International Memory of the World Register Lord Minto Scroll (Malaysia) 2012-75 1.0 Summary (max 200 words) The documentary heritage that is being nominated is a hand-written letter from Lord Minto (Gilbert Elliot- Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Lord Minto) the Governor General of Bengal to Seri Sultan Mataram. The manuscript is a directive from the former telling the latter to pledge allegiance to the British after the fall of Java to the British in 1811. The language used in the manuscript is the Malay language but written in the Jawi script. The manuscript provides us with an understanding of the relationship between the colonial masters and the local rulers. It indicates that it is not only important but courteous for the conquerors to communicate their wishes to those they have conquered. In essence, the conquerors were giving ample time for those that lost the war to contemplate their next move, It also seeks to emphasis on the importance of Southeast Asia to the Dutch, French and the British and further seeks to illustrate that events that happen in the West do have an influence on what happens in the East. 2.0 Nominator 2.1 Name of nominator (person or organization) Department of National Heritage 2.2 Relationship to the nominated documentary heritage Preserver of nation s heritage (Chairman of Memory of the World National Committee) 2.3 Contact person(s) (to provide information on nomination) Dato Professor Emeritus Zuraina Majid Commissioner of Heritage 2.4 Contact details Department of National Heritage Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture 10 th Floor, Chulan Tower Jalan Conlay 50450 Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA Telephone Facsimile 603-2167 5100 603-2171 6029 3.0 Identity and description of the documentary heritage 3.1 Name and identification details of the items being nominated If inscribed, the exact title and institution(s) to appear on the certificate should be given The item being nominated is an illuminated official document in a form of a hand written scroll. Measuring 55 cm by 118 cm, the manuscript is dated 15 Sha ban 1226 or 3 September 1811. It is a letter from the Governor General of Bengal to Seri Sultan Mataram. The text is written in the Jawi script using black ink but the language is Malay. The manuscript has three distinct borders with two being decorated with flower and leaf motifs. The other border has a leaf motif stamped in gold.the name Minto is written in black ink at the top left- 1
hand corner and there is an official seal in red which contains the word Sultan next to it. The manuscript was on offer from Sotheby on 12 and 18 October 1981, It was purchased by the University of Malaya from Sotheby on 16 December 1981 and was restored then. 3.2 Catalogue or registration details UM 81.131 3.4 History/provenance The manuscript relates to the British invasion of Java in 1811. The decision to invade Java was made by Lord Minto (Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Lord Minto) who was appointed the Governor General of Bengal in 1807 and held the post until 1813. The British fleet from India was assembled in Malacca and it was from Malacca that Thomas Stamford Raffles plotted the fleet s course from Malacca to Java. At that point in time, Thomas Stamford Raffles was based in Penang but was appointed by Lord Minto as the agent to oversee the invasion of Java. He was later made the Lieutenant-General of Java and went on to develop Singapore. The manuscript is a letter written by the Governor General of India (GGI) to the Seri Sultan Mataram (SSM). The GGI informs the SSM of the fall of a Dutch stronghold known as Meister Cornellis to the British forces and that the British forces are now sailing north. Therefore, the GGI wants the SSM and his men to receive the British in good faith and accept them as their colonial master in place of the Dutch. The SSM himself or his representative should meet with the GGI for further discussions. Apart from that the SSM and the locals are warned against supporting the French. The SSM has been instructed to follow the orders of Major General Samuel Auchmuty and all his men and not to go against them. The GGI expressed his wishes to be friends with the SSM. The GGI also noted that he was not sending any gifts to the SSM and this should not be misconstrued as a sign of disrespect. The GGI was expecting a reply to this letter which was dated 3 September 1811. The SSM did send a reply and a facsimile copy of this is available at the British Library and is held in the India Office Select Materials Collection with the following details: Mss Eur G95 MISCELLANEOUS Facsimile copy of illuminated letter, dated 3 Sep 1811, from the Sultan of Mataram to the Governor- General of Bengal [produced by the Museum of South East Asia in 1984]. 1 folio 1811 1811 4.0 Legal information 4.1 Owner of the documentary heritage (name and contact details) Name NOR EDZAN CHE NASIR Address MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA, 50603 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA Telephone Facsimile Email 603-79673206 603-79573661 edzan@um.edu.my 4.2 Custodian of the documentary heritage (name and contact details if different from the owner) 2
Name Address Telephone Facsimile Email 4.3 Legal status Since ownership of the manuscript is to the University of Malaya, the University of Malaya is solely responsible for the preservation of the manuscript. 4.4 Accessibility The manuscript can be viewed by anyone but the actual handling of the manuscript is restricted to the Museum s Curator. 4.5 Copyright status All rights are reserved to the University of Malaya. 5.0 Assessment against the selection criteria 5.1 Authenticity. The manuscript is an authentic source of history and is a rare item. 5.2 World significance This content of the manuscript reflects a long period of cultural and social relationships between peoples located as far apart as India and Southeast Asia. This manuscript provides an insight into the relationship between the governing powers in India and the local rulers in Mataram. It also relates to the eventual defeat of the Dutch in Java and the fall of Java to the British. The annexation of Java is seen as part of the Napoleonic War agenda involving the French, Dutch and the English. The British navy was based and started off from Malacca using the Straits of Malacca as the entry point to the Indonesian islands. This demonstrates the importance of Malacca then. 5.3 Comparative criteria: 1 Time The manuscript is indicative of the relationship between the colonial rulers and the local rulers. The contents of the manuscript revolves around the fall of Java to the British and the need for the ruler of Mataram to either present himself or send a representative to the Governor General of India. Due respect should be given to the British since they are now in control of Java. The locals are not allowed to help the French. The invasion of Java is a result of the Napoleonic War that was fought in Europe. The invasion of Java was brought about by the conflict between Napoleon Bonaparte and his opponents. 2 Place The manuscript relates to the fall of Java to the British and the threat of the British to the colonies under the joint rule of the French and the Dutch. The attack on Java was planned and launched from Malacca. 3 People The contents of the manuscript reflect the demand for respect of the British from the locals. The British expects the local ruler or his representative to present himself indicative of a show of control over local rulers of their colonies. It also shows that the practices of giving gifts to the local rulers do exist but in this 3
case, this practice was omitted. 4 Subject and theme Not applicable 5 Form and style The manuscript has illuminations indicative of the style then. The motifs used are flowers and leaves with ample use of colours as well as gold illuminations. The manuscript is a letter between two parties in the form of a scroll. However, the use of a scroll as a means of communication is no longer in use. 6 Social/ spiritual/ community significance: Not applicable 6.0 Contextual information 6.1 Rarity This is an original letter between the two parties. The nama Minto and the seal of the Seri Sultan Mataram is evident on the document itself. 6.2 Integrity The presence of a facsimile copy of the reply to this letter is available at the British Library indicates that there is communication between the two parties. 4
TRANSLITERATION OF THE SCROLL FROM THE JAWI SCRIPT TO ROMANISED MALAY LANGUAGE Bahawa inilah Sahifat al-ikhlas yang terbit daripada hati yang suci di dalamnya menyatakan bersahabat dan berkasih-kasihan selagi ada peredaran cakerawala matahari dan bulan iaitu daripada pihak Paduka Maharaja Gabenor Jeneral India Inggeris sampai kepada Seri Sultan Mataram yang arif bijaksana dan pandai mengambil hati segala sahabat handai taulan telah jadilah masyhur nama pada segala negeri ehwal maka daripada surat perintah yang ada bersama surat ini boleh Seri Sultan tahu akan Kota Star/Meester Cornellis itu sudah terpukul dan kemenangan Inggeris sekalian kerajaan Inggeris di dalam negeri Jawa. Shahadan akan memberi kesenangan dan amankan dan menolongkan segala yang bersahabat dengan Inggeris iaitu segala orang baik-baik dalam negeri Jawa maka sebahagian daripada tentera Inggeris ada pada masa ini tengah belayar menuju sebelah timur kerana itulah hendaklah segala raja dan orang besar-besar akan sekalian dan jangan lambat nyatakan mari tanda berkasih-kasihan dengan Inggeris kerana Inggeris sudah jadi raja memerintah di dalam negeri Jawa akan pada ketika ini tiada sempat hendak dipanjangkan kalam maka hendaklah sahaja Seri Sultan hantar mari dengan segeranya kepada Paduka Seri Maharaja Jeneral India wakil ganti tubuh Seri Sultan berbicara dengan Paduka Seri Maharaja Jeneral India itu daripada segala kerja Seri Sultan lain daripada itu hendaklah Seri Sultan jangan sedikit pun menolong akan seorang daripada penghulu Perancis barangkali yang sudah lari masuk ke udik negeri kemudian daripada pecah alah laskarnya maka hendaklah juga Seri Sultan turut segala kehendak panglima besar laskar iaitu Komandan Cif Sir Samuel Auchmuty serta dengan segala orang besar-besar yang ke bawahnya dan jangan Seri Sultan lalui daripada kehendaknya. Shahadan Paduka Seri Maharaja Jeneral India pinta daripada Seri Sultan akan diterima surat ini dengan segala hormat selain dan hendak segera memberi mari surat balas jawab sebarang tahu kiranya maka awalah kehendak hati Paduka Seri Maharaja Jeneral India membuat sahabat bersahabat dengan tulus ikhlas ertinya sahaja memberi senang sentosa di dalam negeri Jawa dan lebih dahulu di dalam negeri Seri Sultan dari kerana itulah merasakan dan menghormatkan kehendaknya itu sama juga shahadan pada ketika ini Paduka Seri Maharaja Gabenor Jeneral India tiada hantar pergi kepada Seri Sultan hadiah pemberian tetapi janganlah Seri Sultan kirakan tulus ikhlas ketulusan ada kurang tetap maka Paduka Seri Maharaja Gabenor Jeneral India tiada lupakan adat sedia dan kemudian hari buka kirimkan tertulis surat pada tiga haribulan September sanah pada hijrah seribu dua ratus dua puluh enam pada lima belas hari bulan Sha ban. 5