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| Youtube screengrab from Fall of Malacca |
In the Sejarah Melayu account, the Malaccans received the Portuguese
kindly. The Malacca bandahara Sri Maha Raja even adopted the Portuguese
captain as his son.
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Youtube screengrab from Fall of Malacca |
When admiral Gonsalvo Pereira returned to Goa after his defeat, he reported
to Afonso de Albuquerque that as long as bandahara Sri Maha Raja was alive, Malacca was impenetrable.
Afonso de Albuquerque was outraged by admiral Gonsalvo Pereira's report and decided to personally lead a second
invasion of Malacca.
Sejarah Melayu compiled in Jawi by regent of Johor, Yang di-Pertuan Di Hilir Raja Abdullah in 1612, translated into English by Dr. John Leyden in 1821. The Malay Annals has 30 chapters.
Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 ๐
Original translation of Sejarah Melayu by Dr John Leyden
Chapter 29 of 30
[Siamese Attack on Pahang Repulsed by Malacca]
IT is related that [in 1509] the raja of Legor [present day
Nakhon Sri Thammarat], named Maha Raja Dewa Sura, was ordered by
the raja of Siam to attack Pahang. He advanced with a host
conjectured to amount to two coti, and his approach was
announced to the raja of Pahang. Sultan Abdal Jamil collected
his subjects, and strengthened the fortress, and repaired all
the implements of war. The news of this invasion reached Malaca,
and Sultan Mahmud called the bandahara Sri Maha Raja with
all the mantris to a council to advise concerning the
affairs of Pahang, which was going to be attacked by the raja of
Legor.
Sri Nara di Raja said, "Sire, in my opinion it is proper to
send and succour Pahang, for whatever befalls it, it is only
Your Majesty's name which will be brought in question." "Very
true," said the Prince, "and therefore it will be advisable that
the bandahara should proceed thither with all the champions."
"Very well," said the bandahara, who immediately prepared, and
took his departure with Sang Saten, Sang Naya, and Sang Guna,
and Tun Viajit, and Sang Jaya Pacrama, and the prahus were
numerous as a float of timber, and could not be numbered.
At this time the subjects of the city of Malaca alone, besides
those of the coast and villages, amounted to ninety lac. The
bandahara proceeded to Batu Pahat, where he met the laksamana
coming from the river Raya, which was under the laksamana,
according to the custom of that time. At this time the fleet of
Sangay Raja amounted to forty prahus, besides lancharangs of
three masts. Then the laksamana, Khwajet Hasan, came to meet the
bandahara. The bandahara said to him, "Gentle, come let us
proceed to Pahang. I have not yet received His Majesty's
orders," said the laksamana. "But I have," said the bandahara.
"Neither have I yet paid my respects to His Majesty," said the
laksamana. "But I have," said the bandahara," therefore let us
join hands on the subject." The laksamana had nothing more to
object, and therefore proceeded with the bandahara Sri Maha
Raja.
When they reached Pahang, they found the half of the fort
remaining unfinished, with the vestiges of recent fire on it.
This circumstance is alluded to in the following pantun,
"The fort of Pahang is consumed with fire, Between Jati and
Cabantayan I do not prevent you from marrying another, But that
is not the agreement between us."
Then the bandahara went and presented himself before the Sultan
of Pahang, who was highly gratified at receiving this assistance
from Malaca. "Our fort is not yet finished," said the raja, "but
it will now be completed by your assistance." "Very well," said
the bandahara, and he ordered the Malaca men to exert themselves
in constructing the fortifications; and he ordered the laksmana
to superintend their operations. He set immediately about the
work with great good-will, and exerted himself so much that the
people were wont to say, "that the laksamana wrought with his
hand, with his foot, and also with his mouth," and in the space
of three days the fort was completed.
The raja of Legor soon advanced with all his host, which was
innumerable, and commenced the war in a manner which cannot be
described; and the soldiers of Legor died like hens of the pip
(sempar). The men of Malaca and Pahang attacked them, and they
gave way, and were broke and completely dispersed entirely. Maha
Raja Dewa Sura fled to the uplands of Pahang, and proceeding
straightly by land to Calantan, he returned to Legor.
Then the raja of Pahang gave an honorary dress to the bandahara
Sri Maha Raja, who took his leave and returned to Malaca. When
Sultan Mahmud learned that Pahang had not been conquered he
was greatly pleased, and he also conferred honorary
dresses on those who had distinguished themselves according to
their rank.
[Death of Tun Parapati]
There was a mantri of Sultan Mahmud, named Tun Parapati the
Black, deriving his origin from Tun Janu Bugu Dendany, (the
crow). He had a son named Tun Hasan, who was very handsome, and
who used to say, "that if anybody affronted his father, he would
run amok."
Now it happened that Tun Parapati the Black had a very sharp
altercation with a merchant, who complained to the bandahara.
The laksamana was present at the hearing, for it was the ancient
custom of Malaca, that when the bandahara investigated a cause,
the laksamana and temangung should not be separate from him, and
if anybody offered an affront to the bandahara, the laksamana
put him to death; and if it was proper to apprehend or fetter
anybody, it was the temangung who was to apprehend him. Such was
the custom of ancient time.
When Tun Parapati was summoned by the bandahara, Tun Hasan also
came to find his father. When Tun Parapati saw him, thinking,
perhaps, he would not be as good as his word, he arose, and
scraping the mat with his foot, said, "Mantri, what sort of a
thing is this, to examine people in this manner?" The laksamana
instantly unsheathed his sword, Leken; and said, "Gentle, how
dare you venture to scrape the mat before the bandahara," and
instantly he cut him down with a single blow, and Tun Parapati
immediately expired.
When Tun Hasan saw his father slain, he drew his creese. The
laksamana said, "Intend you treason, Tun Hasan;" the instant the
laksamana spoke, everybody fell upon Tun Hasan, and stabbed him;
and though the laksamana did all he could to prevent them, they
would not listen to him from the hubbub, and Tun Hasan also
expired. Then the laksamana went in and related the
circumstances of the case, and the raja said, "It has happened
precisely as I could have wished, it is my order that the
laksamana should cooperate with the bandahara. Whoever affronts
the bandahara affronts me, and it is proper to slay him."
[Founding of Patani]
It is related that there is a country named Cota Meliyei, the
raja of which was a Moslem, and named Raja Suleeman. This
country came to be mentioned in Siam as a very fine country, but
not subject to Siam. A son of the King of Siam, named Chaw Sri
Bangsa, proposed to go and reduce it, and proceeded against it
accordingly, with an innumerable host, like the leaves of the
trees; and when he reached Cota Meliyei, Raja Suleeman
came out, and engaged Chaw Sri Bangsa, man to man, and each of
them mounted on his elephant.
Chaw Sri Bangsa declared, "That if he was victorious over Raja
Suleeman, he would assume the doctrine of Islam." So it happened
providentially, that Cota Meliyei was taken, and raja Suleeman
slain; and all his subjects reduced to subjection. Then Chaw Sri
Bangsa adopted the Islam faith, and he ordered all the
astrologers to search out a place for founding a city.
Now there was a fisherman who followed his daily occupation,
and resided on the seashore; and who had a son named Tani,
whence he was called Pa tani (Tani's father). The astrologers,
or Samis, agreed at last, that the place where Patani resided,
was a good situation for a city, and reported it to Chaw Sri
Bangsa, who ordered a city to be built on that spot, with walls
and fortifications, and that its name should be called Patani,
after the name of the fisherman; which name it retains to this
day; according to the pronunciation of the Arabs; however, it is
named Fatani.
After this, Chaw Sri Bangsa sent Augunpal (O-khun-phun) to the
raja of Malaca, to request the nobuts to be granted him, as he
had entered Islam. O-khun-phun accordingly proceeded to Malaca,
and was on an elephant, and conducted to court, according to the
practice of ancient time; and the letter was read in the hall of
audience, to the following purport. "May the respectful homage
of the son reach his father the Paduca Sri Sultan! the exalted!
the King of Kings! the sublime shadow of God in the world! Be it
known, that his son, the paduca, has sent O-khun-phun to his
father's presence, to request the nobuts from His Majesty, the
Paduca, his father."
Sultan Mahmud was highly gratified by this letter, and
presented the nobuts with all their accoutrements, and presented
O-khun-phun likewise with an honorary dress, according to the
ancient custom, and caused a letter to be written to Chaw Sri
Bangsa, in which he gave him the name of Sultan Ahmed Shah. Then
O-khun-phun returned to Patani, and presented the letter, and
Sultan Ahmed Shah of Patani assumed the nobuts
accordingly.
[Kedah Pays Tribute to Malacca]
After some time, the raja of Kedeh arrived at Malaca, and
wanted to request the nobuts also; and was seated by the Prince,
above all the chatriyas, while he made inquest regarding the
raja of Kedeh. On a certain occasion, the bandahara, Sri Maha
Raja, sat in the hall with a numerous audience of courtiers
present, all the mantris attending; and among the rest the
Temangung Hasan. Meantime a repast was served up, and first the
bandahara ate alone, while the rest waited; for it was not the
ancient custom for anybody to eat with the bandahara; but after
he had eaten, then they might eat. At this time the raja of
Kedeh arrived, and was immediately requested by the bandahara to
come up; and he came up accordingly, and seated himself along
with Tun Hasan, the Temangung.
The bandahara had done eating, and the rest of the victuals
were set before Tun Hasan, the Temangung, and all the other
mantris. Tun Hasan said to the raja of Kedeh, "Come let us eat."
"Very well," said the rajah of Kedeh. Said the bandahara, "Don't
let the raja eat my leavings." "No matter," said the rajah of
Kedeh, for the bandahara is an aged man, and I regard him as a
father." Then the raja eat of the leavings, along with Tun
Hasan; after which, the betel-box was produced, and they eat
accordingly. After remaining some time in Malaca, the rajah of
Kedeh requested the nobuts of the Sultan, which were granted
him, and he returned to Kedeh.
[Malacca at its Height]
At this time Malaca was in a very flourishing state, and the
general resort of merchants; from Ayer Leleh (the trickling
stream) to the entrance of the bay of Moar, was one
uninterrupted market place. From the Keling town, likewise, to
the bay of Penajar, the buildings extended along the shore, in
an uninterrupted line. If a person sailed from Malaca to
Jagra, there was no occasion to carry fire with one, for
wherever he stopped he would find peoples' houses. On the
eastern side likewise from Malaca, as far as Batu Pahat
(hewn-stone) there was the same uninterrupted succession of
houses; and a great many people dwelt along the shore; and the
city of Malaca, without including the exterior, contained
nineteen lacsa of inhabitants (190,000.)
[Malacca Welcome the Portuguese]
After some time there arrived a Frangi vessel from Goa, to
trade at Malaca, and observed that Malaca was a very fine and
beautiful country, and well regulated. All the people of
Malaca came crowding to see the appearance of the Frangis, and
they were greatly surprised as they had not been accustomed to
see the Frangi figure; and they said, "Why these are white
Bengalis;" and about every one of the Frangis the Malaca men
were crowding by tens to view them, twisting their beards, and
clapping their heads, and taking off their hats, and laying
hold of their hands.
[First Portuguese Attack on Malacca]
When the monsoon arrived, the capitan returned to Goa, and
reported to the vizier the greatness of Malaca, and its great
population. Now the name of the great vizier was Alphonsus
Albuquerco, and he began to covet it eagerly, when he heard how
fine a country Malaca was. He accordingly ordered a fleet of seven
ships and thirteen galleons to be fitted out; and he appointed
Gonsalvo Pereira to be captain-admiral to attack Malaca.
When they reached Malaca they began to fire away with their
cannon, and all the people of Malaca were frightened when they
heard the sound of their cannon, saying, "What sound is this like
thunder?" And the bullets came and struck the people who were on
the land, and some had their necks severed, and some had their
waists, and some their hands and their feet. The terror grew
constantly worse and worse, and they said, "What is the name of
this weapon which is so round? It is not sharp, yet will it
kill."
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| Youtube screengrab from Fall of Malacca |
On the morrow all the lads of Portugal landed with about two
thousand musketry, besides black men, and the Malaca men drew
out their force, with Tun Hasan the Temangung at their head,
and met the Frangi army; and the noise of the fight roared and
rung on either side, with the sound of descending weapons,
like a thick-falling shower. Then when the onset began, Tun
Hasan the Temangung, commenced the attack according to the
mode of amok, and beat back the Frangis, and their corpses lay
scattered as far as the shore of the sea, and they returned on
board their ships, and sailed away to Goa, where they related
all the events of the war of Malaca to the viziers of that
country.
The great vizier was greatly enraged, for a great number of men
had perished, and yet they had not got possession of Malaca.
Afresh he made preparations to attack Malaca. Captain Mor, however
declared, "It is my opinion that while the bandahara Sri Maha Raja
lives, however large the fleet that attacks Malaca, it will not
prove victorious." Alphonso Albuquerco replied, "Why do you talk
in such a strain. What resource is there while I am not at liberty
to quit Goa? But whenever I lay down the rank of vizier, I myself
will go and attack Malaca, and it shall be seen whether or not I
shall conquer it."
But no preparations were made for another attack on Malaca, and
how many times ten years are supposed to have elapsed before the
plan was resumed!
Written by Tony Boey on 27 Jun 2021
Image of Portuguese & Tun Mutahir from Youtube screenshot of 1962
movie Tun Fatimah. Image of Afonso de Albuquerque courtesy of
Wikipedia.
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