From divine descent to administration; Sacred heirlooms and political change in highland Goa

Examines the significance of sacred heirlooms (kalompoang) to the political & territorial organization of the Makassarese society of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from precolonial times to the present. Focus is on how, with political changes, the role of kalompoang has changed with respect to political leadership in some villages of highland Goa; consequences for community rituals centered around these heirlooms are reviewed. The key role of kalompoang in establishing territorial boundaries is also discussed, offering a case study of the principality of Kasepekang, incorporated into the kingdom of Goa in the 16th century. It is shown that, though the political & symbolic meanings of kalompoang have changed, they continue to play an important function in religious life & in determining the leadership structure of the community. K. Hyatt Stewart