| Description |
Lontara, an Indonesian palm-leaf manuscript; Palm leaves are taken from the lontar tree and cured and cut to make thin rectangular sheets which form the pages, or “leavesâ€, of the manuscript; The pages are then “bound†by rectangular pieces of wood at either end, decorated with a shallow inscribed floral pattern; Each of the seven sheets and the wood end pieces have a hole perforated in the middle of the sheet through which a string can pass through; Originally the leaves and wooden pieces were tied together and finished with a string weighted with a coin on each side to connect them, but the string here has deteriorated and the coins have detached; Script is written in either of two indigenous Indonesian syllabaries; Lontara record knowledge on such topics as histories of local kingdoms as well as local customs and laws. |
