The Acehnese Descendants of the Portuguese Nation In Lamno Aceh Jaya

The presence of the Portuguese in the region of Aceh, hundreds of years ago, still leaves its mark. Precisely in Lamno area, Aceh Jaya regency or approximately 81 km from Banda Aceh to the west. Relics of the Porto people (so called-red) in Lamno the beautiful blue-eyed girl, nose sharp, white skin with a stature high above the average of other Aceh residents. These beautiful girls are the descendants of the Porto merchant who stopped in Lamno a few centuries ago. Among these Porto merchants there are those who settled long in Lamno and proposed to local women. Their descendants still exist today, with physical characteristics as the Europeans.

Culturist Lamno M. Yunus suggested that the Portuguese entered Lamno in about 1492. At that time, in Lamno there was a small kingdom rich with spices, such as pepper and others. Under the King of Hero Shah (Sultan Alaidin Riayah Shah II) or better known as Marhum Daya, the Kingdom of Lamno managed to establish trade relations with the Portuguese.

The Lamno Kingdom is based in Keluang or Kuala Daya coastal areas. At that location also used to be built Lamno sea port as a ship berth from outside the region. Due to having an adequate and strategic port in the Indian Ocean, trade between the Portuguese and Lamno goes well. The trading system was still using barter.

The people of Porto brought pepper and tobacco from Lamno.
Because of that trade relationship, there were among Portuguese merchants interested in Lamno's origin girl. Finally, among them there is a proposed local girl, and settled living in the area of Kuala Daya and in Lamso, still entered the area of Lamno. It was then that the heredity of the Portuguese in Lamno was hereditary.

In addition to the Portuguese in Lamno, actually entered also traders from China, India, Arabia, until the VOC itself. Even supposedly ACEH stands for Arabic, Chinese, European, and Hindustan (India). So in those days, Aceh was really a cosmopolitan area.

That is evidenced by the discovery of the ancient currency in Lamno. Jonah shows eight ancient currencies, which are found around the harbor. The currency, believed to be VOC currency because it symbolizes or inscribed VOC, Arabic (there is Arabic script), Chinese (Chinese), and Indian.

With the currency, most likely the port in Lamno was once very crowded as a trading center. "Hence, this time in addition to there are Portuguese descendants, there are also descendants of Arab or India in this area of ​​Lamno," said Yunus to "PR". Arab descendants are also possible who spread Islam in this area, including the Portuguese descendants are also Muslim.

Only, the glory of Lamno began to fade, it happened when King Alaidin Riayah Syah II who was the son of King Inayatsyah died in 1508. After this king died Alaidin, Lamno Kingdom entered the territory of the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam. It happened because Princess Alaidin namely the daughter of Hur (heir to the throne) married the King of Sultan Halim Murayat Shah (King of Aceh Darussalam). Since then, the port of Lamno has become deserted, as the commercial center was diverted by the new king to Sabang and Banda Aceh.

The traders from Portugal and India did not enter Lamno anymore. However, the Portuguese who had married in the area settled forever. They work like local people who are fishing and farming. Due to the deserted port, gradually pepper and tobacco business began to be abandoned by local residents.

The reason, because to sell it becomes difficult and cheap price. The name of Lamno as a producer of pepper and tobacco as well as the center of international trade has finally dimmed from year to year. In fact, now very rarely pepper plants or tobacco business cultivated by residents of this area. The trade nickname for Lamno was finally faded.

The nickname of the city of trade and the producer of spices may fade. But, one nickname that finally never faded for the Lamno region is as the birthplace of the blue-eyed girl. Because the beauty of the girl who remained shining from century to century, finally made Lamno region still famous in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), until now.

Calling Lamno, in Aceh seems to have been synonymous with the beautiful girl descendants of Porto.
According to Burhanudin (58), Lamno residents who are still of Portuguese descent, to the issue of beauty of Portuguese descent, has long been known in Aceh. In fact, if there is a celebration of Marhum Daya, many people come to Lamno. Celebration on Iduladha Lebaran day it can be ascertained the Porto girls who are in Lamno area get together. Both in Lamno and outside this area. "It's the people paying attention to the beauty of Lamno girls who are of Portuguese descent," he explained.

Burhanudin who claimed the fifth generation from Porto, explained, the family is still of Portuguese descent, mostly living in Kuala Daya and Lamso. It is estimated that there are approximately 150 people (before the tsunami). The family of blood origin of Porto is working as a fisherman and farming rice fields or gardens, as is common citizens around.

"His life is also not far or equal to the people around, there is something special from the descendants of Porto, like us, because only the physical is different, the other from language, culture, and job just the same," he explained.