BINTA pirate craft in Indonesia.

[aukepalmhof]

In 1974 Indonesia issued a set of stamps for the 100th Anniversary of Universal Postal Union, of which one stamp shows a watercraft, which is identified by Navicula as a “binta”. If this vessel ever transported the mail is doubtful.

It was a pirate craft of the Bugis peoples of southwest Sulawesi (Celebes) Island.
The craft was prominent in the early 19th century, when the Bugis used their rowing prowess to overtake becalmed ships.
Oarsmen worked from decks that projected from each side of the hull; one group of oarsmen sat, working oars against forked post, a 2nd group stood working their oars from atop a rail laid onto the outer fork of the post. Upper oars had rectangular blades; the lower, long narrow blades; the lower long narrow blades; both types had an enlarged loom at the inboard end. Plank-built, deep hull; heavy beams athwartships supported the overhanging deck; bottom had rocker; bow curved up smoothly from the bottom raking forward; sharp stern, but planking ran aft as an extension to the sides, creating a gallery.
Heavy bulkhead forward protected the pirates; 1 – 2 cannon. Two deckhouses, one amidships, the other aft, or one large house extending over the after two-thirds of the hull. Quarter rudders, worked from within the gallery.
Two bipod masts, the forward mast taller. Set boomed oblong lugsails; luff crescentic. One or two headsails to a long spar.
Crew of 25-30.
Length between 10 – 13m.

Source: Aak to Zumbra a dictionary of the worlds watercraft.
Indonesia 1974 100r sg 1389, scott?