
said, that according to modern science, a shipmaker would start with the
outer part of a ship's hold before proceeding with the inner part. As'ad,
instead, believed it was the other way around.
"I didn't use a ruler and
relied on my two eyes only when measuring the wood, so Nick was afraid
the vessel was not symmetrical and would not be able to float. At one
point, I told him flatly that if he did not trust me, he could make the
vessel himself," As'ad said, reminiscing.
In June 2003 the vessel was
put to the test in a voyage from Pagerungan to Bali, via Banyuwangi. On
July 15, the vessel was inaugurated by State Minister for Tourism I Gde
Ardika in Benoa, Bali, and on August 15, President Megawati saw it off
at the start of an expedition to retrace the Cinnamon Route.
The vessel, manned by a crew
of 14 people led by I Gusti Ngurah Sedana as captain, sailed on a
four-month ocean voyage, visiting Mahajaga port, Madagascar, Ghana and
South Africa before finally being put in a museum.
For the 40-ton vessel, which
measures 18.26 meters long, 4.50 m. wide and 2.25 m. high, 100 cubic
meters of wood of various kinds, such as nyamlong, teak and tamarind,
were needed.
The ship, which has two sails
with dual outriggers and is capable of carrying 15,000 liters of potable
water, half a ton of food, half a ton of personal effects and two tons
of spices, is also provided with navigational equipment such as a global
positioning system device, an echo sounder (to ascertain the depth of
sea water) and a satellite telephone.
As'ad said he had never
learned from anybody how to make a vessel. He believed his ship-making
skill was God's gift. He also said he had never took part in any
particular religious rite before making a vessel. Instead, he submitted
himself totally to God.
In 1970 he made his first
vessel. It was a small fishing boat. "I kept thinking about vessels and
imagining them. Then I started to make one and, lo and behold, I was
able to make a fishing boat from a hollowed-out log. I realized then
that God had bestowed on me this special skill," he said.
To date, he has made over 100
ships of various sizes. At present he is also making another, ordered
from Banyuwangi. The 100-ton vessel is a reconstruction of one of the
ships in the fleet of the Majapahit Kingdom.
September 28, 2005 |
