Letters of Sincerity

I. THE KEDAH LETTERS

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pp. 35-57

The following Kedah letters reveal an interesting aspect of the state’s relations with Siam in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These letters complement what Rollins Bonney tried to show in his book¹—that the Sultan of Kedah, being harassed by Siam...

II. THE PENANG LETTERS

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pp. 58-82

Aletter of sincerity along with brotherly love and affection from me Seri Maharaja Saudagar;² may it be delivered, I pray, to my friend Mr. Erskine³ who is wise and prudent towards helping friends and companions and those marred by misfortune; celebrated and renowned everywhere...

III. THE PERAK LETTER

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pp. 83-87

An epistle of sincerity and varied gifts, that has enclosed within it uprightness and candour with affection and concord that is without bounds so long as there exist the heavenly sphere, sun and moon, be it night or day, from the Yang Di-Pertuan,¹ most illustrious, who sits on the...

IV. THE PEDAS AND REMBAU LETTERS

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pp. 88-96

The following letter written by Raja Ali of Pedas is of historical importance. Not only does it shed new light on the person of Raja Ali and the district of Pedas but, more importantly, it illuminates the relationship between Pedas and Rembau in the early 19th century...

REMBAU

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pp. 97-100

Rembau is the name of the interior state that lies between Selangor to the north and Malacca to the west. In the early 19th century, Rembau, the capital, was the crowning place of the deputed sovereign of the Minangkabau, who assumed the title of Yang Dipertuan Besar. But...

V. THE JOHOR AND SINGAPORE LETTERS

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pp. 103-104

This letter, with sincerity and pure heart and without regrets, comes from Paduka Seri Sultan Mahmud Syah who reigns with majesty and greatness in Johor and Pahang with all its dependencies. May the will of God convey this letter to our friend Beherma [or Bihrama] Philip Dundas...

THE SINGAPORE LETTER

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pp. 105-109

In his History of Johore, Winstedt mentioned that it was Tun Ibrahim, Abdul Rahman’s ‘second son’ who succeeded him as the Temenggong of Singapore, bypassing the ‘elder son’, Abdullah, who, according to Winstedt, was ‘eccentric’.⁶ This Singapore letter confirms what Winstedt...

VI. THE RIAU LETTERS

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pp. 110-119

The Riau-Lingga Archipelago was the name given by Dutch geographers to the group of numerous islands, islets, rocks and shoals which lies between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula towards the eastern end of the Malacca Strait. Riau lies about fifty miles...

VII. THE LINGGA LETTERS

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pp. 120-136

The following letters from Lingga—the two letters sent by the chiefs of Sultan Mahmud’s court, the letter from Tunku Pangeran of Siak, and another written by the syahbandar of Lingga, all addressed to Raffles—are of historical importance, for they shed some...

VIII. THE SIAK LETTERS

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pp. 137-223

Before it became a separate state, the sultanate of Siak was a dependency of Johor and thus was an integral part of the Johor empire. Winstedt mentioned that in 1682 Johor attacked Siak, whose Minangkabau inhabitants were said to have recognized their...

IX. THE JAMBI LETTER

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pp. 224-226

Verily this letter expresses sincerity and whiteness of heart with perpetual love and affection from Sayid Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al-Habsyi who is taking shelter in the country of Jambi; may it by the grace of God, lord of the universe reach His Excellency Thomas Raffles...

X. THE PALEMBANG LETTERS

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pp. 227-276

While most of the Palembang letters (nine in all) are letters written between 1809 and 1811, there is, however, an earlier letter dated 1780 from Governor Reynier de Klerk to the Sultan of Palembang. and another letter of a later date (1824), written by...

XI. THE ACEH LETTER

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pp. 277-285

Praise be to Allah who delivered the holy book, prayers and perfect salutations and honour to Prophet Muhammad, most distinguished, and his companions, the best of families and friends. Having praised Allah, the Lord of Light, and offered prayers to the Prophet, Master of Chastity, and...

XII. THE PONTIANAK LETTERS

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pp. 286-297

A letter of sincerity and non-elaborate gift with honour and reverence along with much affection that is without end, so long as the galaxy revolves in the night and during the day, that is from His Highness Sultan Syarif Kasim¹ son of the deceased Sultan Syarif Abdul Rahman,² son of...

XIII. THE SAMBAS LETTER

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pp. 298-301

And so this is a letter of sincerity and straightforwardness, along with varied gifts, that emerges from the heart that is transparent and of limpid purity, from His Highness Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin² son of the deceased Sultan ‘Umar Akamuddin who reigns in the country of Sambas...

XIV. THE BANJARMASIN LETTER

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pp. 302-304

Verily this letter is presented to the audience of His Excellency who is the representative of the Tuan Raja of Bengal. And so Kiyai Tanu Kersa [Garasa?],² together with Ara [a-r] Sandung,³ has been commanded by Tuan Sultan Sulaiman who is presently the raja in the country of...

XV. THE BANTEN LETTERS

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pp. 305-311

As a region, Banten was already recognized in the 14th century as a sovereign state and a well-known port city when it was conquered by Majapahit. Around 1524–1525 the armies of Sunan Gunung Jati from the Cirebon Sultanate together with the...

XVI. THE CIREBON LETTERS

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pp. 312-317

This is a letter of sincerity that emanates from a whiteness of heart, from me Kangjeng⁵ Sultan Kesepuan⁶ and from Kangjeng Sultan Anom⁷ who reign in the country of Cirebon,⁸ coming in the presence of Mister Raffles Esquire who is agent to the Governor-General of Bengal, vested...

XVII. HAJI MOHALI’S LETTER

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pp. 318-319

Dated one thousand two hundred and twenty-two,¹ the year of Waw,² equal to twenty-second of Dzulkaedah, on Tuesday³ [Haji [Muhammad Mohali]⁴ enters employment under the flag of the Governor of the English Company. The occupation being to despatch missives of the...

XVIII. THE BALI LETTERS

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pp. 320-352

Bali is the next island east of Java. It is separated by a strait about a mile and a half wide. Its area is estimated at 1,685 square miles. Although Bali is only a small island, in the 19th century it was divided into no fewer than eight independent...

APPENDIX I

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pp. 353-355

APPENDIX II

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pp. 356-360

APPENDIX III

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pp. 361-364

APPENDIX IV

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pp. 365-369

APPENDIX V

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pp. 370-371

APPENDIX VI

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pp. 372-

APPENDIX VII

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pp. 373-374

APPENDIX VIII

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pp. 375-376

APPENDIX IX

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pp. 377-378

APPENDIX X

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pp. 379-393