Art. IV—Short Account of the Malay Manuscripts belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society

H. N. van der Tuuk

doi:10.1017/S0035869X00161052

Art. IV—Short Account of the Malay Manuscripts belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011

H. N. van der Tuuk

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No 1 (large folio of 460 pages) contains the About the hero see Malayan Annals, translated by Leyden, chapters xiv. and xvi. A small extract is found in Crawfurd's “History of the Indian Archipelago,” ii. p. 51. Manuscripts of this work, the text of which might be available, are in the possession of Mr. J. Pijnappel, at Leyden; and of Mr. E. Netscher, at Riyow. The last chapters of this tale are found in No. 2607 of the manuscripts of the India Office, commencing with that part where the king of Mălaka intends to make one of his sons king on Mount Siguntang.

This composition is very interesting, as it exhibits a faithful picture of Malay life, and is written in genuine Malay.

No. 2 (large folio of 288 pages; the last four pages are filled up with doggrel rhymes by some transcriber).

Type: Original Communications
Information: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , January 1866 , pp. 85 - 135

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0035869X00161052 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1866

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^{page 85 note 1} I shall make mention of other copies, as it is my opinion that no Malay composition ought to be published without a supply of manuscripts bearing on the same subject. Texts from one manuscript, such as those published by Mr. J. J. de Hollander, in Holland, are not to be depended upon. Even quotations, found somewhere, I shall take notice of, as it may be useful to the editor of a Malay text to consult them.

^{page 85 note 2} See No. 66 of my Kort Verslag der Maleische Handschriften in het East India House, London, where the reader will find a full account of those closing chapters. As the numbers in that account have been since changed, I shall give here the present numbers.

^{page 86 note 1} Even Dutch words, as, for instance, (ḃlaauw, blue), occur in it. (See p. 115).Google Scholar

^{page 86 note 2} So, for instance, we find passim (Ar.) instead of (alms, largesses of a king to priests and religious mendicants).

^{page 86 note 3} Translation of pancha.

^{page 87 note 1} Of the Kawi version only twelve copies (!) have been lithographed by order of the Dutch government. It is not complete, ending with the combat of Arjuna and Aš;watthãmã.

^{page 87 note 2} Krěṣṇ.

^{page 87 note 3} Leyden, (As. Res. x. 178)Google Scholar mentions the following separate tales about the Pāndawas: 1st. The tale about their gambling; 2nd, that about their borrowing a hall; 3rd, that about their selling lime.

^{page 87 note 4} In the Kawi poem they are Parašurãma, Kaṇwa, Janaha, and Nārada (the Javanese has the same, only differently spelt, according to the Javanese pronunciation).

^{page 88 note 1} Instead of bhisuwa (bhisuwang is bhisnwa + ing) a manuscript on palm leaves in my possession has bhisu-eng (bhisua + ing). I should like to read here bhiṣawa (abhiṣawa). The Malay text gives no explanation, as it is evidently influenced by the Javanese version, where sagotra has become the name of a person. Moreover it identifies Rawan with a son of Arjuna (of the name of Irawan), who is afterwards killed by a demon (xii. 17). The word in the Malay version is probably a substantive made from which occurs in the Hikayat Kumala bahrin with the sense of to turn off the evil influence of a ghost from a person who is supposed to have been visited by a ghost, and in consequence of it has got some disease (compare the Ngaju-Dayak palis). must then have the meaning of what is used to turn off the evil influence of ghosts.

^{page 89 note 1} Compare under No. 14.

^{page 89 note 2} See further Kort Verslag der Maleische Handschriften van het E. I. House.

^{page 89 note 3} See his Journal, p. 95 of the Singapore edition. Of this Journal there is also a reprint in the fourth volume of Meursinge's Maleisch Leesboek; and a French translation by Dulaurier.

^{page 90 note 1} No. 7 has sampey baginda, and No. 36, sampey tuwan turun.

^{page 90 note 2} No. 36, tărlalu băsey.

^{page 90 note 3} No. 36, dan.

^{page 90 note 4} Nos. 7 and 36, náiḳ.

^{page 90 note 5} No. 7, anak kupandang.

^{page 90 note 6} No. 7, kukandung.

^{page 90 note 7} No. 7, diri.

^{page 91 note 1} A correction by the editor instead of the words of the manuscript, sayang tărjalan. No. 7 has the true reading (sayang tărjali).

^{page 91 note 2} No. 7, balik.

^{page 91 note 3} Rhyming on tărmangu. See also the extracts in the Reader of Marsden's Malay Grammar.

^{page 91 note 4} A name of Panji.

^{page 91 note 5} The name of Samba's sweetheart (see under No. 15).

^{page 91 note 6} e.g. mari-lah ămas ariningsun, kita mandi kalălangun, and tăngah hari baginda bangun, părgi mandi kalălangun. The native tales speak always of delightful gardens, where a bathing-place is one of the first requisites.

^{page 92 note 1} In the Panji tales the princess of Daha, the intended wife of Chekel, is commonly called Raden-galuh.

^{page 92 note 2} One of the personating characters in the Panji tales.

^{page 92 note 3} See Raffles', History of Java, ii., p. 88Google Scholar sqq., i. 335 and 392; Stuart's, CohenDjaja Lengkara, and Roorda's Lotgevallen van Raden Pandji, in the Bijdragen tot de taal-land-en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch Indië; vol. ii. p. 167Google Scholar sqq., and vol. vii. nieuwe volgreeks, p. 1 sqq.

^{page 92 note 4} In the end of this manuscript this proper name of the mother of the heroine is spelt

^{page 93 note 1} Another copy is in the possession of Dr. Reinhold Rost (small 4to. 148 pages).

^{page 93 note 2} Of course most proper names occurring in this account are transliterated guessingly, such as they would be pronounced by a Malay at first sight.

^{page 93 note 3} Where Arjuna performed penance to get supernatural arms. Such proper names deserve being taken up in a Dictionary, as they occur very often.

^{page 95 note 1} Called Bakărma Dáli raja. The proper name Bakărma is very frequent in Malay tales, and is a corruption of the Sanskrit wikrama; it is often confounded with Pakărma.

^{page 95 note 2} The manuscript has (p 32).

^{page 96 note 1} Compare under No. 3.

^{page 96 note 2} Edited by Friederich in the Transactions of the Batavian Society.

^{page 96 note 3} This episode is often alluded to in Malay tales and poems (comp. under No.7, II.)

^{page 97 note 1} Yajnawatî is her constant name in the Kawi poem, where she is never called Dărmadewi.

^{page 97 note 2} The Sanskrit words I transliterate according to the ancient Javanese pronunciation. The labial semi-vowel is represented by w, as it is very improbable that it was sounded v, the Sanskrit not having an f, of which the v is the corresponding sonant. The vowels ṛ and Ị are represented by rě and lě, the anuswara by ng, the wisarga by h, and the lingual sibilant by ṣ, in accordance with the other linguals. The palatial sibilant is here represented by š, and might be transliterated by sh, as it was probably pronounced as the French ch, which in the same way originated in a k, were it not that sh is in use with the English to represent the lingual s.

^{page 98 note 1}

^{page 98 note 2} The shadow of God on the world

^{page 98 note 3}

^{page 98 note 4} The Sundanesse version has the title Hikayat Surtan Oliya Hěnu Ibrahim waliyullah, a copy of which is in my possession (small 4to. 90 pp.)Google Scholar

^{page 99 note 1} That it contains for the greater part but fabulous history is beyond all doubt, as even the history of Malaka is tainted with the Panji tales; see, for instance, the chapter about the king of Malaka going to the court of Majapahit, and marrying a princess of the name of Chandărakirana (compare under No. 3).

^{page 100 note 1} This part is often found separately, as may be inferred from Bahru-ddīn's list (containing an account of Malay compositions found at Surabaya), wherein we find a

^{page 100 note 2} This title I derive from the first pages of No. 2, where the author calls the part of his work not bearing directly on.the war by this name (see under No. 2.)

^{page 101 note 1} Dhrtarāṣṭra.

^{page 101 note 2} In Malay the name of Pāṇḍu.

^{page 101 note 3} Widura.

^{page 101 note 4} The god Sun.

^{page 101 note 5} Instead of Părta, Sansc. Prěthā, i.e. Kuntī.

^{page 102 note 1} See my “Kort Verslag der Mal. Handschriften van het East India House te Londen.”

^{page 103 note 1} From the Javanese eṇḍang (a female penitent or nun).

^{page 103 note 2} Jav. Maèsa (Mahiṣa, buffalo) is frequent in proper names of Javanese personages, and is sometimes rendered, by the equivalent Javanese Kěbo.

^{page 103 note 3} Amutěr jagad jawa (Jav.).

^{page 104 note 1} This bisaru and bersru of the lettering, I should like to explain by in the sense of to cry invoking the gods.

^{page 104 note 2} e.g. and (bhatára).

^{page 105 note 1}

^{page 105 note 2}

^{page 105 note 3} According to the Malay history of Ráma the same as Báli, and brother of Sugriwa. Malay compositions borrow from each other proper names; so, for instance, we find Indăra Kila (mountain, where Arjuna lived as penitent), Mintaraga (name of a cave, where Arjuna did penance, Sanscr. and Kawi wītarāga, passionless), and other proper names from the Kawi poem Wiwāha (in Malay from a Titan conquered by Arjuna) occurring in other compositions. Such proper names ought to be received into the Dictionaries.

^{page 105 note 4} Werndly in his Maleische Boekzaal mentions a tale about a person of this very name, and Bahru-ddīn (list of Malay works to be had at Surabaya) has a

^{page 105 note 5} See under No. 12.

^{page 107 note 1} Dulaurier in his list speaks of two folio volumes, both containing but I have only found one, on the back of which the number was obliterated. That number is consequently all but certain.

^{page 107 note 2} The same is told of Singapura (see Malayan Annals, p. 83Google Scholar) and of Barus according to the Sair Raja Tuktung

^{page 107 note 3} The same narrative is found in one of the last chapters of No. 1.

^{page 109 note 1} See Herklots’ Customs, etc. p. 395.Google Scholar

^{page 110 note 1} On the west coast of Sumatra it goes by the name of (si-tărubuh) after the name of the bull who became the lion's friend.

^{page 112 note 1} The Hindíi version has been translated by Abdu-llah the Moonshee and published at Malaka. It is divided in the same way as the , and bears the title of

^{page 112 note 2} See Raffles’ History of Java, i., p. 475Google Scholar sqq. Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal-Land-en Volkenkunde (Batavia, vol. vi.Google Scholar and vii.)

^{page 112 note 3} See also Nos. 17 and 47 II.

^{page 113 note 1} Compare Cohen Stuart, 1.1. p. 153.Google Scholar

^{page 113 note 2} The manuscript: A Hikayat Mesa Kiramang is mentioned in the Journal Asiatique, 1833, by Jaquet.

^{page 113 note 3} Compare the use of ulun as pron. of 1st person, being the same as ulun (Lampong) and úlună (Malagasy spelling olona) which signify man, and ngwang (pron. 1st person) and wwang (man) in Kawi.

^{page 113 note 4} The Arabic

^{page 113 note 5} See under No. 12.

^{page 114 note 1} Corruption of the Sansk. Suprabhā.

^{page 114 note 2} The Sansk. dyumāntara.

^{page 114 note 3} P. 222 sqq. of the Dutch translation by E. Netscher.

^{page 114 note 4} One in the possession of Millies, Mr. H.C. at Utrecht, and another in mine (small 8vo. of 28 pages).Google Scholar

^{page 115 note 1} It goes also by the name of according to de Hollander, 1.1. p. 315.Google Scholar

^{page 115 note 2} Another commentary on the same work is called,

^{page 115 note 3} The lettering on the back of the cover (Karangan Bantan) is wrong. Dulaurier infers from it, that it is about the foundation of Bantam.

^{page 116 note 1} The Arabic

^{page 117 note 1}

^{page 117 note 2} The lettering Angkasa Dewa is a mistake owing to the tale commencing with these words.

^{page 117 note 3} Si-miskin (“the poor one”).

^{page 118 note 1}

^{page 118 note 2} Of the de Hollander in his Reader (p. 82Google Scholar sqq.) has published extracts; and another extract is to be found in Roorda van Eysinga's Beknopte Maleische Spraakkunst (Breda, 1839), p. 102 sqq.Google Scholar

^{page 118 note 3}

^{page 119 note 1} About a Javanese version, see Raffles’ History of Java, i., p. 394Google Scholar sqq.

^{page 119 note 2} The Persian pronunciation, shû-i mărdûn has occasioned the name cited, by van Hoëvell in the annotations to the Sair Bidasari. On the west coast of Sumatra is pronounced sa-i alam; hence confusion in the title of the dwarf deer between shā-i ‘ālam di rimba and shaykh ‘ālam di rimba.

^{page 119 note 2} Wikramāditya. No. 60 and the extracts in de Hollander's Handleiding, 1.1., have

^{page 120 note 1} The manuscript explains the Arabic name by artiña matahari di darat.

^{page 120 note 2} explained by bulan yang dităpi láut.

^{page 121 note 1} The Persian original was translated by Lescalier, (Bakhtiyar, ou le Favori de la Fortune, Paris, 1805).Google Scholar

^{page 121 note 2} Of this story there is an elax0103;borate novel on the west coast of Sumatra, where it is called I possess three manuscripts of it, all written in the Menangkabow dialect.

^{page 121 note 3} Other tales belonging to this cyclus, and not existing in this collection are—I. (jayeng Kăsuma is Javanese and means “victorious on the battle field,” and is often changed in Malay into Jaya Kăsuma), from which quotations are to be found in van Hoëvell's annotations (p. 301, 326, 334, 862, 363, and 374)Google Scholar. II. (after an assumed name of Chandărakirana, when dressing as a male, and roving about to subject the states she came upon). III. (No. 2602, India Office), IV. (?) IV. V. (see under No.40. VI. (see II. under No. 7). (a translation of which into Mangkasar is to be found in Mathes's Makassaarsche Chresthomathie). There are more tales belonging to this cyclus, as may be inferred from some manuscripts in the British Museum.

^{page 122 note 1} The plot does not differ materially from that of the tale of which Mr. Taco Roorda has given an elaborate analysis (see Lotgevallen van Raden Pandji in the Bijdragen tot de Taal-Land-en Volkenkunde van N.I. Vol. vii.Google Scholar Nieuwe Volgreeks). Compare also Raffles, History of Java, ii., 88.Google Scholar

^{page 123 note 1} The two copies of which are in the Library of the India Office (Nos. 3049 and 2603), has a great similarity with the European tale about Reinard the fox. (See Kort Verslag der Maleische Handschriften van het E. I. House te London).Google Scholar The pălanduk acts in the Indian Archipelago the part that the fox acts with us.

^{page 123 note 2} Such small collections of tales, the title of which is either arbitrary, or not to be fixed from the contents, are often found in the possession of the poor, who cannot afford to buy manuscripts of the extent of the Bustānu-ssalāthin, Tajussalāthīn, and the like. A collection of the same kind is the in No. 2603 (Library of the India Office).

^{page 123 note 3} Translated Asiatic Journal, 1823.Google Scholar

^{page 123 note 4} Edited by Fraissinet under the title of Geschiedenis van Vorst Bispoe Radja (Breda, 1849).Google Scholar

^{page 125 note 1} The Dutch Maarschalk (Marshal).

^{page 125 note 2} Meester Cornelis is the name of a district of Batavia, where there are barracks.

^{page 125 note 3} In No. 2609 (India Office) there is a love-letter, the title of which is yet to be ascertained. Its commencing verses are: It contains 18 pages.

^{page 126 note 1}

^{page 126 note 2} (See about this author Note 1, p. 47.)

^{page 127 note 1} It is translated by A note by a transcriber calls the author (the same as the author of IV. ?).

^{page 127 note 1} The manuscripts of this collection were not numbered. I have put numbers on them in accordance with the list Dulaurier gave of them, with the exception of two volumes he did not examine.

^{page 129 note 1} On page 45 we find: (frequent spelling of the Ar. merat, is in poetry used for to die.

^{page 130 note 1} Also mentioned in Bahru-ddīn's list.

^{page 130 note 2} He is the author also of a Malay work called (a copy of which I saw at Batavia, small 4to. of about 30 pages).

^{page 130 note 3} Nila-utáma, name of a celestial nymph (Tobasche Spraakkunst, § 30, II. b).

^{page 131 note 1}

^{page 132 note 1}

^{page 132 note 2}

^{page 132 note 3} as the Arabic introduction has. Shamaṭarā is an Arabic corruption of Samudăra, the ancient name of Pasey, which occasioned the whole island to be called by the Portuguese, who sailed with Arabic pilots, Sumatra, a name with which natives, not used to mix with Europeans, are not acquainted.

^{page 132 note 4} Fantsur being the ancient name of Barus; hence the Barus camphor is called in Arabic

^{page 133 note 1} The poems of Hamzah were yet much read íin Valentyn's time, but that he was a native of Barus that author did not know (see Baschrijying van Sumatra, p. 21Google Scholar).

^{page 133 note 2} The other books, the author of the Tabyān speaks of in this way are the the the the the and the

^{page 133 note 3} He ealls himself sometimes He seems to have lived at Aehih A namesake of his is and is cited as the author of a

^{page 134 note 1} The other 51 pages of this volume contain, 1. the several positions of the body when praying; 2. the application of the five letters of to the five obligatory prayers; 3. the formulas of prayers for the dead; and 4. on. marriage

^{page 134 note 2} A copy is in the Library of the Batavian Society (No. 26).

^{page 135 note 1} There may be other Malay manuscripte in the Library of the India Office which I have overlooked, the Persian, Arabic, and Malay manuscripts being mingled together. I am in hopes the deficiencies in this notice may be filled up by other scholars, who will also call attention to the many valuable Malay manuscripts in the Libraries of London. A new Malay Chrestomathy is urgently needed at the present time, as those published by Marsden, Meursinge,, and de Hollander, are anything but trustworthy, each of the texts they contain having been taken from a single manuscript only. It is only by a careful comparison of many that a text can be furnished which may he depended upon by persons desirous of obtaining an adequate idea of the grammatical structure of the Malay language, and reluctant to trust the assertions of those who pretend that Malay is devoid of grammar.

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Art. IV—Short Account of the Malay Manuscripts belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society

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