Large lantaka with Jawi script engraved

[Raja Muda]

Greetings all,

My two cents.
From the engraved script, I'm guessing it was the name of the owner of the lantaka (rentaka in Malay). My guess reading of it is 'Pemaka Datu Muhammad Iskandar Jamalul Kiram, anaknya Muhammad Tunnu?

I'm not sure of the extent of Jawi use in Moroland in the past, but it was the predominant script for the Brunei Malays, and was used by the Bugis alongside their indigenous script, so most Islamised peoples in the region are familiar with it, at least through the medium of Malay, which was the main trade Lingua Franca.

The example here is similar to the ones in the collection of the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur, as well as one I saw in Kuching, Sarawak some time ago. My theory is that they are local small sized cannons, though aesthetically influenced by European styles, such as the dolphin handles and scroll work you usually see on VOC cannons in the Dutch East Indies.

I might be wrong, but I guess the Kris wielding warriors of this forum would be able to extend some much needed help