Browse Items (122 total)

  • Collection: Journal of the Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society.

The article by John Bastin discusses the historical document "A Historical Sketch of the circumstances which led to the settlement of Penang & of the Trade to the Eastward previous to, and since that period" from 1794.

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David Sherman Bassett, aged 85, passed away on September 13, 2024, at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health. Born on July 9, 1939, in Massachusetts, he was a devoted member of Ardmore Baptist Church and actively volunteered at the Shriner Hospital and…

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At the turn of the 20th century, Patani was viewed by many in Malaya as a culturally rich but politically troubled region under growing Siamese control. Malay observers saw the decline of Patani’s autonomy with concern, as it affected their shared…

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The Kedah succession crisis from 1879 to 1882 involved disputes over the rightful heir to the throne after the death of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Mukarram Shah. Competing claims led to political tension and intervention by neighboring powers like Siam…

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The Hakkas is about a group of Chinese people called the Hakka. They moved a lot and settled in different places, including Malaysia. The book talks about their hard work, strong spirit, and how they kept their own language and culture. It also shows…

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The bridge plan was a strategy during the Malayan Emergency, introduced by Sir Harold Briggs in 1950 to defeat the communist insurgency. …

Instead of relying only on military force, it focused on cutting off support to the Malayan National Liberation Army by relocating rural populations into controlled New Villages. This prevented guerrillas from getting food and supplies while security…

Oliver Lyttelton's Reccomendation were made during the Malayan Emergency after his visit to Malaya in 1951 to assess the worsening security situation. He found that the Home Guard system was poorly organized and divided between Malay kampong guards…

The London Missionary Society kept detailed records of its work in spreading Christianity, especially through education and printing. Its missionaries played a key role in producing religious texts and school materials in local languages across Asia.…

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The article by M.B. Hooker discusses the early adat (traditional law) constitution of Negri Sembilan from 1773-1824, examining the emergence of a centralized state, the roles of matrilineal and patrilineal descent in society, and how patrilineal…

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The article by M. E. Wayte discusses the geographical and ecological dynamics of the Port Weld area, focusing on the rapid siltation of inshore waters, the growth of mangrove forests, and the impact of these processes on the local river systems and…

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In "The Fishing Methods of Kelantan and Trengganu," M. L. Parry explores the traditional fishing techniques used in these two Malaysian states. Unlike other Malay states, Kelantan and Trengganu have been minimally influenced by external fishing…

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The article discusses the 1939 archaeological excavations led by M. W. F. Tweedie in the caves and rock-shelters around Gua Musang in Kelantan, highlighting the sites explored, findings, and acknowledgments for expert assistance.

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A fresh reconstruction of Sultan Mansur Shah’s palace in Malacca offers new insights into Malay royal architecture and historical design. Based on archaeological findings and historical records, the study gives a clearer picture of the palace’s…

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William Edward Maxwell was a toddler in 1847, and in1867, the colonies of the British which is Penang, Malacca, and Singapore were governed by India. And, the Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements was established. Then almost civil servats were…

William Maxwell studies land tenure system since the influence of British in the Malay states grew and proper system of registration of land titles and boundaries was needed to create revenue from the occupied land. And he bring a new uniform known…

About Sir B.P. Maxwell and His contribution. Sir Peter Benson Maxwell( W.E. Maxwell's father) went to the Penang to take a position of Supreme Court Judge. After several years later, he published a book known as" Our Malay Conquests", epitomizing a…

This passage describes the early connection between Frank Swettenham and William Edward Maxwell after Swettenham arrived in Singapore in 1871. Although the exact date of their first meeting is unclear, they likely met through Maxwell's government…

This passage shows that Frank Swettenham wanted to protect his personal legacy in British Malaya. He strongly supported the Federation of the Malay States and feared people would forget his achievements. his Malayan artefacts were later kept in the…

The article by N. W. Simmonds provides a general survey of primitive archery in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, based on his travels in 1954-55, with a focus on botanical and technological aspects, supplemented by museum and library studies.

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This passage explains the "mimetic model" or premodern Southeast Asian states. Power was organized though a hierarch where smaller rulers imitated stronger kings to gain prestige and authority. Based on Rene Girard's idea of mimesis, rulers desired…

This passage shows that in premodern Southeast Asia, relationship between kings and power centers could be either hierarchical cases, a superior king ruled over inferior ones, maintaining order. In rivalrous cases, rulers of similar status completed…

The article by Nicholas Tarling examines the influential role of John Palmer, known as the "Prince of Merchants," in British political and commercial affairs, particularly in relation to the British-Dutch negotiations and the acquisition of…

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Tall Tales from Terengganu II presents a collection of local stories and legends from Terengganu, capturing the region's rich oral traditions and cultural heritage. These tales, passed down through generations, reflect the values, beliefs, and…

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Sir Hugh Clifford’s stories paint a picture of Malaya during British colonial times, focusing on village life, local customs, and the relationship between the British and Malays. His writing reflects both admiration and a colonial mindset, giving…

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common misunderstandings about monsoon wind patterns and their role in historical maritime trade across the Indian ocean and Southeast Asia. While it is often believed that ships followed a simple one-way seasonal pattern and returing west with the…

Evidence from the 1431 Chinese expedition demonstrates that sailors adapted flexibly to changing wind systems. Rather than strictly following a fixed directional cycle, fleets could travel both eastward and westward within the same monsoon season.…

The passage explain that sailing routes were heavily influenced not just by wind direction but by seasonal weather conditions. Stormy monsoon periods often made certain coastal harbors in accessible, such as the east coast of the Malay peninsula…

The text correct the misconception that the southwest monsoon moves in a straightward diagonal path from Africa to Southeast Asia. In reality, it develops progressively, beginning near Aceh, then reaching Sri Lanka, and finally the west coast of…

The term navigation did not the originally mean precise position-finding as it does today. It referred broadly to guiding a ship across open waters., while pilotage described navigation near coastlines using visible landmarks.

The development of modern navigation techniques began in Europe during the late 15th century, not the early 1420s as often misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, Prince Henry the Navigater did not initiate advanced oceanic navigations for voyages…

Portuguese adapted and simplified earlier Arabic instruments such as quadrants and astrolabes. These tools were modified to measure the altura in degrees, making them more practical for sailors. Additionally, nautical almanacs that is derived from…

Navigation reminded far from precise. Mariners could not accurately determine their exact geographic position. The concept of locating a ship at the intersection of latitude and longitude was largely theoretical and confined to scholars. Longitude…

Even experienced navigators, including Arab seafarers known for their advanced techniques, did not use latitude in the modern sense. This reliance on celestial height measurements persisted for centuries, with some English sailors continuing the…

The marine charts from the early times were showing a recognizable Mediterranean and northwestern shoulder of Africa without latitude and longitude. Arabs used a chart that were inspired by Portuguese. The Mao K'un maps named a later compiler found…

Voyage routes ran in lines followed parallel to an irregular coastline and they provided the navigation with a direct picture of the coast but it was not possible to fix these. They are more like the straight line guides of the LondonUndergraund with…

Sailing directions were recorded in East and West for both coasting and open sea voyages. For example, 5the knowledge of the various trade routes with directions and favorable winds, and description of the coastlines. Office are termed as Pilots…

The Mao K'un with the Zheng he Voyages used a star charts instead of the ocean navigations. But there are mislabeled star chart title of navigational diagrams by Needham. Also there are some problems in identifying stars with sailors' and names'.…

There is no other instruments but Mao K'un maps for open ocean navigations. Star altitude were added for the first time when crossing the mouth of the bay of Bengal .

The passage describes how early sailors used the Pole Star, Polaris or navigation before the 1470s. Because Polaris appeared nearly fixed in the sky, its altitude helped sailors estimates latitude, although it was not perfectly alighed with the North…

The marine compass was an important tool for navigation because it showed direction at sea. However, a compass 'course' is different from a 'bearing". Early compasses ranged from simple magnetized needles floating in water to more advanced…

Penghulus in Perak and Selangor once held important roles as local leaders, responsible for maintaining order, settling disputes, and managing village affairs. Over time, their influence declined due to colonial restructuring, the rise of modern…

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Abd al-Ra’ūf’s Tarjumān al-Mustafīd, a Malay tafsir (Qur'anic commentary), draws heavily from earlier Arabic sources, particularly the works of al-Baydawi and al-Khazin. By adapting these texts into Malay, Abd al-Ra’ūf made Islamic teachings more…

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In "The Origin of the Malayan Metal Age," Prince John Lowenstein, Ph.D., examines the delayed arrival of civilization in Malaya. While Europe and the ancient Near East advanced in metal use thousands of years earlier.

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The article by Prince John Lowenstein discusses the discovery of various types of neolithic ceramics, specifically hollow clay stands and censers, at different excavation sites in northern Malaya, highlighting their unique shapes and dimensions.

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Succession in the Perak Sultanate follows a unique and complex system based on seniority and rotating titles among royal family members. Rather than direct inheritance from father to son, the system promotes individuals through a ranked structure,…

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During Rama II’s reign, a Malay mission traveled to Bangkok aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties and negotiate political matters. The mission highlighted the close but sometimes complicated relationship between the Malay states and the Siamese…

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Munshi Abdullah’s Arab teachers had a strong influence on his education and thinking, especially in the areas of religion, language, and literature. Through them, he gained a deep understanding of Arabic and Islamic teachings, which shaped his later…

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The article by R. O. Winstedt discusses the historical Malay titles, detailing their specific meanings and rules of descent, based on ancient customs and traditions from Malacca and Johor.

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The article by R. O. Winstedt discusses the discovery of a tomb in North Sumatra with a unique Persian inscription, highlighting the historical significance and connections of Pasai, as well as the prominence of the name Husam al-Din in its history.

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