Mss Eur E109

Raffles Collection XI.

This volume contains papers relating to Pontianak, Amboina,

Mantawai, Indrapura, Trinidad, the maritime code of the Malays, a

charge against Raffles by Dr. Tytler, &c.

1, pp. 1˗153: Mr Burn’s Letterts & Memoirs regarding

Pontiane.

(a) pp. 1˗30: J. Burn to Thomas Raffles, Esqr. Pontiana,

12th February 1811. “... The Raja of Sambas refuses to

deliver up the Pirates who cut off the Malacca Brig ...

The Ship Commerce has been set fire to by the Raja of

Sarawa . . . (he) had the Second Mate (Hopkins) put to

death in a private manner, but the Crew are sent to Borneo

Proper as slaves. . .. The People who inhabit the interior

of the Island of Borneo ... are called Dyers (Dyaks) ....”

He goes on to describe briefly their appearance, religion,

weapons, head hunting habits, &c., agriculture, &c.; the ruler

of Lange (? Lingga); hill tribes; Borneo proper, Sucadana,

Mattan, &c.; and then gives at some length “the history of

the famous Diamond” belonging to the Raja of Mattan. This

diamond is said to weigh 367 carats. [Holograph.]

(b) pp. 33˗38: J. Burn to Thomas Raffles, Esqr. Pontiana,

12th March 1811. He has obtained much additional

information, which he will transmit in due course. Pirates

from Sambas have attacked some Chinese vessels and

threaten to attack English vessels also. [Holograph.]

(c), pp. 39˗153: These pages appear to contain the

additional information promised in (b). This information

consists of (i) “The foundation & establishment of Pontiana,”

which gives in some detail the history of affairs from the

time of the grandfather of the present Sultan. A quarrel

with the French, the capture of a French ship and murder

of the crew, the coming of the Dutch, &c., are recounted.

(ii) Weights and prices of Rice at Pontiana and in the

interior, Salt, current coins, payments, duties. (iii) Anecdotes

at Pontiana. (iv) “The Settlements above Pontiana.”

Payan, Millyow, Lange, Seaddoo? Spane, Billiton, Sentang,

Seelat, Seelimboo, Zandaw. Signed T. Burn.

2, pp. 153˗192: Papers & Letters relating to the Moluccas.

(a), pp. 155˗170: David Hopkins to Lord (Minto).

Amboyna, 20 April 1811. “... such particulars as I

collected at Banda respecting the claims of the Captors, and

the probable value of those Islands to the Honorable Company.

The situation to which I have been appointed at Banda, that

of Superintendent of Spices. . .. Banda was taken by storm

on the 9 August 1810. The Captors ... laid claims to all

the nutmegs ... even every nutmeg then growing on the

trees .. Mr Martin has behaved to me with much polite

attention ....” He describes Banda and discusses the prize

claims of the captors in detail and also the strength of

garrison required. [Holograph.]

(b), pp. 171˗176: Thos S. Raffles to W. B. Martin at

Amboyna. Samarang, the 16th Decr 1811. “... In a

former letter I mentioned to you my wish that the returning

Ships should touch at Batavia with Spices. . .. His Lord-

ship has applied to you to spare Mr Hopkins ....”

(c), pp. 177˗181: Lord Minto to W. B. Martin. H.M.S.

Modeste, 27th October 1811. On the adjustment of rates of

exchange. [Copy]

(d), pp. 185˗191: Extract Letter from Lord Minto to

Mr Martin. [n.d.] The influence of the recent events on

the military and civil establishments at Amboina; the spice

monopoly; the withdrawal of Mr. Hopkins from Banda and

his return to Java.

3 (a), pp. 193˗194: (Raffles) to Lord (Minto). 16 Sept.

1810. He encloses a copy of the Maritime Code of the

Malays.

(b), pp. 195˗367: On the Malayu Nation with a translation

of their Maritime Code. (In a letter to his Cousin dated

14th October 1819, Sir Stamford, writes: “While in Bengal

in 1810 I read a paper to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta on

the “Maritime Laws of the Malays.” This paper the

Society has done me the honour to publish in their Trans-

actions . ...” [On the Malayan Nation with a translation of its Maritime

institutions.” Asiatic Researches, XII, 102.]

See Boulger’s Life of Sir Stamford Raffles,

p.30.)

4, pp. 369˗381; Menangkabu Vocabulary. No. 98.

5, pp. 386˗387: English, Malay, Mantawai, Niyas. (Pro-

nouns only.)

6, pp. 389˗462: (? Mr Christie) to the Honble Sir T. S.

Raffles. 1824. This is a report on the Mentawei Islands

or Pulo Pagai. “The estimated latitude of the South Pagai

is 3° 17' South. . .. The latitude of the northernmost end

of the North Pagai is 2° 32' South. . .. The next ... to

the northward is ... Good Fortune Island. . . . Pora

to the Malays. . . . The last and northernmost of the

Mantawai Islands. . . . Sai Birut. . . .” He describes

the smaller neighbouring islands; the harbours, &c.; and

then gives a general description of the larger islands;

the physical aspects; the seasons; soil and vegetation;

the principal trees, cultivated plants; animals, names of

birds, reptiles and insects, fish; the people and their

habits, clothing, tattooing, population (list of villages and

number of inhabitants); village economy, houses, food;

language; &c. [Incomplete.]

See also 238, 8, “Account of the Poggies,” i.e. North and

South Pagai Apparently some of this document has been

printed.

7, pp. 463˗528: Observations on Article 7 in the 45th

number of the Edinburgh Review˗˗professing to be a Review

of the Grammar and Dictionary of the Malayan Languages

by William Marsden. . .. Signed “Jambalus” and dated

Java, 1st January 1815. Another copy of this is given in

239, 5 (q.v.).

8, pp. 531˗543: History of Java. This is given in a

slightly different form in 232, 38. The present version is

incomplete.

9, pp. 544˗606: Translation into English of the of Malay

History of the Raja of Indrapura by Sir T. S. Raffles.

[No. 138.] W.M. 1806.

The first 19 folios contain rules for government under a

raja; the next three folios give some vague information

about Malacca, Pahang, Tringano, Patani, Salengor, Kelang,

Perak, &c. Then follows “The Account of the lcan toda of

Indrapura.” This begins, “It is related with respect to the

Country of Indrapura, that it was besieged by the Ican toda,

or toda fish.” Eventually a child named “Hang Kadim”

suggests a successful plan for defeating the enemy. The

hero is rewarded, but, through jealousy, is accused of violating

the palace, and is killed.”

10, pp. 610˗612: R. Tytler to W. Baskett, Esqr. Sepr 9th,

1824. “... I detest masks and secrecy˗˗hence what I said

to Sir S. was sincere.... I thought him a friend, and also

a patriot . ...” See No. 12 below. [Holograph.] .

11, pp. 614˗627: Correspondence between Sir T. S. Raffles

and Major Edward Moor, 14th October 1824 to 3rd August

1825, about Dr. Tytler’s book, “Illustrations of ancient

Geography & History, referring to the Sites or Ophir, Sheba.

…” Raffles consents to the proposed dedication to him.

The book was published in 1825.

12, pp. 628˗632: (Dr. Tytler) to the Right Honble George

Canning. Calcutta, 3rd January 1825. This is an outcry

against the treaty between Great Britain and Holland, and

the transfer of Bencoolen. The writer alleges that “Sir

Stamford Raffles did ... act with great duplicity to those

under his Government, and blinded the unfortunate in-

habitants of Bencoolen ... that no suspicion of the Treaty’s

existence was present till the ratification was announced ....

The principal features of Sir Stamford’s administration

exhibit one continued scene of misrule and misdirection. …

He altered the Liturgy of the Church of England, to suit the

notions of the Baptist Missionaries. . . . Sir Stamford

Raffles should be brought to answer for his conduct at the

Bar of the house of Commons ....” [Copy.]

13, pp 634˗640: Paper on proposed intercourse between

Trinidad and Bengal. [n d.] W.M. 1800. This refers

to Chinese settlers at Prince of Wales Island going to

Trinidad, and “to prepare the way for carrying this measure

into execution. . .. Mr Macqueen [See 244,28]… has in consequence

been selected for this Service.” The writer goes on to suggest

that this is an opportunity for opening trade between India