 |
| Malacca Sultanate Royal Banquet |
The Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals is known in Malay as Sulalat al-Salatin (Genealogy of Kings). It is the oldest available literature on Malay history. *I am studying it for insights into the roots of Malay cuisine.
Narrating events spanning 600 years from the first millennium to the fall of Malacca (to the Portuguese) in 1511, some of the details are inevitably expressed as lores and allegories. There seemed to be some mixing up of people, places and times. Still, much is grounded in facts verifiable through artefacts from that
era.
I have written a 10 minute summery of the Malay Annals ๐ click here
Summary of Chapter 1
Raja Secander (Alexander the Great 356 - 323 BC) defeated Raja Kida Hindi of Hindostan and married his daughter Princess Shaher-ul Beriah. Alexander the Great left the Princess with her father and returned to Macedonia. Alexander and the princess had a son Raja Araston Shah.
On the way to Temasek, Raja Suran crushed the forces of Gangga Nagara (Perak) in 1025 - 1026 and killed their king Raja Ganggi Shah Juana. Raja Suran then married Putri Gangga, sister of the slain Raja Ganggi Shah Juana. With Putri Gangga, Raja Suran had three sons - Bichitram Shah, Palidutani Shah, and Niluma-nam.
Raja Suran then marched through Glang Kiu (Johor), meeting strong resistance from Raja Chulan. Raja Suran defeated Glang Kiu forces and killed Raja Chulan. Raja Suran married Raja Chulan's daughter Putri Onang-kiu and took her to Temasek on their way to China.
Hearing that China was very far away, Raja Suran abandoned his plans to invade China.
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
Author's Preface
THE author of this work commences with stating, that he will
declare sincerely what he regards as the truth, according to the
best of his information. The occasion of the composition of the work is stated by the
author to be the following.
I happened to be present at an assembly of the learned and noble,
when one of the principal persons of the party observed to me,
that he had heard of a Malay story, which had been lately brought
by a nobleman from the land of Gua, and that it would be proper
for some person to correct it according to the institutions of the
Malays, that it might be useful to posterity.
On hearing this, I was firmly determined to attempt the
work. On this occasion were present Tun Mahmud, styled Paduka
Raja, and holding the office of bandahara, the son of the noble
Paduka Raja, the grandson of Bandahara Sri Maharaja, and
great-grandson of Tun Narawangsa, the great-great-grandson of Sri
Maharaja, and great-great-great grandson of Sri Naradi Raja
Tun Ali, the son of Mani Farandan, of Malay
extraction, from the mountain Sagantang Maha Miru, the
signet of whose country is of the Sawal gem.
This happened in the morning of the fifth day of the week,
and 12th of the month of Rabiul-awal, in the year Dal, and
of the Hejirah 1021, in the reign of the sovereign who lately
deceased at Ache, Sultan Ala-ed-din, the son of Sultan Ajel
Abdul Jalil, the brother of Sultan Muzafer Shah, the son of Sultan
Ala-ed-din, the son of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the son of Sultan
Ala-ed-din, the son of Sultan Mansur Shah, the son of Sultan
Muzafer Shah, the son of Sultan Muhammed Shah, and at the time
when he was sovereign of Pasei.
Raja Dewasayit came to me, the Bandahara Sri Narawangsa Tun
Mambang, the son of Sri Agar Raja, of the country of Patani,
bearing the order of the high sovereign Sultan Abdallah, the
son of Sultan Ajel Abdul Jalil Shah, requiring me to compose a
history of all the Malayu rajas, with an account of their
institutions, for the information of posterity, who shall
come after us."
The author adds, that after having well meditated his
subject, and requested the divine assistance, in respect of
illumination of the understanding, style, and facility of
composition, he composed the present work under the title of
Silla-leteh-al-salatin, in Arabic, and Sala-silah peratoran
Segala Raja Raja.
____________________________________
Chapter 1 of 30
There was a raja in Hindostan (India), named Raja Kida Hindi, who
was very powerful, and whose empire extended over the half of
Hindostan, and immediately on the approach of Raja Secander, he
sent his prime minister to collect his forces, and marched
out to meet him.
This Raja Kida Hindi had a daughter extremely beautiful
and handsome, whose face glittered and shone like the sun, and
whose understanding and qualities were equally remarkable,
and she was named Shaher-ul Beriah.
After sending his head
minister, Perdana Mantri, to consult with the prophet Khizei,
who was the minister of Raja Secander, he married his
daughter to Raja Secander, who agreed to pay as her
dowry 300,000 denars of gold, and carried her with
him on his visit to the rising sun, after tarrying ten
days in honour of the ceremony.
On his return, however, her father requested her to remain some
time with him, to which Raja Secander agreed, and took his
departure. It is stated by the relater of this
story, that the Princess Shaher-ul Beriah, the
daughter of Raja Kida Hindi, became pregnant by Raja
Secander, but Raja Secander was unacquainted with this
circumstance, nor was the princess acquainted with it
herself, till a month after her return to her
father.
She at last informed her father that a cessation of her courses
had taken place for two months, at which he was
greatly delighted, considering that her pregnancy was by Raja Secander, and therefore treated her with all
requisite attention.
At the expiration of the months, the princess was
safely delivered of a son, whom Raja Kida Hindi named Araston
Shah, and who in every respect was the perfect picture of
his father Raja Secander Zulkarneini.
Raja Araston Shah married the daughter of the raja
of Turkestan, by whom he had a son named Raja Aftas. After
the space of forty-five years, Raja Secander returned to
Makedonia, and Raja Kida Hindi died, and left as his successor
on the throne, Raja Araston Shah, who reigned 350 years, and
then died.
He was succeeded on the throne by his son Raja
Aftas, who reigned 120 years, and then died. He was
succeeded by Ascayinat, who reigned three years and died. He was
succeeded by Casidas, who reigned twelve years, and died. He was
succeeded by Amatubusu, who reigned thirteen years.
He was succeeded by Raja Zamzeyus, who reigned seven
years, and died. He was succeeded by Kharus Cainat, who reigned
thirty years, and died. He was succeeded by Raja Arhat
Sacayinat. After his death, he was succeeded by Raja
Cudarzuguhan the son of Raja Amatubusu. After him reigned Raja
Nicabus, who reigned forty years, and died.
After him reigned Raja Ardasir Migan, who married the daughter
of Raja Nashirwan Adel, sovereign of the east and west, by whom
he had a son, named Raja Derma Unus. After him succeeded on the
throne, his grandson Tarsi Bardaras, the son of Raja Zamrut, who
was the son of Shah Tarsi Narsi, who was the son of Raja Derma
Unus, who was the son of Ardasir Babegan, who was the son
of Raja Cuduri Gudurz Zuguhan, who was the son of Raja
Amatubusu, who was the son of Raja Sabur, who was the son
of Raja Aftas, who was the son of Raja Araston Shah, who was the
son of Secander Zulkarneini.
Raja Narsi Barderas married the daughter of Raja
Salan, the raja of Amdan Nayara, who, it is asserted by
some, was the grandson of Raja Nashirwan Adel, the son of Raja
Kobad Shah Shahriar, who was raja of the east and west. This
Raja Sulan was the mightiest prince of the lands of Hind
and Sind, and of all the rajas under the wind (i. e. towards the
west, the wind being supposed to rise with the
sun).
By the princess his daughter, Raja Narsi had three
sons; 1. Raja Heiran, who reigned in the country of
Hindostan. 2. Raja Suran, whom Raja Sulan took and
installed in his own place. 3. Raja Panden, who reigned in
Turkestan.
Then Raja Suran Padshah formed the design of subjugating China,
and for this purpose his men at arms, and the rajas dependent on
him, assembled from every quarter with their hosts, to the
number of one thousand and two lacs.
With this prodigious host, he advanced against China, and in
his course, the forests were converted into open plains; the
earth shook, and the hills moved; the lofty grounds became
level, and the rocks flew off in shivers, and the large rivers
were dried up to the mud.
Two months they marched on without delay, and the darkest night
was illuminated by the light of their armour like the lustre of
the full moon; and the noise of the thunder could not be heard
for the loud noise of the champions and warriors, mixed
with the cries of horses and elephants.
Every country which Raja Suran approached, he subdued and
reduced under his subjection, till at last he
approached the country of Gangga Nagara, the raja of
which was named Ganggi Shah Juana, which city is situated on a
hill of very steep approach in front, but of easy access in the rear.
Its fort was situated on the banks of the river Dinding,
in the vicinity of Perak. When Raja Ganggi Shah Juana
heard of the approach of Raja Suran, he summoned all his
vassals, and ordered the gates of his fortresses to be shut, and
stationed his guards for their protection. He also
directed his moats to be filled with water.
The host of Raja Suran quickly surrounded his fortresses,
and attacked them sharply, but were vigorously repulsed.
On this, Raja Suran mounted his huge elephant, and approached
the gate of the fortress, notwithstanding the showers of
spears and arrows with which he was assailed; he smote the gate
with his chacra, and it immediately tumbled down, while the raja entered the fort with all his champions.
When Raja Ganggi Shah Juana saw Raja Suran, he seized his
bow and smote the elephant of Raja Suran on the forehead,
which instantly fell down. Raja Suran quickly sprung up and drew
his sword, and smote off the head of Raja Ganggi Shah
Juana.
After the death of the raja, all his subjects submitted
to Raja Suran, who married Putri Gangga, the beautiful sister of
Raja Ganggi Shah Juana.
From Gangga Nagara, Raja Suran advanced to the
country of Glang Kiu, which in former times was a great
country, possessing a fort of black stone up the river
Johor.
In the Siamese language, this word signifies the place
of the emerald (Khlang Khiaw) but by persons ignorant of this language, it is usually termed Glang
Kiu.
The name of the raja of this country, was Raja Chulan,
who was superior to all the rajas of the countries
lying under the wind. As soon as he heard of Raja
Suran's approach, he summoned all his vassals, and marched out
to meet him with a host, like the sea rough with waves, and
elephants and horses like the islands in the sea, and
standards like a forest, and armour plated in scales, and
the feathering of the spears like the Bunga lalang.
After having marched about four times as far as the eye can
reach, they arrived at a river; when he saw the host of
Raja Suran extending like a forest, on which he said, in
the Siamese language, "call them," and the river still
retains the name of Panggil, which in Malay has this
signification.
When the Siamese troops engaged with the troops of Kling,
a dreadful noise arose, the elephants rushed against the
elephants, and the horses bit the horses, and clouds of
arrows flew across each other, and spears pierced spears, and lances encountered lances, and swordsmen
encountered swordsmen, and the descent of weapons was like the
rapid fall of rain, and the noise of the thunder would have
passed unheard in the combat, from the shouts of the combatants,
and the ringing of weapons.
The dust ascended to the
heavens, and the brightness of the day was darkened like an
eclipse. The combatants were all so mingled and blended,
that they could not be distinguished, amokas madly
encountered amokas, many stabbed their own friends, and
many were stabbed by their own partizans, till multitudes
were slain on both sides, and also many elephants and
horses.
Much was the blood which was shed upon the earth, till at last it allayed the clouds of dust, and the field of
combat was light, and the fierce amok as became visible, none of
whom on either side would fly.
Then Raja Chulan advanced his elephant, and broke into the
ranks of Raja Suran, which exceeded all power of calculation.
Wherever he approached the corpses swelled in heaps over
the ground, till great numbers of the Kling troops
perished, and unable to maintain their ground, they began to
give way.
He was observed by Raja Suran, who hurried forward to
meet him. Raja Suran was mounted on a lofty elephant
eleven cubits in height, but the elephant of raja
Chulan was very courageous, and they fiercely rushed
together, roaring like the thunder, and the clash of their tusks
was like the stroke of the thunderbolt. Neither of the
elephants could conquer the other.
Raja Chulan stood on his
elephant, brandishing his spear which he aimed at Raja
Suran; he missed him, but pierced his elephant in the fore
flank, from side to side; Raja Suran rapidly discharged an
arrow at Raja Chulan, which struck him on the breast, and pierced him to the back, and Raja Chulan fell
down dead on his elephant.
When the host of Raja Chulan saw their master dead,
they quickly took to flight, and were hotly pursued by the
Kling forces, who entered with them into the fortress of
Glang-kiu.
Raja Chulan left a daughter of great beauty named Putri
Onang-kiu, whom Raja Suran took to wife, and carrying
her with him, advanced to Tamsak (Temasek). Then, it was
reported in the land of China, that Raja Suran was
advancing against them with an innumerable army, and had arrived
at the country of Tamsak.
The raja of China (Song dynasty) was alarmed at hearing this
intelligence, and said to his mantris and chieftains, " If
Kling Raja approach, the country will be inevitably
ruined; what method do you advise to prevent his approach
?" Then, a sagacious mantri of China said, " Lord of the
world, your slave will fall on a device." The raja of China
desired him to do so.
The prow set sail, and arrived at Tamsak in the course of
a short time. The news was brought to Raja Suran, that
a prow had arrived from China, who sent persons to
enquire of the mariners how far it was to China.
Then, they took out some of the rusty needles, and showed
them, saying, "When we left the land of China, these bars
of iron were thick as your arm; but now they have grown
thus small by the corrosion of rust. We know not the
number of years we have been on our journey; but, you may judge
of them from the circumstances we mention.
"When the Klings heard this account, they quickly
returned, and informed Raja Suran. "
If the account of these Chinese be true," said Raja
Suran, "the land of China must be at an immense distance;
when shall we ever arrive at it? — If this is the
case, we had better return." All the champions assented to this idea.
Then Raja
Suran, considering that he had now become acquainted with the
contents of the land, wished to acquire information
concerning the nature of the sea.
At last, the chest reached a land, denominated Zeya, when
Raja Suran came forth from the chest, and walked about to
see the wonders of the place. He saw a country of
great extent, into which he entered, and saw a people named
Barsam, so numerous, that God alone could know their numbers.
This people were the one half infidels, and the other true
believers.
When they saw Raja Suran, they were greatly astonished and
surprised at his dress, and carried him before their raja, who
was named Aktab-al-Arz, who enquired of those who brought him, "
Whence is this man ?" And they replied, " He is a new comer." —
" Whence is he come ?" said the raja. " That," said they,
" none of us know." Then Raja Aktab-al-Arz asked Raja Suran,
"Whence are you, and whence have you come ?" — " I come
from the world," said Raja Suran ; " and your servant is
raja of the whole race of mankind; and my name is
Raja Suran."
The raja was greatly astonished at this account, and asked if
there was any other world than his own. "Yes, there
is," said Raja Suran; "and a very great one, full of various
forms." The raja was still more astonished, saying, "
Al-mighty God, can this be possible ?"
He then seated Raja Suran on his own throne. This Raja Aktab-al-Arz had a daughter named Putri Mahtab-al-Bahri.
This lady was extremely handsome, and her father gave her
in marriage to Raja Suran, to whom she bore three
sons.
The raja was for some time much delighted with this
adventure; but at last he began to reflect what advantage it was
for him to stay so long below the earth, and how he should be
able to carry his three sons with him.
Raja Suran mounted this steed amid the lamentations of his
spouse, the Princess; the flying steed quickly cleared the
nether atmosphere, and having reached the upper ocean, it
rapidly traversed it; and the subjects of Raja Suran
quickly perceived him.
The mantri of Raja Suran perceiving on what sort of animal his
master was mounted, quickly caused a mare to be brought to the
shore of the sea. On perceiving the mare, the steed Sambrani
quickly came to the shore, and as quickly did Raja Suran
dismount from him, on which he immediately returned to the
sea.
Raja Suran then called a man of science and an artificer,
and ordered the account of his descent into the sea to be
recorded, and a monument to be formed which might serve
for the information of posterity, to the day of
judgment.
The history of this adventure was accordingly composed,
and inscribed on a stone in the Hindostani language. This
stone being adorned by gold and silver, was left as a
monument, and the raja said that this would be found by
one of his descendants who should reduce all the rajas of the
countries under the wind.
Then Raja Suran returned to the land of Kling, and after
his arrival he founded a city of great size, with a fort
of black stone, with a wall of seven fathoms in both height and
thickness, and so skilfully joined that no interstices
remained between the stones, but seemed all of
molten metal. Its gates were of steel adorned with gold
and gems.
Within its circumference are contained seven hills, and
in the centre a lake like a sea, and so large that
if an elephant be standing on the one shore he will not be
visible on the other; and this lake contained every
species of fish, and in the middle was an island of
considerable height, on which the mists continually
rested.
The island was planted with trees, flowers, and all kinds
of fruits, and whenever Raja Suran wished to divert
himself, he used to frequent it. On the shore of this lake
was a large forest, stocked with all sorts of wild beasts,
and whenever Raja Suran wished to hunt, he mounted his
elephant and proceeded to this forest.
The name of this city was Bijnagar, which at the present
time is a city in the land of Kling. Such is the
account of Raja Suran, but if all his adventures were to
be related, they would rival those of Hamdah.
In
process of time Raja Suran had, by the lady Putri
Onang-kiu, the daughter of Raja Chulan, a daughter of exquisite
and unrivalled beauty, named Chanduwani Wasias. By the lady Putri Gangga he had three sons, one of them was named Bichitram Shah, another Palidutani, and the third, Niluma-nam.
His daughter, Chanduwani Wasias, was asked in marriage by
Raja Hiran, for his son Raja Chulan; Raja Suran placed his
son, Palidutani, in the government of Amdan Nagara; and his son,
Nilumanam, in the country of Chandukani. On his eldest son,
Bichitram Shah, he only conferred a territory of small
extent; and the young prince being displeased at this measure,
resolved to abandon his country.
Bichitram Shah accordingly embarked, with twenty vessels
fitted out with all the apparatus of war, determining
to conquer all the maritime districts. After conquering
several scores of countries, he at last reached the sea
denominated Silbou, where, being caught in a dreadful
hurricane, his fleet was dispersed, and the half of them
returned to the country of Chandukani, but the fate of the
other half is unknown. The adventures of this prince were very numerous, but here they are only alluded to briefly.
Written by Tony Boey on 4 Jun 2021
References:
Image of John Leyden courtesy of
Wikipedia. Image of Sejarah Melayu courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of old man courtesy of flickr. Image of Rajendra Chola courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Alexander the Great in a diving bell courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Alexander the Great courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of king Porus & Alexander courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Rajendra Chola I courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Chinese junk courtesy of flickr. Image of glass diving bell courtesy of Wikipedia. Image of Song dynasty junk courtesy of Wikipedia.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments submitted with genuine identities are published