Warkah Brunei

bibliography

text notes

list of words

Bibliography

title:		Warkah Brunei
edition:		Annabel Teh Gallop, “Malay sources for the history of the Sultanate of Brunei in the early nineteenth century: some letters from the reign of Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam,” From Buckfast to Borneo: essays presented to Father Robert Nicholl on the 85th anniversary of his birth, 27 March 1995, eds. Victor T. King & A.V.M.Horton; pp.207-235. Hull: University of Hull, 1995.
manuscripts:		1-15  Add.12398, British Libarary, London 16    MS Jawi 12, Library of Congress, Washington
dates:		1819-1822, as below.
provenance:		Singapore and Brunei, as below.
words:		4526 words.
references:		to the letters (1-16) and lines of the printed text.

 

This text was kindly provided by Annabel Gallop

 

List of Letters

from Gallop, “Malay Sources for Brunei”, pp.217-18.

1 — From Farquhar (Farquhar) to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, 28 November 1819

BL Add.12398, ff.19r-19v

Farquhar announces the agreement reached between the English East India Company and Sultan Husain Muhammad Syah and Tu´ Temenggung Abdul Rahman on 11 Rabiulakhir 1234 (6 February 1819) for the settlement of Singapore. He urges Brunei to send vessels to trade in Singapore every year, and asks for orang utans and other exotic beasts, alive or dead and stuffed. He sends two pairs of European guns.

2 — From Farquhar to Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam, 15 July 1820

BL Add.12398, ff.30v-31r

Acknowledges receipt of Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam's letter and 100 katis of wax sent via Nakhoda Abdul Jalil. Farquhar requests the furtherance of trade, and sends (via Nakahoda Abdul Jalil) 4 rolls of chintz, 4 pieces of red handkerchief and 2 rolls of checked handkerchief.

3 — From Farquhar to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, 29 November 1820

BL Add.12398, ff.35r-35v

Acknowledges receipt of Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam's letter and 100 katis of wax sent via Nakhoda Abdul Rahman. Regrets that the fine cloth, 5 long guns, European chintz and pots which Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam requested are currently unavailable in Singapore. Farquhar urges him to continue trading in Singapore, and sends a single-barrelled European gun and 3 pieces of European chintz.

4 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 29 April 1821

LC MS Jawi 12, f.[Z]; Asma “Katalog” p.31

[Reply to ? & 1]. Acknowledges receipt of Farquhar's letter sent via Pengiran Tajuddin, Anahuda Abdul Salam and Unus. Welcomes Farquhar's earlier letter (1) with the news of the settlement of Singapore. Sends 100 katis of wax via Anahuda Abdul Salam, and asks for Farquhar's protection during his trade in Singapore.

5 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 29 April 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.57v-58r

[Copy of 4, after compliments]

6 — From Farquhar to Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam, 12 June 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.48v-49r

Introduces Lt.Spiers, who will be visiting Brunei to trade in his ship Seaflower.

7 — From Farquhar to Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam, 12 June 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.54r-54v

[Copy of 6]

8 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 8 July 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.67r-67v

Sends letter and 60 katis of wax via Nakhoda Nasaruddin & Muhammad, and asks for Farquhar's protection during their trade in Singapore.

9 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 10 July 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.63r-63v

[Reply to 3]. Acknowledges receipt of letter from Farquhar and 1 gun & 3 pieces chintz sent via Nakhoda Abdul Rahman. Sends 60 katis of wax via Nakhoda Abdul Rahman & Unus, and asks for Farquhar's protection during their trade in Singapore.

10 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 18 July 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.66r-66v

Reports that a merchant arrived bearing a letter from Farquhar addressed to Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam. He refused to unload his trading goods, but eventually made an appointment for the following day at 2.00 pm. However, he broke the promise and sailed away. Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam expresses Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam's disappointment, but is determined not to let this affect trade, so sends this letter via Nakhoda Nasaruddin & Muhammad, and asks for Farquhar's protection during their trade in Singapore.

11 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, [1]8 July 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.62r-63r

Reports that a merchant arrived bearing a letter from Farquhar addressed to Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam. He refused to unload his trading goods, but eventually made an appointment for the following day at 2.00 pm. However, he broke the promise and sailed away. Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam expresses Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam's disappointment, but is determined not to let this affect trade, so sends this letter via Nakhoda Abdul Rahman & Unus, and asks for Farquhar's protection during their trade in Singapore.

12 — From Farquhar to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, 16 September 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.59r-59v

[Reply to 4]. Acknowledges receipt of letter from Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam and 100 katis of wax sent via Nakhoda Abdul Salam. Thanks Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam for his good wishes on the settlement of Singapore, and urges him to continue trading in Singapore. Requests two sets of weights and measures from Brunei, and sends 1 roll of satin.

13 — From Farquhar to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, 21 October 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.70r-71r

[Reply to 9 & 11]. Acknowledges receipt of 2 letters from Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam and 60 katis of wax sent via Nakhoda Abdul Rahman & Unus. Apologises for the behaviour of Spiers, and assures Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam no insult was meant. Hopes trade will continue as usual, and assures Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam of the safety of his men in Singapore. Sends 1 roll of silk cloth & 1 roll white cloth.

14 — From Farquhar to Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam, 23 October 1821

BL Add.12398, ff.71r-72r

[Reply to 8 & 10] Acknowledges receipt of 2 letters from Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam and 60 katis of wax sent via Nakhoda Nasaruddin & Unus. Apologises for the behaviour of Spiers, and assures Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam no insult was meant. Hopes trade will continue as usual, and assures Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam of the safety of his men in Singapore. Requests two sets of weights and measures from Brunei, and sends 2 bottles of rosewater.

15 — From Sultan Muhammad Kanzul Alam to Farquhar, 28 April 1822

LC MS Jawi 12, f.[2K]; Asma “Katalog” p.35

[Reply to 14]. Acknowledges receipt of letter and 2 bottles of rosewater sent via Anahoda Nasaruddin & Unus. Sends a Brunei shield via Pengiran Tajuddin, Anahoda Hasanuddin & Anahoda Jalaluddin. Supplies the weights and measures Farquhar requested, but apologizes that these are not up to standard, for Brunei has suffered an epidemic of disease, with more than 100 people dying in 24 hours.

16 — From Pengiran Muda Muhammad Alam to Tambi Muhammad ibn Arsyad, Melaka, 19 May 1822

LC MS Jawi 12, f.[2L]; Asma “Katalog” p.36

Acknowledges receipt of letter & 2 rolls of fine head-dress cloth & 1 roll of red flowered cloth sent via Anahoda Abdul Rahman. Explains the delay in sending goods. Sends 30 katis wax.

 

The letters taken from Add.12398 have also been transliterated by Bardiyah Haji Salleh, Warkah al-Ikhlas, see Surat Farquhar (Farq).

WBrn 1 = Farq 39

WBrn 2 = Farq 58

WBrn 3 = Farq 67

WBrn 5 = Farq 97

WBrn 6 = Farq 84

WBrn 7 = Farq 92

WBrn 8 = Farq 109

WBrn 9 = Farq 104

WBrn 10 = Farq 108

WBrn 11 = Farq 103

WBrn 12 = Farq 99

WBrn 13 = Farq 113

WBrn 14 = Farq 114

 

References:

•  Asma Ahmat, Katalog manuskrip Melayu di Library of Congress USA, Kuala Lumpur: Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia, 1993. Siri bibliografi manuskrip no.12.

•  Gallop, Annebel Teh, Legacy of the Malay Letter / Warisan Warkah Melayu, London: British Libary Board for the National Archives of Malaysia, 1994.

 

Preparation

Added:  September 2008

A digital text was provided by Annabel Gallop, and adapted to the MCP format.