Bajo

Bajo lies on the sheltered western shore of Flores, facing the islands and channels toward Sumbawa. Its name recalls the Bajo seafarers who used the lagoon as an anchorage and met the Manggarai people of the interior to exchange goods. Skilled sailors and collectors of marine products, Bajo communities travelled among the islands of eastern Indonesia. Their movements were linked to the expansion of Makassarese and Bugis trade, including commerce in turtle shell and sea cucumber.