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In Court and Kampong
In Court and Kampong Being Tales and Sketches of Native Life in the Malay Peninsula by Hugh Charles Clifford The nineteen tales and sketches, which are enclosed within the covers of this Book, relate to certain brown men and obscure things in a distant and very little known corner of the Earth. The Malay Peninsula-that slender tongue of land which projects into the tepid seas at the extreme south of the Asiatic Continent-is but little more than a name to most dwellers in Europe. But, even in the Peninsula itself, and to the majority of those white men whose whole lives have been passed in the Straits of Malacca, the East Coast and the remote interior, of which I chiefly write, are almost as completely unknown. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
182 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1897
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About the author
Hugh Clifford
81 books1 followerSir Hugh Charles Clifford GCMG, GBE was a British colonial administrator and writer. He was born in Roehampton, London, the sixth of the eight children of Major-General Sir Henry Hugh Clifford and his wife Josephine Elizabeth, née Anstice; his grandfather was Hugh Clifford, 7th Baron Clifford of Chudleigh.
Clifford intended to follow his father Henry Hugh Clifford, a distinguished British Army general, into the military but later decided to join the civil service in the Straits Settlements, with the assistance of his relative Sir Frederick Weld, the then Governor of the Straits Settlements and also the British High Commissioner in Malaya. He was later transferred to the British Protectorate of the Federated Malay States. Clifford arrived in Malaya in 1883, aged 17.
He first became a cadet in the State of Perak. During his twenty years there and on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula in Pahang, Clifford socialised with the local Malays and studied their language and culture deeply. He came to sympathise strongly with and admire certain aspects of the traditional indigenous cultures, while recognising that their transformation as a consequence of the colonial project which he served was inevitable. He served as British Resident at Pahang, 1896–1900 and 1901–1903, and Governor of North Borneo, 1900–1901.
Clifford intended to follow his father Henry Hugh Clifford, a distinguished British Army general, into the military but later decided to join the civil service in the Straits Settlements, with the assistance of his relative Sir Frederick Weld, the then Governor of the Straits Settlements and also the British High Commissioner in Malaya. He was later transferred to the British Protectorate of the Federated Malay States. Clifford arrived in Malaya in 1883, aged 17.
He first became a cadet in the State of Perak. During his twenty years there and on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula in Pahang, Clifford socialised with the local Malays and studied their language and culture deeply. He came to sympathise strongly with and admire certain aspects of the traditional indigenous cultures, while recognising that their transformation as a consequence of the colonial project which he served was inevitable. He served as British Resident at Pahang, 1896–1900 and 1901–1903, and Governor of North Borneo, 1900–1901.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 9, 2021
Hugh Clifford came to Malaya in 1883 when he was 17 years old. He spent 20 years on the peninsula and came to know the various peoples of Malaya intimately. By the time he published In Court and Kampong, in 1896, he had become the British Resident in Pehang, one of the larger Malay states. His work is a collection of stories, myths, reports, and contemplations on life in Southeast Asia. He would go on to publish even more widely on the area and other regions of the globe where his career as a colonial administrator took him.
The stories contained herein are captivating. They include anthropological openings that soon break into individual tales that take the reader into the lives of Malays, Chinese, Tamils, and indigenous peoples. A product of its age, Clifford's attitude is paternalistic and to the eyes of contemporary readers blatantly racist. Yet he clearly held an affection for the people he wrote about and later administered under his authority. Clifford was an adventurer at heart, and he was drawn to the remote regions of Malaya as well as the undisclosed stories of its people. So we have tales about Malayan Were-Tigers, conflicts among Malay princes, vengeance taken by indigenous people, and love stories amidst power struggles. Against all these, Clifford describes the alluring atmosphere and landscape of Malaya. Remember, he is writing at about the same time Conrad is publishing his works, Almayer's Folly and Lord Jim. Clifford is living the world that Conrad describes, the white alien who can never really be part of the people he has come to know in the Far East and who has forever become separated from his own kind. A man betwixt and between.
Clifford's work is a classic of Malaysian literature. I only wish I had read it before all the other novels, stories, and films I've experienced on the subject. Here is a snapshot in time of an Empire at its height, of a land that allowed romantic dreams to play out in reality, and an opening into the way of life, seen by a European, of a people as different from the West as could be imagined.
The stories contained herein are captivating. They include anthropological openings that soon break into individual tales that take the reader into the lives of Malays, Chinese, Tamils, and indigenous peoples. A product of its age, Clifford's attitude is paternalistic and to the eyes of contemporary readers blatantly racist. Yet he clearly held an affection for the people he wrote about and later administered under his authority. Clifford was an adventurer at heart, and he was drawn to the remote regions of Malaya as well as the undisclosed stories of its people. So we have tales about Malayan Were-Tigers, conflicts among Malay princes, vengeance taken by indigenous people, and love stories amidst power struggles. Against all these, Clifford describes the alluring atmosphere and landscape of Malaya. Remember, he is writing at about the same time Conrad is publishing his works, Almayer's Folly and Lord Jim. Clifford is living the world that Conrad describes, the white alien who can never really be part of the people he has come to know in the Far East and who has forever become separated from his own kind. A man betwixt and between.
Clifford's work is a classic of Malaysian literature. I only wish I had read it before all the other novels, stories, and films I've experienced on the subject. Here is a snapshot in time of an Empire at its height, of a land that allowed romantic dreams to play out in reality, and an opening into the way of life, seen by a European, of a people as different from the West as could be imagined.
October 1, 2019
An account of the author's learnings and experiences from his time with the Malays during the early part of British Colonial involvement in the Independent Malay States.
Clifford manages to give the reader an insight into Malay culture prior to outside influence by foreign powers. That glimpse shows feuds, plots and violence of Game of Thrones proportions! As someone who has lived in Malaysia for as long as Clifford had when he wrote this book, it's fascinating to learn just how different life was only 130 odd years ago.
Clifford was clearly an able writer. His prose often echos with poetic rhythm and grace, and his knowledge of literature is frequently demonstrated. He is able to convey human feeling with real conviction, like when he describes the dreamy "fools paradise" of Che' Jahya shortly before he is assassinated in his own home after hosting his killers over dinner. Clifford sets up his tales in the way of a storyteller. You find yourself getting excited about what is to come. Often, the outcomes of his stories make you put down the book for a second and just smile in admiration of the delivery.
There is a near constant undertone of conflict in the narrative. This conflict seems to make Clifford be harshly condescending to the Malay people at times, while at other times he is full of admiration for them. I believe that this conflict is clarified in the final chapter. He implies that due to his prolonged time in isolation with the Malay people, he became immersed in their culture, but this transformation later made him seem odd in the eyes of his countrymen. The society he came from didn't permit him to become so close with another culture, yet he did so. "of those whom I know intimately, and whom, in spite of all their faults, and foibles, and ignorance, and queer ways, I love exceedingly"
With this conflict in mind, there are many occasions in which the writing is critical to the point of being offensive by modern standards. Malays, the Chinese, women, and even Europeans and European culture get heftily criticised. Beware, and be wary of judging the past by the standards of the present.
Some of the tales in the book are quite horrific. From brutal murder, to torture, to paraded beheadings, to bloody animal sport, and even sorcery and witchcraft, prepare yourself for some gruesome topics. The penultimate chapter of the book, which describes the witnessing of an Orang Asli woman performing a "Pelesit"-like summoning ritual is particularly chilling.
In short, for people interested in pre-colonial Malay culture and Malaysia in general, this book is both captivating and inspiring.
Clifford manages to give the reader an insight into Malay culture prior to outside influence by foreign powers. That glimpse shows feuds, plots and violence of Game of Thrones proportions! As someone who has lived in Malaysia for as long as Clifford had when he wrote this book, it's fascinating to learn just how different life was only 130 odd years ago.
Clifford was clearly an able writer. His prose often echos with poetic rhythm and grace, and his knowledge of literature is frequently demonstrated. He is able to convey human feeling with real conviction, like when he describes the dreamy "fools paradise" of Che' Jahya shortly before he is assassinated in his own home after hosting his killers over dinner. Clifford sets up his tales in the way of a storyteller. You find yourself getting excited about what is to come. Often, the outcomes of his stories make you put down the book for a second and just smile in admiration of the delivery.
There is a near constant undertone of conflict in the narrative. This conflict seems to make Clifford be harshly condescending to the Malay people at times, while at other times he is full of admiration for them. I believe that this conflict is clarified in the final chapter. He implies that due to his prolonged time in isolation with the Malay people, he became immersed in their culture, but this transformation later made him seem odd in the eyes of his countrymen. The society he came from didn't permit him to become so close with another culture, yet he did so. "of those whom I know intimately, and whom, in spite of all their faults, and foibles, and ignorance, and queer ways, I love exceedingly"
With this conflict in mind, there are many occasions in which the writing is critical to the point of being offensive by modern standards. Malays, the Chinese, women, and even Europeans and European culture get heftily criticised. Beware, and be wary of judging the past by the standards of the present.
Some of the tales in the book are quite horrific. From brutal murder, to torture, to paraded beheadings, to bloody animal sport, and even sorcery and witchcraft, prepare yourself for some gruesome topics. The penultimate chapter of the book, which describes the witnessing of an Orang Asli woman performing a "Pelesit"-like summoning ritual is particularly chilling.
In short, for people interested in pre-colonial Malay culture and Malaysia in general, this book is both captivating and inspiring.
April 4, 2019
Sincere and endearing.
Of course Clifford writes in a racialised style. Of course there are sexist undertones to his writing. He lived within the values, perspectives and register of his era, and wrote to audiences who likewise held these worldviews in that period. But this was also a man who lived and governed in the Malay States for many years. He was fluent in Malay, spoke and ate and adventured with many of them. Can we simply dismiss and discount these words outright just because he was writing in the idiom of the era? It sounds like arrogance to assume the values of the past should be held to the standards of the present (values which will likely change again).
After you sift away the generalisations - generalisations earned from having lived with, eaten with, suffered with these people he writes of, there is a boyish liveliness to Clifford's stories that offer a valuable glimpse of a wild Malaya that likely no longer exists.
Of course Clifford writes in a racialised style. Of course there are sexist undertones to his writing. He lived within the values, perspectives and register of his era, and wrote to audiences who likewise held these worldviews in that period. But this was also a man who lived and governed in the Malay States for many years. He was fluent in Malay, spoke and ate and adventured with many of them. Can we simply dismiss and discount these words outright just because he was writing in the idiom of the era? It sounds like arrogance to assume the values of the past should be held to the standards of the present (values which will likely change again).
After you sift away the generalisations - generalisations earned from having lived with, eaten with, suffered with these people he writes of, there is a boyish liveliness to Clifford's stories that offer a valuable glimpse of a wild Malaya that likely no longer exists.
July 19, 2022
Himpunan kisah ringkas residen Inggeris di Pahang semasa bertugas di sini. Clifford juga pemerhati yang baik, tapi catatan Frank Swettenham lebih baik rasanya.
Ada catatan tentang perangai golongan feudal, kepercayaan khurafat orang Melayu, kisah seram yang dialami, sedikit ttg Tok Gajah dan Islam.
Antara ayat menariknya "...Adat is the fetish of the Malays. Before it, even the Hukum Shara, the devine law of the Prophet is powerless" dan "...inhabitants of the Peninsula, are Malays first and Muhammadans afterwards. Their religious creed goes no more than skin deep, and affects but little the manner of their daily life"
Ada catatan tentang perangai golongan feudal, kepercayaan khurafat orang Melayu, kisah seram yang dialami, sedikit ttg Tok Gajah dan Islam.
Antara ayat menariknya "...Adat is the fetish of the Malays. Before it, even the Hukum Shara, the devine law of the Prophet is powerless" dan "...inhabitants of the Peninsula, are Malays first and Muhammadans afterwards. Their religious creed goes no more than skin deep, and affects but little the manner of their daily life"
March 24, 2020
This book is hmm... super colonialist. Obviously reeks of imperialism. A good read, though, as it is a documentation of the Malayan lives before the British came and took over. Lots of things were 'casual', apparently. Like... murder, amok, love affairs, ghosts, demons, were-tigers and all. An enlightening read but that formal fancy English is not helping the narration at all.
May 30, 2013
kebanyakkan cerita yang diangkat dalam kumpulan pengalaman clifford hanya menampilkan negeri pahang sebagai tanah liar tak bertamadun, banyak kematian sia-sia, banyak ketidakadilan dalam sistem feudal,serta kisah2 orang banyak dan adat-istiadat sehari-hari.
Tapi paling menarik hati aku bila menyangkut hal puaka, (pocong dan langsuir) Clifford meninggalkan tanda tanya berkenaan sahabatnya orang eropah bertamadun yg pernah bertemu puaka di hutan dan tak pernah berani menceritakan hal tersebut kepada sesiapa kerana khuatir dituduh gila.
banyak yg aku belajar dari buku, tentang sejarah dan tentang permikiran masyarakat 5-6 generasi sebelum aku.
Meski sepenuhnya tulisan datang dari kaca mata seorang residen british yang tak pernah dialu-alukan di tanahair ini. Tapi agak memeranjatkan aku bahawa Clifford itu adalah seorang penulis yg bagus, dan seperti kebanyakkan sasterawan, dia jujur menceritakan segala apa yang dilihatnya serta apa saja yg difikirnya.
Tapi paling menarik hati aku bila menyangkut hal puaka, (pocong dan langsuir) Clifford meninggalkan tanda tanya berkenaan sahabatnya orang eropah bertamadun yg pernah bertemu puaka di hutan dan tak pernah berani menceritakan hal tersebut kepada sesiapa kerana khuatir dituduh gila.
banyak yg aku belajar dari buku, tentang sejarah dan tentang permikiran masyarakat 5-6 generasi sebelum aku.
Meski sepenuhnya tulisan datang dari kaca mata seorang residen british yang tak pernah dialu-alukan di tanahair ini. Tapi agak memeranjatkan aku bahawa Clifford itu adalah seorang penulis yg bagus, dan seperti kebanyakkan sasterawan, dia jujur menceritakan segala apa yang dilihatnya serta apa saja yg difikirnya.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews