Mss Eur Mack Private 8

p. i: History of the Island of Java from the Period of its first Population, together with Seven Memoirs of the most remarkable Trees, Plants, Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes, Serpents & Snalces which are found in the Forest, Rivers & Lakes of this Island.

On a separate sheet, pasted on, a loose slip adds the words Dedicated to His Excellency Thomas Stamford Raffles Esqre Lieutenant Governor of the Island of Java & its Dependencies.

pp. 1-280: History of the Island of Java from the Period of its first Population. The seven memoirs above referred to are wanting. Written in paragraphs which up to p. 214 are numbered (1-558) in pencil. Begins: It is natural to suppose, that whoever desires to become acquainted with the History of this Island, will be pleased to obtain true & well ascertained information respecting the same. With this view I have undertaken to put down in writing what I have been able to collect through my own researches, during a long residence on Java, as well as from old Manuscripts, and from the relations of ingenious and creditable persons whose knowledge was founded upon tradition, and, for the most part, derived from the ancient Pantongs or Wayangs, of which the Javanese History is composed, hoping that the imperfections in this undertaking will be overlooked. In that expectation I now proceed to describe the Island Java from the first period of its population, as far as the same possibly could be ascertained. Java, or, as it is called by the Natives Djawee [=Jawi], seems, according the ancient tradition, to have derived that name from a certain grain Djewawood [=jawawut, Panicum italicum L., Gramineae] called, which is a yellow colour round and small, resembling the Barley of Europe, both in appearance and taste. . . . (p. 2, para. 4.) "The opinions concerning the first Period and Nation who settled on this Island are various, and no certainty can be drawn, with respect to those points, either from old Javanese Manuscripts, or from the Inscriptions on stone, copper, or lauter-leaves [=lontar, Borassus flabelliformis Fil.] still extant. If however we are to trust to old Traditions, this Island was inhabited from time immemorial, and even earlier than Europe. It was occupied by Giants and Spirits, that could render themselves invisible, living in the forest and running about naked. (para. 5.) “ I was told by a person named Mangong, late Bepatty [=bupati] at Sumanap [=Sumĕnĕp], who was killed in August 1811 on the Landing of the British troops, that the first inhabitants of Java were supposed to have come in vessels from Lautmira [=laut merah], or the Red Sea, navigating, along the Coast of Hindostan which at that time was contiguous to this Island or rather to the westernpart of it; but since through a revolution of the elements separated and formed into several Islands. . . . (p, 6, para. 10.) "These people lived thus happy in their own way, untill the arrival of Rajah Sokko [=Raja Saka =Śaka] who settled in the District of Blora. By him they were subdued and divided into Casts or Classes viz: in husbandmen, herdsmen, hunters, Fisherman Merchants, Artificers Seamen and Soldiers all of which were placed under their different Heads,” &c. . . . The work is unfinished, ending abruptly in the middle of a sentence in the account of the expedition sent December 1717 to Madura. Ends (p. 279): "Fear and vengeance seized the mind of the Prince and his son, when they saw their mortal enemies arrive. The son cried Amok drew his krees [=kĕris] and wounded the officer who had the Watch upon Deck. His uncle followed the example, and the father hearing the noise, ran furious out of the cabbin, stabbed the Sentry and meeting Mr Chavonnes near the stairs he wounded him in the side; but the latter ran him through the body with his sword. They expired both soon after. The son of the Prince had the same fate; but the brother was, taken prisoner, and together with the two dead bodies and the followers sent to Mr Gobuis at Sourabaya [=Surabaya], where the Minister of the Emperor was present, who ordered the Prince to be kreessed, and sent the three heads with'" . . . . It appears from 16. 9 and 28. 9 infra, q.v., that this history was originally written in Dutch, seemingly by J. A. van Middelkoop; 8 and 16. 9 represent different translations of the original, of which 28. 9 is an extract.