Lela or lila is a type of Malay cannon, used widely in the Nusantara archipelago. They are similar to a lantaka but longer and had larger bore. Lela can be configured as swivel gun, fixed gun, or mounted in a gun carriage. It is the equivalent of European falcon and falconet.
19th century lela from Pahang. This specimen has two dolphins and a cagak (swivel yoke).
Worn out, heavier lela, at Sanggau, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
A drawing of a floating water castle (kotta mara) from Hachelijke reys-togt van Jacob Jansz de Roy.
A 1.5-pounder (0.68 kg) lilla. 176.5 cm long, 5.5 cm in caliber.
The Lantaka also known as rentaka was a type of bronze portable cannon or swivel gun, sometimes mounted on merchant vessels and warships in Maritime Southeast Asia. It was commonly equipped by native seafaring vessels from the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Lela and rentaka are known by the Malays as meriam kecil, the difference is that rentaka is smaller in length and bore than a lela. and Lantakas are often called Kanyon in Filipino.
Two Malay rentaka
18th-century engraving of a Philippine karakoa, a lantaka can be seen mounted on the raised platform. A wheeled cannon is placed on the deck, facing forward.
Collection of Philippine lantaka in a European museum
A Moro brass lantaka from the Sulu Archipelago, Honolulu Museum of Art
