Traditional shipbuilder As'ad Abdullah: Relying on 'God-given' skill<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
A father of six, 70-year-old As'ad Abdullah from Pegerungan
\nKecil, Madura is known as a traditional shipbuilder.<\/p>\n
He relies on traditional instruments like a pasah (plane), a
\nhandsaw, a screwdriver and a tatah (chisel). When he needs to
\nmeasure a piece of wood for his ship, he does it by eye, without
\nrelying on tools.<\/p>\n
"The most important thing is the union of your eyes and heart.
\nWhen your eyes look at something and you do not waver in your
\nheart, rest assured your measurement will be accurate," Abdullah
\nsaid. Your eyes and your heart will be united, he added, if you
\nkeep your heart clean.<\/p>\n
"You must refrain from any feelings of envy or jealousy and
\nsubmit yourself totally to God."<\/p>\n
Owing to his traditional boat-making skills, As'ad has been
\nassigned the job of making a vessel engraved as a relief at
\nBorobodur temple, later called Borobodur Samudraraksa (Guardian
\nof the Sea).<\/p>\n
The vessel symbolizes the grandeur of the Indonesian people's
\nancestors, who were known to be seafarers as far back as the
\nseventh century AD. The vessel that As'ad made on the basis of a
\nmodel in the relief of Borobudur temple was later used for a
\nvoyage to trace what is historically known as the Cinnamon Route
\nup to Madagascar and Ghana in Africa.<\/p>\n
As'ad made this vessel traditionally, using neither a ruler
\nnor nails. To obtain the curved shape of the wood, for example,
\nhe would simply put the wood in embers for some time.<\/p>\n
"I saw only once the picture of the vessel I would later make
\nand then remembered it well," he said.<\/p>\n
It took him four months to make the vessel. In the process,
\nAs'ad, who was accompanied by a British expert, Nick Burningham,
\noften debated with his British colleague. Burningham once doubted
\nwhether As'ad's vessel could ever float because it had been made
\nin the traditional manner.<\/p>\n
Burningham told him, As'ad said, that according to modern
\nscience, a shipmaker would start with the outer part of a ship's
\nhold before proceeding with the inner part. As'ad, instead,
\nbelieved it was the other way around.<\/p>\n
"I didn't use a ruler and relied on my two eyes only when
\nmeasuring the wood, so Nick was afraid the vessel was not
\nsymmetrical and would not be able to float. At one point, I told
\nhim flatly that if he did not trust me, he could make the vessel
\nhimself," As'ad said, reminiscing.<\/p>\n
In June 2003 the vessel was put to the test in a voyage from
\nPagerungan to Bali, via Banyuwangi. On July 15, the vessel was
\ninaugurated by State Minister for Tourism I Gde Ardika in Benoa,
\nBali, and on August 15, President Megawati saw it off at the
\nstart of an expedition to retrace the Cinnamon Route.<\/p>\n
The vessel, manned by a crew of 14 people led by I Gusti
\nNgurah Sedana as captain, sailed on a four-month ocean voyage,
\nvisiting Mahajaga port, Madagascar, Ghana and South Africa before
\nfinally being put in a museum.<\/p>\n
For the 40-ton vessel, which measures 18.26 meters long, 4.50
\nm. wide and 2.25 m. high, 100 cubic meters of wood of various
\nkinds, such as nyamlong, teak and tamarind, were needed.<\/p>\n
The ship, which has two sails with dual outriggers and is
\ncapable of carrying 15,000 liters of potable water, half a ton of
\nfood, half a ton of personal effects and two tons of spices, is
\nalso provided with navigational equipment such as a global
\npositioning system device, an echo sounder (to ascertain the
\ndepth of sea water) and a satellite telephone.<\/p>\n
As'ad said he had never learned from anybody how to make a
\nvessel. He believed his ship-making skill was God's gift. He also
\nsaid he had never took part in any particular religious rite
\nbefore making a vessel. Instead, he submitted himself totally to
\nGod.<\/p>\n
In 1970 he made his first vessel. It was a small fishing boat.
\n"I kept thinking about vessels and imagining them. Then I started
\nto make one and, lo and behold, I was able to make a fishing boat
\nfrom a hollowed-out log. I realized then that God had bestowed on
\nme this special skill," he said.<\/p>\n
To date, he has made over 100 ships of various sizes. At
\npresent he is also making another, ordered from Banyuwangi. The
\n100-ton vessel is a reconstruction of one of the ships in the
\nfleet of the Majapahit Kingdom.<\/p>",
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