Translated by John Leyden (first publication 1821)
ISBN 978-983-3221-38-7
This 19th-century book has been rewritten and refurbished to present-day written English, even though the Ye Olde English verbose composition is still evident. Sometimes one has the feeling that it appears like a direct translation from Classical Malay Language (Bahasa Klasik, Bahasa Istana). The author claims that the book is the result of the narration to him by the descendants of the Malacca Sultanate. It even has an introduction written by the 'founder' of Singapore, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.
History is said to be the noble truth as told by the victors. History has always been the political tool to push particular agendas. This cannot be truer in the case of the Malayan scenario. Its syllabi have changed so much over the years that it appears that my understanding of the past had been totally misunderstood or perhaps I was not paying attention in history class!
This book gives yet another perspective on the origin of our Mother Land. I had to peruse it a second time just to ensure that I got my facts right. It narrates the source of people from this side of the earth, i.e., the ruling class as descendants of Alexander the Great (Iskander Dzulkarnain).
After many so and so marrying so and so, the rulers of Tanah Keling finally made it to the Malay archipelago. There is mention of many small kingdoms and islands like Champa, Sumatra, Riau, Rokan, Bintan and such. However, sore missing is the Gangga Negara and Bujang Valley.
Sang Nila Utama was a carefree prince who was marooned on an island. He and his henchmen witnessed the appearance of a majestic beast which disappeared in a whisker. Awed by the animal, the prince wanted to know the name of the beast. None of those around him but one of his yeomen said that he had heard of such a magnificent creature which was called 'Singa'. Hence, the name 'Singhapura' was given to the island. He decided to reside there. It had nothing to do with a lion seen over the hill as was narrated to us.
The tale of the legendary strongman of the Malay world, Badang, is told. As we have read, he is said to have acquired unique strengths from a troll whom he caught red-headed trying to steal fish from his trap. He had eaten the beast's vomitus to gain these powers. What the folktales did not tell us is how he had defeated a visibly not-his-match wrestler from Tanah Keling using underarm tactics, like getting him drunk the night before the fight!
There was a brief mention of the Boy Wonder in Singhapura when flying swordfishes terrorised the island. We know him as Hang Nadim, but here he has no name. The political scene then and now is no different. The up and coming shining star unceremoniously met an early death at the schemes of the jealous noblemen who felt threatened by the presence of a smart alec.
The tale of the legendary strongman of the Malay world, Badang, is told. As we have read, he is said to have acquired unique strengths from a troll whom he caught red-headed trying to steal fish from his trap. He had eaten the beast's vomitus to gain these powers. What the folktales did not tell us is how he had defeated a visibly not-his-match wrestler from Tanah Keling using underarm tactics, like getting him drunk the night before the fight!
There was a brief mention of the Boy Wonder in Singhapura when flying swordfishes terrorised the island. We know him as Hang Nadim, but here he has no name. The political scene then and now is no different. The up and coming shining star unceremoniously met an early death at the schemes of the jealous noblemen who felt threatened by the presence of a smart alec.
What do you know, there is no mention of a character anywhere in the book referred to as Parameswara! The renegade runaway prince who created hubbub all over the place and sat under a tree to witness the brave act of a strong-willed mouse-deer to fight hunting dogs was named Raja Sekunder Shah (Raja Iskandar). He named the place after a tree.
After a series of successions by his sons, his grandson, Raja Kichil Besar, embraced Islam through an epiphany of a dream. Within his dream, he was allegedly taught to recite Quranic verses and to speak Arabic overnight. He was also told in his sleep that a Muslim missionary from Jeddah would arrive at the port the following day. Sure enough, he did, and the king embraced Islam, taking the name Sultan Muhammad Shah.
Sultan Muhammad is credited to have proposed many rituals and orders of the throne. The prohibition of yellow clothing, donning of golden and silver ornaments, yellow umbrella and the use of musical instruments (nobut) and the social mores of civilian conduct were his doing. His Bendahara was rebranded as Sri Wa Raja.
Just like the mythological tale of Ramayana where one of Dasaratha's wives held him to ransom to get her son to the throne, Sultan Muhammad's second wife from Rokan somehow tried to get her bloodline into the lineage of the Sultanate. The affable heir-in-waiting, Raja Kasim, whose mother, a Keling, was chased away to live with and as a fisherman. An Arabic holy man is the one who cajoled him back to the throne after a devious plan executed in cahoots with the Bendahara, Sri Wak Raja and with bloodshed, of course. Raja Kasim became Sultan Muzafar Shah. And the Arabs had the privilege of moving closer amongst the royal circles.
Just like the mythological tale of Ramayana where one of Dasaratha's wives held him to ransom to get her son to the throne, Sultan Muhammad's second wife from Rokan somehow tried to get her bloodline into the lineage of the Sultanate. The affable heir-in-waiting, Raja Kasim, whose mother, a Keling, was chased away to live with and as a fisherman. An Arabic holy man is the one who cajoled him back to the throne after a devious plan executed in cahoots with the Bendahara, Sri Wak Raja and with bloodshed, of course. Raja Kasim became Sultan Muzafar Shah. And the Arabs had the privilege of moving closer amongst the royal circles.
The Bendahara lineage too continued with Sri Wa Raja. One of his offspring, Tun Perak, the headman of a small district of Calang, showed his mettle when the Siamese attacked the kingdom of Malacca. With his wit, he outwitted the foes not once but twice.
The port prospered. Chinese vessels had plied the trade route and had a cordial relationship with Malacca. The Indian link had always been there as their ancestry continued with blood relations and economic prowess. Hang Tuah showed his presence around this time. He came to prominence when he managed to quieten down an amok Javanese man with crisse (kris). Very much like Krishna in the Hindu scriptures, he is said to be a head-turner. He had a sort of a rock star persona that every girl (virgin and married ones) went weak on their knees. Husbands had to cage their raging wives behind closed doors metaphorically; such was his allure!
The legendary duel between Hang Tuah and his supposed deputy in his gang of five, Hang Jebat had always been agreed among the literary circles as the clash between the feudalistic minded simpletons and the thinking revolutionaries. Interestingly, in this book, the duel that had taken place was actually between Tuah and Casturi! Just like many other turning points in the Malacca Sultanate history which involved scuffle over the fairer sex, the duel sparked off after Casturi apparently bedded one of Sultan Mansur Shah's concubines.
Sultan Mansur Shah was also portrayed as a playboy, having sired an illegitimate child before ascending the throne. Sultan Alla ed din was famous for his undercover missions to maintain law and order in the state.
Hang Tuah is visualised here as a living person rather than a mystical being. Yes, he did have a daughter, and his son-in-law succeeded him as the Laksamana. And he did die, not mysteriously disappear into the foothill of Gunung Ledang as the legend says.
Women problem also rocked the kingdom during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah. Mesmerised by a fair maiden, he practically killed her husband to marry her. Unfortunately, she became a social recluse, depressed and was prone to induce self-abortion. She subsequently succumbed to her illness. The griefing Sultan, upon the insistence of the noblemen around him, gave a wild desire to ask the unattainable Princess of Gunung Ledang for her hand in marriage.
In one of his last mission, the aged Tuah followed an entourage to the mountain. Tuah did not complete the hike. Someone else, Mamat did the actual audience with the princess. The proposition failed, of course, with her preposterous demands.
By the time, the Frangis (the Portuguese, Bengali Puteh) arrived to canvass the area; Malacca had over 190,000 inhabitants. It was gleaming with prosperity. The Indian Muslim traders were actually more prosperous than the royalty and had a stronghold on the economy. Awed by its success, the Portuguese wizier, Albuquerque, sent ships to attack the port, unsuccessfully, twice.
Sultan Mahmud Shah was involved in life-changing events. He wrongly put to death a Bendahara who was bad-mouthed by a Keling trader over money issues. Lust also brought the monarch down. He used his power to snatch somebody's drop-dead wife, Tun Fatimah. She became a melancholic recluse who refused to come out of her room. Sultan Mahmud was indeed not the last ruler of Malacca. Later in life, he abdicated from his throne and rode away into the jungle after appointing his son, Sultan Ahmad as King. Sultan Ahmad was around when Malacca fell.
The legendary duel between Hang Tuah and his supposed deputy in his gang of five, Hang Jebat had always been agreed among the literary circles as the clash between the feudalistic minded simpletons and the thinking revolutionaries. Interestingly, in this book, the duel that had taken place was actually between Tuah and Casturi! Just like many other turning points in the Malacca Sultanate history which involved scuffle over the fairer sex, the duel sparked off after Casturi apparently bedded one of Sultan Mansur Shah's concubines.
Sultan Mansur Shah was also portrayed as a playboy, having sired an illegitimate child before ascending the throne. Sultan Alla ed din was famous for his undercover missions to maintain law and order in the state.
Hang Tuah is visualised here as a living person rather than a mystical being. Yes, he did have a daughter, and his son-in-law succeeded him as the Laksamana. And he did die, not mysteriously disappear into the foothill of Gunung Ledang as the legend says.
Women problem also rocked the kingdom during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah. Mesmerised by a fair maiden, he practically killed her husband to marry her. Unfortunately, she became a social recluse, depressed and was prone to induce self-abortion. She subsequently succumbed to her illness. The griefing Sultan, upon the insistence of the noblemen around him, gave a wild desire to ask the unattainable Princess of Gunung Ledang for her hand in marriage.
In one of his last mission, the aged Tuah followed an entourage to the mountain. Tuah did not complete the hike. Someone else, Mamat did the actual audience with the princess. The proposition failed, of course, with her preposterous demands.
By the time, the Frangis (the Portuguese, Bengali Puteh) arrived to canvass the area; Malacca had over 190,000 inhabitants. It was gleaming with prosperity. The Indian Muslim traders were actually more prosperous than the royalty and had a stronghold on the economy. Awed by its success, the Portuguese wizier, Albuquerque, sent ships to attack the port, unsuccessfully, twice.
Sultan Mahmud Shah was involved in life-changing events. He wrongly put to death a Bendahara who was bad-mouthed by a Keling trader over money issues. Lust also brought the monarch down. He used his power to snatch somebody's drop-dead wife, Tun Fatimah. She became a melancholic recluse who refused to come out of her room. Sultan Mahmud was indeed not the last ruler of Malacca. Later in life, he abdicated from his throne and rode away into the jungle after appointing his son, Sultan Ahmad as King. Sultan Ahmad was around when Malacca fell.
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