 The dominant groups of the island are the seafaring and once piratical Muslim Bugis and Makassarese in the island's south-west, and the strongly Christian Minahasa of the northern peninsula.The Toraja, of South Sulawesi are, however, arguably one of the most distinctive of ethnic groups in all Indonesia.The name "Toraja" is of Bugis origin and is given to the people of rugged northern part of the south peninsula.