This quote is a record of the journey of a traveler named Ibn Battuta in the 14th century AD, at that time stop in Pasai, the sultanate of Aceh region who have embraced Islam. Ibn Battuta also has a sight about how their life and life in the country.
In that note, Ibn Battuta reached the Pasai coast after traveling for 25 days from India. Upon arrival at the harbor, the local people have welcomed them warmly. They brought some coconuts, bananas, mangoes, and fish, to be exchanged with other goods brought by the merchants who stopped by.
According to Ibn Battuta, the representatives of the sultanate commander also went to his entourage. The official inquired about the purpose of their arrival. After that, the entourage was allowed to land on the beach.
He also explained the sultan Pasai, Al-Malik Az-Zahir, was very friendly. He even lent his horse to the outsider and others. In his note, he also served the outsiders with the beautiful and comfortable wooden house for the entourage in his large and beautiful city.
In short, Aceh was a great port city, with the development of the economy, as well as the fisherman activity in fishing in the middle of the ocean.
The land area of Aceh is 57,365.67 square kilometers. It surrounded by the Ocean of Indonesia in the West-South region of Aceh. The Malacca Strait and the Andaman ocean in the North-East Aceh region, with a coastline length of 2,666,27 kilometers. While the area of water reaches 295,370 square kilometers.
The archipelago's ancestor left various untouched records of valuable experience in the sea, the Acehnese since the old times until now famous with the spirit of marine. The capability of fisherman in sailing around the ocean was very great. It can't be denied that their acknowledgment about sea and marine that was really undeniable. The fisherman's finesse in sailing the oceans has tremendous toughness. This can't be denied because they were familiar with the marine knowledge system.
in the port of Krunggeukueh, North Aceh. Using Xiaomi smartphone cameraSource :
- Museum of Tsunami Aceh