ENDEARING EPISTLES FROM A DUTCH COLONIAL …gmj-me.upm.edu.my/UPLOAD/009.pdf · MSS 4160 – Surat perjaniian peraturan meminjam tanah (A Document of Land Mortgage Agreement) 4

Global Media Journal – Malaysian Edition Volume 3, Issue 1, 2013 ISSN : 2231-9948

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ENDEARING EPISTLES FROM A DUTCH COLONIAL GOVERNOR TO A

MALAY RULER AND A MALAY RULER TO A DUTCH COLONIAL

GOVERNOR: A COMPARISON

Hashim, M., Ph.D1

Department of Malay Language

Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication

Unviersiti Putra Malaysia

Malaysia

[email protected]

Adi Yasran, A. A., Ph.D




Malaysia

[email protected]

Rozita, C. R., Ph.D




Malaysia

[email protected]

Salmah Jan, N. M., Ph.D




Malaysia

[email protected]

Abstract

In this paper two letters will be studied, one from a Dutch Colonial Governor to the ruler

of Sambas dated 1848 and the other from Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan Zain Al-‘Abidin of

Terengganu to Genderal Baron van der Capellen in Betawi (Jakarta) dated 1824. The

studies are in the forms of transliteration and annotation of the letters and also a general

discussion of the historical background and content of the letters. Discussion on the

common features of the two letters will be made, namely the writing of a short formulaic

heading on top of the page as a kind of statement, kind words of endearment and

1 Coressponding author


2

honorable words of addressing the recipients, prayer to the Almighty for the long life and

good health of the addressee and the mention of the exchange of precious gifts. One

feature that is in complete contrast with the etiquette of Malay rulers’ letter writing was

the conspicuous introduction in the opening line of the Governor-General’s letter, of the

status of the sender with grandeurs mentions of one’s honor and awards, and also the

use of plain paper without illumination by the Dutch Governor-General. These were in

complete contrast to the Malay rulers’ letter writing style of a simple mention of the

status of the ruler and the using of intricate illumination. This study also revealed that

although the letter from a Dutch colonial Governor-General was to one of the Malay

rulers in his dominions, the civility, mutual respect and appropriate decorum of

addressing between rulers, were practiced and adopted.

Keywords: Transliteration, Annotation, Practice of Diplomacy, Etiquette of Malay Letter

Writing

Introduction

On April 9, 2012, we received a very interesting mail with a CD from the Perpustakaan

Negara Malaysia (National Library of Malaysia) containing copies of four recently

acquired manuscripts2. They are listed as follows:

1. MSS 4013 – Surat daripada Seri Paduka Sultan Pahang kepada anakanda Yang

Mulia Sultan Abu Bakar Yang Dipertuan Negeri Pahang betarikh 16 Disember,

1932. (18 Sya’ban, 1351) (A Letter from Seri Paduka Sultan Pahang to His Majesty

Sultan Abu Bakar Supreme Ruler of the Pahang Kingdom dated 16th

December,

1932 (18th

Sya’ban 1351)

2. MSS 4049 – Surat daripada Governor General Belanda di Negeri Betawi kepada

Raja Sambas bertarikh 27 Februari 1834 (the actual date was 1848, Rabiùl Akhir

1264) (A Letter from the Dutch Governor General in Batavia to the King of Sambas

dated 27th

Feberuary 1834)

2 We would like to acknowledge gratitude to Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia especially to the Deputy Director General

Puan Nasimah Badaruddin, Senior Assistant Director Encik Faizal Hilmie Yusof and their officers in making

available these manuscripts for this study.


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3. MSS 4160 – Surat perjaniian peraturan meminjam tanah (A Document of Land

Mortgage Agreement)

4. MSS 4270 – Salasilah Kerajaan Sambas (Genealogy of Sambas Kingship)

Of the four manuscripts, two containing descriptions of very interesting episodes or

reflection of events in the history of western colonization in the Malay world, namely the

MSS 4049 Surat daripada Governor General Belanda di Betawi kepada Raja Sambas, (A

Letter from the Dutch Governor General in Batavia to the King of Sambas) and MSS

4160 Surat Perjanjian Peraturan Meminjam Tanah (A Letter of Land Mortgage

Agreement). In this paper, however, only the MSS 4049 Surat daripada Governor

General Belanda di Betawi (A Letter from the Dutch Governor General in Batavia to the

King of Sambas) dated 1848 will be studied in the forms of a transliteration and

annotation of the letter and also a general discussion of the historical background and

content of the letter, in order to compare with the letter from Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan

Zain Al-‘Abidin of Terengganu to Genderal Baron van der Capellen in Betawi (Jakarta)

dated 19 Mac, 1824. The copies of both letters are appended with the paper. The MSS

4049 was acquired by the National Library of Malaysia (PNM) on 12 April 2007 from

one Syarif Hud, and its source of origin was Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The method of the study is content analysis of the two letters, with the following

objectives:

1) To make a general discussion of the historical background and content of the

letters.

2) To analyze and compare the contents of the two letters.


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3) To make transliteration and annotation of the letters.

4) To analyze and discuss the common features of the two letters as well as their

differences in the form of content, style and etiquette of letter writing as the

findings of the study.

A brief historical background of the letter of the Dutch governor –general in

Batavia in 1848 CE

The letter was written by Jan Jacob Rochussen the Dutch Governor-General in Batavia,

the capital of Dutch colonial government in Indonesia, in the Hijriah year of 1265

equivalent to 1848 CE, as a reply to an earlier letter from the ruler of Sambas. (See the

transliteration of the text below for the fixation of these dates). This was 24 years after

the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 which stated, among other clauses, the clear demarcation

of territorial dominion between the British and the Dutch Colonial Governments, namely

the Malay Peninsula including Singapore and the Northern Borneo Island were to be

under the British, while the whole of Indonesian Islands including the southern half of the

Borneo Island (presently known as Kalimantan) were to be under the Dutch.

However, in the 18th century before the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824, the area from

Sambas to Berau (see map of Kalimantan below) were tributaries to the Malay Banjar

Kingdom. This eventually shrunk to the size of what is now South Kalimantan as a result

of agreements with the Dutch. In the Karang Intan Agreement, during the reign of Prince

Nata Dilaga (Susuhunan Nata Alam) (1808–1825), the Banjar Kingdom gave up its

territories to the Dutch East Indies which included Bulungan, Kutai, Pasir, Pagatan and

Kotawaringin. Other territories in West Kalimantan given up to the Dutch East Indies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berau_Regency

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Kalimantan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Bulungan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kutai


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were Landak, Sambas, Sintang and Sukadana. (Wikipedia, assessed on April 13, 2012).

Thus, the 1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty merely reconfirmed the status quo, as at that time,

the Sambas Kingdom was already under the dominion of the Dutch.

The letter of the Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan Zain Al-‘Abidin of Trengganu to General

Baron Van Der Capelle in Betawi (Jakarta) dated March, 1824

The letter from Paduka Seri Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan Zain Al-‘Abidin of Terengganu to

General Baron van der Capellen in Betawi (Jakarta) dated 18 Rajab 1239 Hijrah or 19th

March, 1824, was a type of letter included in the category of illuminated letters with the

following characteristics“…usually takes the form of purely ornamental patterns using

floral, foliate and geometric motifs in a range of colours, sometimes with the addition of

gold but rarely silver.” (cf. Annabel Teh Gallop, 2006: 107-127) as was in the case with

this letter. The Jawi script form of the letter was very well-written with clear and neat

strokes in the Naskhi calligraphic style or Naskhi khat. On top of the letter, also written in

beautiful ornamental writing as a kind of statement, was a short formulaic heading wa-al-

nujūm wa-al-shams wa-al-qamar (The Stars, the Sun and the Moon). Embossed on the

upper right of the letter was the royal seal of Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan Zain Al-‘Abidin

al-Wathīq bi-’llāh al-Sultan Ahmad ibnal-Sultan Zainal Abidin sanat 1223 (Hijrah). The

purpose of the letter can be summarized into five objectives:

1. To establish diplomatic and trading ties between the kingdom of Terengganu and

the Dutch colonial power and kingdoms under its ambit of dominion, with its center

of government in Betawi (Jakarta). The letter was carried by several Sultan’s

representatives, headed by Captain Man together with Wan Salleh, Abdul Rahim,

Uthman and Abdul Samad in a small ship (kici). This diplomatic and trading ties


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were very crucial due to the fact that in the same year of writing of this letter (1824)

The Treaty of London was signed which stated, among other clauses, the clear

demarcation of territorial dominion between the British and the Dutch Colonial

Governments, namely the Malay Peninsula including Singapore and the Northern

Borneo Island were to be under the British, while the whole of Indonesian Islands

including the southern half of the Borneo Island (presently known as Kalimantan)

were to be under the Dutch. However, the Treaty did not mention about the

curtailment of trading relationship between any kingdom within the dominions of

both the English and Dutch. Hence, Sultan Ahmad of Terengganu was anxious to

establish trading relationship between Terengganu and kingdoms under the ambit of

Dutch dominion especially the lucrative trades with Java.

2. To continue good relationship which has been established in the past between the

Kingdom of Terengganu and the Dutch colonial power, and to acknowledge the

Dutch dominion in Betavia (Betawi).

3. To request the assistance of the Dutch General to facilitate the smooth flow of

trading goods from Terengganu to Java especially to Semarang.

4. To invite the Dutch to Terengganu to establish trading relationship.

5. To present gifts to the Dutch General consisting of a long dagger (keris panjang), a

couple of spears, a couple of elephant tusks and a piece of long cloth.

Common features of the Dutch letter with the style of the Malay ruler’s letter

The content of the Dutch colonial governor’s letter was very interesting because it

contains etiquettes of letter writing some having common features with the writing style


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of epistles among the Malay rulers, with some other features contrasted completely.

Some common features were:

1. The writing of a short formulaic heading on top of the page as a kind of statement,

that is Qawluluhu Haqq (His word is true), which was similar in format with the

letter of Sultan Ahmad I of Terengganu to General Baron van der Capellen with the

heading al nujūm wa l-shamsu wa l-qamar (The stars, the moon and the sun).

2. Kind words of endearment and honorable words of addressing the recipients:

The Dutch Governor’s letter:

“Adapun akan tanda cinta kasih kita kepada Paduka Pengeran Ratu adalah

kita mengirimkan Paduka Pengeran Ratu…”

“Barang disampaikan oleh Tuhan Sarwa Sekalian Alam, apalah kiranya

datang kepada Paduka Pengeran Ratu Mangku Negara di Negeri Sambas.

Maka dipohonkan atasnya umur panjang dengan sihat selamat yang tiada

berkeputusan.”

(As a token of our affection to Your Majesty the Pengeran Ratu we herewith

send you…..”)

(May God of the Universe convey (these gifts) to your Majesty Pengeran

Ratu the Supreme Ruler of Sambas and may He also confer Your majesty a

long life and continuous good health.”)

The Sultan of Terengganu’s letter:

“Bahawa warkah al-wujud hidayat al-mamdûd yang terbit daripada fuad al-

zakiah yang amat gilang-gemilang hingga putih jernih bercahaya yang tiada

menaruh cemar dalamnya.

“…barang disampaikan Tuhan sekalian alam apalah kiranya ke hadapan

Tuan Jenderal yang amat kuasa di dalam mashriq dan maghrib, yang

mengdiami di atas takhta kerajaan dan kebesaran di dalam negeri Betawi,

yang telah termasyhur dengan segala daerah takluknya semuanya di bawah

perintah hukumnya, yang amat setiawan dan lagi dermawan, bertambah2

pula dengan budi pekerti yang amat ramah perangai yang lemah lembut

dengan sempurnanya serta arif bijaksana pada melakukan atas jalan

berkasih-kasihan dan bertolong-tolongan dengan segala handai taulannya,

karib dan baìd. Dan lagi ialah yang teramat teguh setianya selama-lamanya

yang tiada berubah2.”


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(“Verily this epistle was written by means of an inspiration from a heart

which is pure and enlightened free from of any ill-feeling”.)

(“…may God Almighty convey this epistle to the Honorable General whose

power extends from the West to the East, whose seat of government is in

Batavia and who is well-known throughout his dominion for his fairness

and kindness, excellence of character and gentlemanliness, wise of council

in promoting good relation and mutual help among close and distant allies

alike, as well as unfailing faithfulness.)

3. Prayer to the Almighty for the long life and good health of the addressee:


“Shahadan pada akhir satar ini lain tiada hanyalah doa kita mudah-

mudahan Paduka Pengeran Ratu beroleh umur panjang dengan sihat

selamat sejahtera yang tiada berkeputusan jua adanya.”

(“To conclude this epistle, we earnestly pray for the Pengeran Ratu’s long life and

continuous good health.”)


“Maka barang dikekalkan Tuhan Allah apalah kiranya yang demikian itu,

serta barang dilanjutkan daripada usia umur zamannya serta bertambah2

kebesaran dan kekayaan di dalam sihat dan àfiyat pada selagi ada

peredaran cakerawala matahari dan bulan pada tiap2 perkitaran malam dan

siang.”

(“May Allah the God, perpetuates the current excellent condition, and gives you a

long life, increase your greatness, wealth, and excellent health so long as there still

exist the sun and the moon and the changing of night and day.”)

4. The mention of the exchange of precious gifts:


“Dan lagi persembahan Paduka Pengeran Ratu kepada kita jadi tanda tulus

ikhlasnya iaitu satu buku air emas sebagaimana didapat dari tanah yang jadi

satu ajaib berpatutan berat sembilan belas ringgit lebih tiga emas, itupun

kita sudah terima dengan suka hati. Adapun akan tanda cinta kasih kita

kepada Paduka Pengeran Ratu adalah kita mengirimkan Paduka Pengeran


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Ratu satu perangkat perabut minuman kopi dan selai yang berkembangan

warna warna.”

(“Your Majesty’s gifts to us as an expression of sincerity in the form of lumps of

gold as a wonder of nature weighing an equivalent of 19 Ringgit and three gold, we

have received it with utmost happiness. As an expression of our affection to Your

Majesty Pengeran Ratu, we are respectfully sending Your Majesty herewith a

complete set of coffee making shelf and several jams in various colours.”)


“Maka suatu pun tiada hadiah kita akan Tuan Jenderal akan dalil tulus dan

ikhlas kita, hanyalah keris panjang sebilah, dan lembing sepasang , dan kain

besar sepasang, dan gading sepasang tiadalah dengan sepertinya. Adalah

seumpama bunga setangkai adanya.”

(“As a small token of our appreciation and sincerity we are sending herewith to the

Honorable General a long keris (saber), a pair of spears, a pair of large cloth, and a

pair of ivory, which are no doubt of small significance, as if they are just like a stalk

of flowers.” )

Features of the Dutch which contrasted to the Malay ruler’s letter writing style

One feature that was in complete contrast with the etiquette of Malay ruler’s letter writing

is the conspicuous introduction in the opening line of the Governor-General’s letter, of

the status of the sender with grandeurs mentions of one’s honor and awards:

“…daripada kita Sri Paduka Yang Dipertuan Besar Minister van Staat

Gouverneur Generaal dari Tanah Hindie Nederlands Jan Jacob Rochussen

yang terhias dengan Bintang Besar Yang Pertama Bahaduri Singa

Nederlands dan Bintang Besar Rajawali Merah dari negeri ……………

(illegible), dan Bintang Besar dari Maharaja …………. (illegible) di negeri

…………… (illegible)… serta lagi menjadi Officer Besar tanda kehormatan

dari negeri Francis serta terhias dengan Bintang Besar negeri Brusselle,

yang bersemayam di atas takhta kerajaan di Negeri Betawi.”


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(“… from us the Honorable Supreme Commander Minister of State, Governor

General of the Nederland’s East Indies Jan Jacob Rochussen, who was awarded the

Order of the Dutch Lion as a Knight, also the Red Eagle Medal from ……….

(illegible), the Highest Star from the Emperor….. (illegible) in the state of…...

(illegible)… also appointed as an Honorary Senior Officer by the French

government, and also awarded the Highest Star by state of Brussels, who is

currently occupying the seat of government in Batavia.”)

This is in complete contrast with the opening paragraph of the letter of Sultan Ahmad I of

Terengganu, with the mention of sincere intention and purity of heart and a simple

introduction of the status of the sender as the Ruler of Terengganu:

“Bahawa warkah al-wujud hidayat al-mamdûd yang terbit daripada fuad al-

zakiah yang amat gilang-gemilang hingga putih jernih bercahaya yang tiada

menaruh cemar dalamnya, iaitu daripada Paduka Seri Sulţan Ahmad ibn al-

Sulţan Zainal`Ābidin yang di atas takhta kerajaan di dalam negeri

Terengganu dengan segala daerah takluknya sekalian”

(“Verily this epistle was written by means of an inspiration from a heart which is

pure and enlightened free form any ill-feeling, that is from us His Majesty Sultan

Ahmad ibn al-Sulltan Zainal ‘Abidin who occupies the throne of the government of

Terengganu and all its territories.”)

Another feature of the Dutch Governor-General’s letter which contrasted to the Malay

ruler’s letter writing style was the use of plain paper without illumination, while

illumination among Malay letters was a practice with a long tradition, although according

to Annabel T. Gallop & Bernard Arps (1991: 58), little is known about the context and

techniques of Malay illuminations. In this context one of the most beautiful illuminated

Malay letters, perhaps, was the Sultan Ahmad I of Terengganu dated 1824 (appended

with this paper). Also the beautiful calligraphic art in naskhi khat of the letter of the

Sultan Ahmad I of Terengganu is far superior to the Dutch Governor-General’s letter.


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Conclusion

In this paper a study of two letters, one written in 1848 by the Dutch Governor-General in

Betavia (Betawi or Jakarta), to a Malay ruler of Sambas, and another is a letter from

Sultan Ahmad Ibn Sultan Zain Al-‘Abidin of Terengganu to General Baron van der

Capellen in Betavia dated March 19, 1824, was made in the forms of brief descriptions of

their historical backgrounds, analysis of their contents and styles of the two letters, and

finally a transliteration and annotation of the letters.

As a finding, there are four features having similarities between the two letters, namely

letter writing styles, short formulaic heading on the top of the page, kind words of

endearment and honorable words of addressing the recipients, prayer to the Almighty for

the long life and good health of the addressees, and the mention of the exchange of

precious gifts.

However, two other features were in complete contrast between the two letters, firstly the

conspicuous introduction in the opening line of the Governor-General’s letter, of the

status of the sender with grandeurs mentions of his honor and awards, and secondly was

the use of plain paper without illumination, while illumination in the Malay letter was a

practice with a long tradition. Thirdly the calligraphic art of the Sultan Ahmad I of

Terengganu’s letter is far superior to the Dutch Governor-General’s letter.

This study also revealed that although the letter from a Dutch colonial Governor-General

was to one of the Malay rulers under his dominions, the civility, mutual respect and


12

appropriate decorum of addressing between rulers as was the norm among Malay rulers,

were also practiced and adopted.

References

Ab Razak Ab Karim. (2002). .Aspek penggunaan bahasa dalam warkah-warkah Melayu

lama: Satu kajian. Kuala Lumpur: Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti

Malaya.

[email protected], [email protected], http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0707.3

2.pc, and http://www.math.5u.com/biruni.gif (assessed on April, 16, 2012).

Freeman-Grenville, G. S. P. The Islamic and Christian calendars AD 622-2222 (AH 1-

1650). Reading: Garnet Publishing.

Gallop, Annabel, T. (2006). Malay Manuscript Illumination. Jurnal Filologi Melayu. 14,

107-128.

Gallop Annabel, T. & Bernad Arps. (1991). Golden letters: Writing traditions of

Indonesia. London: The British Library.

Wikipedia, assessed on April 13, 2012.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR :

Hashim bin Musa (Ph.D) is a Professor Emeritus in Malay Linguistics in the

Department of Malay Language, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, specializing in Malay grammar, sociolinguistics, Malay

thought and civilization, Malay manuscripts and Jawi writing. He is also the Chairman of

the Advisory Committee of Malay Manuscripts, National Library of Malaysia

(Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia).

mailto:[email protected]


http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0707.3%202.pc

http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0707.3%202.pc

http://www.math.5u.com/biruni.gif


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APPENDIX 1: The Letter from Gouverneur Generaal Van Nederlands-Indie to Paduka

Pengeran Ratu Mangku Negara Negeri Sambas Dated 1265 H / 1848 CE


14

APPENDIX 2: Transliteration and Annotation of The Letter From Gouverneur Generaal

Van Nederlands-Indie To Paduka Pengeran Ratu Mangku Negara Negeri Sambas Dated

1265 H / 1848 CE

Qawluluhu Haqq

…………………………………………. (illegible)… iaitu daripada kita Sri Paduka yang

Dipertuan Besar Minister van Staat Gouverneur Generaal dari Tanah Hindie Nederlands

Jan Jacob Rochussen3 yang terhias dengan Bintang Besar Yang Pertama Bahaduri

4 Singa

Nederlands5 dan Bintang Besar Rajawali Merah

6 dari negeri …………… (illegible), dan

Bintang Besar dari Maharaja …………. (illegible) di negeri …………… (illegible)…

serta lagi menjadi Officer Besar tanda kehormatan dari negeri Francis serta terhias

dengan Bintang Besar negeri Brusselle, yang bersemayam di atas takhta kerajaan di

Negeri Betawi. Barang disampaikan oleh Tuhan Sarwa Sekalian Alam, apalah kiranya

datang kepada Paduka Pengeran Ratu Mangku Negara di Negeri Sambas.Maka

dipohonkan atasnya umur panjang dengan sihat selamat yang tiada

berkeputusan.Waba`da kemudian daripada itu kita memberi tahu kepada Paduka

Pengeran Ratu darihal suratnya yang tertulis kepada 13 haribulan Sya`ban tahun 12647

telah sampai kepada kita dengan selamatnya. Dan lagi persembahan Paduka Pengeran

Ratu kepada kita jadi tanda tulus ikhlasnya iaitu satu buku8 air emas sebagaimana didapat

dari tanah yang jadi satu ajaib berpatutan9 berat sembilan belas ringgit lebih tiga emas,

itupun kita sudah terima dengan suka hati. Adapun akan tanda cinta kasih kita kepada

Paduka Pengeran Ratu adalah kita mengirimkan Paduka Pengeran Ratu satu perangkat10

perabut minuman kopi dan selai11

yang berkembangan warna warna. Shahadan pada

akhir satar12

ini lain tiada hanyalah doa kita mudah-mudahan Paduka Pengeran Ratu

beroleh umur panjang dengan sihat selamat sejahtera yang tiada berkeputusan jua adanya.

Tertulis warqah ini di dalam istana kita di Negeri Betawi kepada 27 haribulan Februari

tahun ………. (illegible), iaitu 513

haribulan Rabiùl Akhir Hijrah 126514

.

3 Jan Jacob Rochussen was assigned as Governor- General of the Dutch East Indies 1845-1851, and arrived

in Batavia in 1845 CE. (ref. Wikipedia, assessed on April 13, 2012) 4 bahaduri = bintang pingat tanda keberanian, pahlawan = Knighthood

5 Order of the Dutch Lion as a Knight awarded to Jan Jacob Rochussen on July 4, 1829

6 Rajawali = burung helang = eagle

7 ۲۱٦۴1264 H = 1847 CE, old Arabic numeral for number 4 = ۴

8 buku = bongkah kecil-kecil daripada tanah, batu dll. = lumps of soil, stone, etc.

9 berpatutan = bersamaan, sama dengan = equivalent

10 perangkat = selengkap = complete set

11 selai صلي = (Dutch Indonesian) jem = jam

12 satr (Ar.) = baris tulisan = written line,

13 5 = ٤ old Arabic symbol for number 5 (ref. “Origin of the numerals: Al-Biruni’s testimony”, Ahmed

Boucenna, Laboratoire DAC, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences,Ferhat Abbas, University

19000 Stif, Algeria. ([email protected], [email protected]), http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers

/0707.329.pc., and http://www.math.5u.com/biruni.gif (assessed on April, 16, 2012)



http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers%20/0707.329.pc

http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers%20/0707.329.pc

http://www.math.5u.com/biruni.gif


15

APPENDIX 3: The Letter from Sultan Ahmad I Terengganu to the Dutch General In

Betawi Dated 18 Rajab 1239 (19 March 1824)

14

۲۱٦١ = 1265 H = 1848 CE (ref. G. S. P. Freeman-Grenville. The Islamic and Christian Calendars, pg.

60)


16

APPENDIX 4: Transliteration and Annotation of the Letter from Sultan Ahmad I

Terengganu to the Dutch General in Betawi Dated 18 Rajab 1239 (19 March 1824)

Cap:al-Wathīq bi-’llāh15

al-Sulţan Ahmad ibnal-Sulţan Zainal `Ābidin sanat 1223

Al nujūm wal-shamsu wa l-qamar.16

Bahawa warkah al-wujud hidayat al-mamdûd17

yang terbit daripada fuad al-zakiah18

yang

amat gilang-gemilang hingga19

putih jernih bercahaya yang tiada menaruh cemar

dalamnya, iaitu daripada Paduka Seri Sulţan Ahmad ibn al-Sulţan Zainal`Ābidin yang di

atas takhta kerajaan di dalam negeri Terengganu dengan segala daerah takluknya sekalian

barang disampaikan Tuhan sekalian alam apalah kiranya ke hadapan Tuan Jenderal yang

amat kuasa di dalam mashriq dan maghrib, yang mengdiami di atas takhta kerajaan dan

kebesaran di dalam negeri Betawi, yang telah termasyhur dengan segala daerah takluknya

semuanya di bawah perintah hukumnya, yang amat setiawan dan lagi dermawan,

bertambah2 pula dengan budi pekerti yang amat ramah perangai yang lemah lembut

dengan sempurnanya serta arif bijaksana pada melakukan atas jalan berkasih-kasihan dan

bertolong-tolongan dengan segala handai taulannya, karib dan baìd20

. Dan lagi ialah

yang teramat teguh setianya selama-lamanya yang tiada berubah2. Maka barang

dikekalkan Tuhan Allah apalah kiranya yang demikian itu, serta barang dilanjutkan

daripada usia umur zamannya serta bertambah2 kebesaran dan kekayaan di dalam

şihatdan `ǎfiyat pada selagi ada peredaran cakerawala matahari dan bulan pada tiap2

perkitaran malam dan siang.

Wa ba`dahu21

daripada itu adalah kita permaklumkan kepada Tuan Jenderal dari hal kita

menyuruhkan Juragan22

Man dan Wan şǎleh dan Abdul Rahǐm dan Uthmǎn dan Abdul

şamad membawa sebuah kici23

mendapatkan Tuan Jenderal serta membawa warqat al-

ikhlǎs yang tiada dengan sepertinya daripada hal membinakan perhubungan dan

persatuan antara Tuan Jenderal dengan kita, karana daripada zaman Tuan Jenderal yang

dahulu itu dengan Paduka Nenda kita dan zaman itu, kita Sultan Terengganu itupun

tiadalah berputusan berkasih-kasihan dan bertolong-tolongan telah sedia tetap adanya

senantiasa pada selagi ada perkitaran malam dan siangnya, demikian adanya. Maka dari

hal kita pun dipohonkan kepada Tuhan Allah antara kita dengan Tuan Jenderal demikian

15

al-Wathīq bi-’llāh = yang yakin kepada Allah 16

Wa-al-nujum wal-al-qamar, wa-al-shams = bintang dan bulan dan matahari 17

warkah al-wujud hidayat al-mamdud = surat yang tercipta daripada petunjuk untuk disebarkan 18

fuàd al-zakiah = hati yang suci 19

Dalam manuskrip tertulis hinga 20

baìd = jauh 21

wa ba`dahu = dan kemudian daripada itu 22

Juragan = 1. nakhoda (kadang-kadang juga pemilik kapal); 2. (Sunda) tuan, puan; 3. Jw pengusaha

(terutama batik) 23

Kici = sejenis perahu yg kecil dan bertiang dua


17

itulah adanya, kita pinta kepada Tuan Jenderal janganlah kiranya berubah2 daripada

berkasih-kasihan dan bertolong-tolongan hingga sampailah kepada yaum al-mutakhirǐn24

jua adanya.

Syahadan daripada itu adalah kita menyatakan kepada Tuan Jenderal akan hal kici kita

itu, maka ada kita muatkan dagangan wangkang25

sedikit2 ala kadarnya. Maka hendak

pun kita menyuruh kepada segala kantor26

yang lain membawa dagangan wangkang itu

menjadi larangan. Dengan sebab itulah maka kita menyuruhkan Jurangan Man dan Wan

şǎleh dan Abdul Rahǐm dan Uthmǎn dan Abdul şamad itu datang mendapatkan Tuan

Jenderal ke Betawi maka telah haraplah27

akan tuan Jenderal menolong suruhan kita itu

daripada sebarang hal ehwalnya di dalam negeri Betawi itu.

Dan lagi jikalau menjadi kebenaran kepada Tuan Jenderal serta dengan penolong Tuan

Jenderal akan kita, melainkan minta Tuan Jenderal menyuruhkan akan dia lalu ke

Semarang kici kita itu serta dengan tanda Tuan Jenderal sekali adanya. Maka sekalian

perkara yang tersebut itu telah sangatlah harap kita akan Tuan Jenderal menolong jua

adanya.

Dan lagi akan hal Tuan Jenderal pun jikalau ada kesukaan dan keredaan, maka janganlah

kiranya berputusan bersuruhan datang ke Terengganu berniaga berjual-beli sedikit2 dan

barang apa yang dimaksudkan oleh tuan Jenderal dan barang yang ada di dalam negeri

Terengganu itu, boleh Tuan Jenderal menyatakan di dalam surat, dengan seboleh-

bolehnya kita tolong ikhtiarkan.

Maka suatu pun tiada hadiah kita akan Tuan Jenderal akan dalil tulus dan ikhlǎş kita,

hanyalah keris panjang sebilah, dan lembing sepasang, dan kain besar sepasang, dan

gading sepasang tiadalah dengan sepertinya. Adalah seumpama bunga setangkai

adanya.Tamat.

Terkarang warqah ini di dalam negeri Terengganu, kepada delapan belas hari bulan

Rajab, hari Jumaat, jam pukul tujuh, tarikh sanat 1239.

24

yaum al-mutakhirin = hari mutakhir 25 Wangkang = sejenis jong yang kecil, perahu besar 26

Kantor = pejabat 27

Dalam manuskrip dieja harablah


18

APPENDIX 5: Map of Kalimantan © RB-DESKART www.welt-atlas.com

Documents

ENDEARING EPISTLES FROM A DUTCH COLONIAL …gmj-me.upm.edu.my/UPLOAD/009.pdf · MSS 4160 – Surat perjaniian peraturan meminjam tanah (A Document of Land Mortgage Agreement) 4