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| Youtube screengrab from 1959 movie Hang Tuah |
Chapter 26 of Malay Annals contains accounts of the kingdom of Indragiri in Sumatra which was a vassal state of Malacca, and Hang Nadim's eventful mission to India to procure chintz (printed cloth).
The death of Hang Tuah was briefly mentioned with no details.
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| Youtube screengrab from 1961 movie Puteri Gunung Ledang |
In the legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang, Hang Tuah flung his kris into a river and walked into the water, vowing to return to Malacca, only if it resurfaced. But, it never did.
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 26 of 30
[Raja Narasinga, Raja of Indragiri]
At that time, however, all the young nobles of Indragiri were not
treated as equals by the young nobles of Malaca; and if in their
sports they came to any stream or pool of water, the young Malaca
chiefs would cause those of Indragiri to carry them across; and
such was their constant practice. Then all the Indragiri were
indignant at such proceedings, and represented to Raja Narasinga
that it was time to ask permission to take their departure for
Indragiri, as they could not consent to stay any longer in Malaca,
where they did not find themselves treated as equals, but rather
as dependants.
Then Raja Narasinga presented himself in fall court to Sultan
Mahmud, and requested his permission to return to Indragiri, "for
though you have presented it to me," said he,"yet have I never
seen it." The Prince, however, would not grant him permission. In
a short time, however, Raja Narasinga took leave at his own hand,
and fled to Indragiri, which was then in the hand of Raja Tuban,
the brother of the deceased Raja Merlang, who had left a son named
Maha Raja Isup, who had become raja of Indragiri.
As soon as he reached Indragiri, Tun Kichil and Tun Ali, who were
chiefs of Indragiri, informed Raja Isup of the arrival of Raja
Narasinga, and that he wanted to possess himself of the throne. Raja
Isup was alarmed at this information, and immediately fled to Linga,
where he was graciously received by the raja, named Maha Raja
Tringano, who gave him his daughter in marriage; and many of his
descendants still remain at Linga.
After the death of the Maha Raja of Linga, Maha Raja Isup became
raja of Linga. Raja Narasinga, however, became raja of Indragiri,
and Tun Kichil became his bandahara.
[Hang Nadim's Procuring Mission to India]
The Keling Raja collected the ablest painters, and directed them to
draw patterns, according to the pleasure of Hang Nadim. They
drew a multitude of pictures, but could not succeed in pleasing him;
again they drew, but succeeded no better than before. Then said the
Kelingers, "We have now exerted the utmost of our skill, and if
anything can go beyond it, it is no skill of ours. Nevertheless if
you have any pattern, give it, and we will draw it."
Then said Hang Nadim, "Bring here a frame with ink, and let me draw
one for you, and do you follow it." Then Hang Nadim drew a pattern
according to his own ideas, and when the Keling draughtsmen saw him
they were astonished at the quickness of his execution.
When it was finished, he gave it to the Kelingers, saying, "Such is
the pattern which I want." When the Keling draughtsmen attempted to
follow his pattern, they could not, for the shaking of their hands,
and were obliged to request his permission to carry it home, to
their several houses. By the time that all the cloth was finished,
and delivered to Hang Nadim, the monsoon for returning was at hand,
and he went to the nakhoda Hang Isup, to take his passage to
Malaca.
Now this Hang Isup traded with one Sidi Hamba Alla, who pretended
that Hang Isup still owed him money, whereas Hang Isup alleged that
he had paid him in full, and the quarrel between them had risen to a
high pitch. Then said Hang Isup, "This bullocky Sidi here charges
people falsely." "Hah, Hang Isup," says the Sidi, "I have no more
bullocks than God gave me, and have received none from you, but wait
till you set sail, you shall certainly sink in the middle of
the sea." Hang Nadim who was present, said, "Sidi! I request of you
most earnestly not to involve me in this business." "No Nadim," says
the Sidi, clapping his back, "may Almighty God protect you."
On this the Sidi returned home, and Hang Nadim stowed all his bales
of cloth in Hang Isup's vessel, to be ready for the voyage. They set
sail, and when they reached the Silan sea, the vessel gradually
foundered, with all its cargo, though there was neither rain nor
tempest; and while every one was swimming for his life, Hang Nadim
gained the sampan or cock-boat, and saved a part of his goods in it,
and gained the land of Silan.
The Silan raja immediately sent for him, and desired him to make an
egg-shaped lanthorn. Being skilled in limning, he succeeded
admirably in the execution, and was highly rewarded by the raja, who
was desirous of retaining him in his service, but Hang Nadim made
his escape, and took his passage in a vessel to Malaca. When he
reached Malaca, he presented himself before the Prince, and
presented what he had saved of the bales of Keling chintz, amounting
to only four or five webs.
But when the raja learned what had happened, he was enraged at him
for taking his passage in Hang Isup's ship, after he knew the
execration which the Sidi had denounced against it. Hang Nadim said,
"I took my passage in his vessel because it was the only one which
was coming quickly to Malaca, for all the rest were to be late in
the season;" but the Prince was still more enraged at this answer,
and said to him, "Get you away from hence;" and Hang Nadim retired
and went to his own house.
[Death of Hang Tuah]
About this time the laksamana Hang Tuah died, and was succeeded in
his office by Rhwajeh Hasan, who was the son-in-law of Hang Tuah.
This Rhwajeh Hasan had a son, Tun Abdul by name.
Written by Tony Boey on 26 Jun 2021
Map of Indragiri courtesy of
Wikipedia. Image of tomb of Hang Tuah courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of chintz courtesy of
Wikipedia.
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