In the 14th century, firearms in the form of pole guns began to appear within Australia as trade between its northern societies and those of the Malay Archipelago intensified. However, they were very situational and could not realistically compete against local crossbows, longbows and composite bows. Furthermore, the gunpowder formula used was not as efficient. This changed in the 16th century, when Alfonso de Albuquerque's Expedition arrived in the shores of northern Australia. Following the conflict, many matchlocks arquebuses entered Oceanyka, and they were widely copied, slowly beginning to proliferate. Oceanykans call Portuguese-style arquebus "istinggar", much like their Malay neighbours do. It is a bastardisation of "espingarda", or arquebus in Portuguese.
