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British Malaya
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This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
the crowd of small coasting steamers, which puff and squeal, arrive or depart, take or discharge cargo, or simply rest between two voyages. And last the outer line, where, in midstream, a few large steamers and sailing vessels strain at cables. But, There is another shore, upon the other side, the shore of Province Wellesley, distant from the nearest point of Pinang, about two miles. Far to north and far to south, an endless grove of palm trees fringes the strip of yellow sand, which is sometimes land and sometimes sea. Behind the palms are acres of rice fields, villages, hamlets, and isolated huts ; then low hills, forest, and higher hills ; range upon range in ever rising steps, till the eye loses count in heat waves, mist, and distance. Nearly due north, a little inland, and distant about thirty-five miles, stands the sharp peak of Gunong Jerai, five thousand feet high. Almost in a line with this mountain, some hazily-blue islands seem to swim on the surface of the sea. Looking south, the coast line of Pinang curves, crescent-wise, to its extreme point, and in the land-locked space of water are islands, large and small, clad like the rest in green. What is called the South Channel is not often used now except by coasting steamers, but the approach to Pinang is even more attractive by this route than by the North Channel. The beauty of the place comes more gradually, sinks deeper into the appreciation, and leaves a picture of form and colour, a sensation of real warmth and real life, which only the East can offer. This feeling will be intensified if the traveller is fortunate enough to see what I have tried to describe under the glamour of a moonlit night. Yet the pride of Pinang is the Hill, and those who reach the summit will not regret the effort. Looking westward, t...
This is an OCR edition with typos.
Excerpt from book:
the crowd of small coasting steamers, which puff and squeal, arrive or depart, take or discharge cargo, or simply rest between two voyages. And last the outer line, where, in midstream, a few large steamers and sailing vessels strain at cables. But, There is another shore, upon the other side, the shore of Province Wellesley, distant from the nearest point of Pinang, about two miles. Far to north and far to south, an endless grove of palm trees fringes the strip of yellow sand, which is sometimes land and sometimes sea. Behind the palms are acres of rice fields, villages, hamlets, and isolated huts ; then low hills, forest, and higher hills ; range upon range in ever rising steps, till the eye loses count in heat waves, mist, and distance. Nearly due north, a little inland, and distant about thirty-five miles, stands the sharp peak of Gunong Jerai, five thousand feet high. Almost in a line with this mountain, some hazily-blue islands seem to swim on the surface of the sea. Looking south, the coast line of Pinang curves, crescent-wise, to its extreme point, and in the land-locked space of water are islands, large and small, clad like the rest in green. What is called the South Channel is not often used now except by coasting steamers, but the approach to Pinang is even more attractive by this route than by the North Channel. The beauty of the place comes more gradually, sinks deeper into the appreciation, and leaves a picture of form and colour, a sensation of real warmth and real life, which only the East can offer. This feeling will be intensified if the traveller is fortunate enough to see what I have tried to describe under the glamour of a moonlit night. Yet the pride of Pinang is the Hill, and those who reach the summit will not regret the effort. Looking westward, t...
380 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1907
About the author
Frank Athelstane Swettenham
32 books12 followersSir Frank Athelstane Swettenham GCMG CH was the first Resident General of the Federated Malay States (part of the then Royal Colonies, now independent Malaysia) which was formed by combining a number of kingdoms. He served from July 1, 1896 to 1901. He was also an amateur photographer.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 19, 2014
If you're still studying Malaysian history, this book should be a required read. British Malaya was written by the former Resident General Sir Swettenham who was a prominent figure in the history. This book gave a good summarization of the times of the western imperialism in Malaya and a well referenced and a quite personal account from Swettenham's perspective on the very prosperous colony. Swettenham was surprisingly romantic in some of his descriptions on the environment and the people but he was a thorough realist. Unlike the current general perception on British colonists, he's really humble, interesting and rather progressive and well-traveled and open to culture and arts and aware of the flaws of the natives but rather forgiving about it rather than being judgemental about it. He even criticize a fellow countryman for being ignorant about mishandling the management of the colony and in so many degrees he had a great respect and appreciation to the people of Malaya. It showed in his writings that he clearly enjoy being here and he didn't even fall into the usual exoticism fallacies people tend to dress up while writing a traveling logs.
Personally, it was given that he had a rather naive view on the idea of British Malaya since after all he was a colonists. But what made the book interesting was the fact that there were things that was purposely omitted from the Malaysian history people use to teach at school. The book held some neutral view on certain people but Swettenham was effective at explaining the political situation faced by the British colonists. I've heard about some historical books have its own bias from point of view and I agree to that but I learn the things that was harmless in one but very scandalous in another. The book was very unforgiving about the fact that each states have their own dark history and most notably was the role of the local men in power abusing their status to oppress its people. Piracy and slavery and the attitude on drugs that was redefined by the British presence and pressure. How everything always end up being the matter of money and wealth which was the actual beginning to the resentment to the colonists by the then people of power began losing their influence and financial source. Curious about how some of them still technically retain their modern roles. Oh, the exact amount of money and pounds exchanged between some people as allowances that was even less than what Mr Darcy made in a year. Then things get interesting when Swettenham detailed the exact accounts British crown get from the venture through the 19th century to early 20th century of trade and mining and human trade for labor. In millions. Boy, this book was very enlightening with money business. For example, Malaysian history now celebrate Birch's murderer for being royalist or nationalist when by the chains of events around it show it was clearly political influenced and fact that it was a vicious bloodbath rather than singular person assassination. Birch aren't the only person who died and some of them are local folks. It is plain mass murder being dressed as nationalist event being told to school kids. Illustrated nonetheless! But whatever Birch did or may not do that his reputation still being blackened to this date, it does made its impact on the way British residency handle things. I guess when you omit out "banning hereditary slavery" and replace it with "disrespecting the customs", you change history.
There are many pros and cons about the whole British colonialism, but for a certainty they do change a lot of things some people still trying to regain today. There are a lot of sides and story to history and its always being rewritten to suit modern times. Swettenham accounts certainly would encounter a lot of modern censoring if it were being locally republished but its always refreshing to read the situation from another's perspective.
Personally, it was given that he had a rather naive view on the idea of British Malaya since after all he was a colonists. But what made the book interesting was the fact that there were things that was purposely omitted from the Malaysian history people use to teach at school. The book held some neutral view on certain people but Swettenham was effective at explaining the political situation faced by the British colonists. I've heard about some historical books have its own bias from point of view and I agree to that but I learn the things that was harmless in one but very scandalous in another. The book was very unforgiving about the fact that each states have their own dark history and most notably was the role of the local men in power abusing their status to oppress its people. Piracy and slavery and the attitude on drugs that was redefined by the British presence and pressure. How everything always end up being the matter of money and wealth which was the actual beginning to the resentment to the colonists by the then people of power began losing their influence and financial source. Curious about how some of them still technically retain their modern roles. Oh, the exact amount of money and pounds exchanged between some people as allowances that was even less than what Mr Darcy made in a year. Then things get interesting when Swettenham detailed the exact accounts British crown get from the venture through the 19th century to early 20th century of trade and mining and human trade for labor. In millions. Boy, this book was very enlightening with money business. For example, Malaysian history now celebrate Birch's murderer for being royalist or nationalist when by the chains of events around it show it was clearly political influenced and fact that it was a vicious bloodbath rather than singular person assassination. Birch aren't the only person who died and some of them are local folks. It is plain mass murder being dressed as nationalist event being told to school kids. Illustrated nonetheless! But whatever Birch did or may not do that his reputation still being blackened to this date, it does made its impact on the way British residency handle things. I guess when you omit out "banning hereditary slavery" and replace it with "disrespecting the customs", you change history.
There are many pros and cons about the whole British colonialism, but for a certainty they do change a lot of things some people still trying to regain today. There are a lot of sides and story to history and its always being rewritten to suit modern times. Swettenham accounts certainly would encounter a lot of modern censoring if it were being locally republished but its always refreshing to read the situation from another's perspective.
September 18, 2021
Dari sudut pandangang kolonial. Patut dibaca. Sekurang-kurangnya kita nampak kesan dan akibat kepimpinan yang lemah, tidak bersatu hati, tamak, dapatkan bantuan asing, akhirnya hak tergadai.
February 22, 2014
Frank Swettenham has documented the lives of people in the South East Asia in a very graphical and no nonsense fashion. Descriptions of the rulers, settlements and the origins of places like Malacca and Singapore are very enriching. According to me, he is impartial towards the British residents and officers and mentions their toils and spoils in a well balanced tone.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews