Tanah Beru
Tanah Beru is located in the pristine southern shores of Bulukumba.
Access to the village is along the main road leading towards Bulukumba before reaching Bira.
A sign with a replica of a phinisi can be seen when reaching the entrance of the village Tana Beru. From Makassar it takes approx.about 4 to 5 hrs journey by road. The main road from Makassar town goes south thru Gowa and passes thru 5 other district Talafar, Jeneponto, Banteang and Bulukumba before reaching Bira.
Tana Beru is widely known as a place for making traditional Phini boat. In the dry dock we can see many sailing boats of various sizes under construction.
The traditional Phini boat (Perahu Phinisi) is a well-known means of traditional sea transportation of the Bugis people for many centuries.
According to the manuscript of Lontara I Babad La Lagaligo, the phinisis boat have existed since the 14th century. Phinisi Nusantara, one of the greatest sailing boats that have sailed to Pacific Ocean, the phinisi nusantara was also made there and the other great famous sailing boat is “Ammana Gappa” which has sailed to Madagaskar.
The making process of Phinisi Boat is some what unique, because it mixes technical skill with magical power. The first stage starts with deciding the good day to collect the wood. It is usually the 5th and the 7th day of the coming month.
Number five symbolizes naparilimai dalle‘na, which means bless is in the hand, while seven symbolizes natujuangngi dalle‘na, which means always having blessing. The next stage is chopping down the tree, drying the wood and cutting it off. Then the wood will be made a ship by putting keel, board, boat caulking, and ship‘s mast. The last stage is launching the ship to the sea.
Every stage requires certain traditional ceremony. Before the boat is launched to the sea, maccera lopi (purify the ship) ceremony must be held, marked with the animal sacrifice. If the the boat weights less than 100 tons, the sacrifice is a goat. And if the weight is more than 100 ton, the sacrifice is a cow.
