A Malay history of Riau and Johore (Tuhfat-al-Nafis)
Authored by Raja ‘Ali bin Raja Haji and edited by R. O. Winstedt, this 1932 publication presents the Tuhfat al-Nafis, a chronicle detailing the political history of the Malay Archipelago from the late 17th to the mid-19th century. The text serves as a definitive record of the transition from the Johore Sultanate to the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, highlighting the complex interplay between Malay aristocracy, Bugis military power, and European colonial intervention.
Summary
The chronicle begins by establishing genealogies of the Malay rulers, tracing the lineage from the fall of Malacca to the establishment of Johore and the subsequent flight to Riau following the murder of Sultan Mahmud (p. 286). It details the rise of the Bugis through figures like Upu Daeng Parani and Raja Sulaiman, who intervened to restore order and install Bugis leaders as Yam Tuan Muda, effectively shifting the balance of power from traditional Malay Bendaharas to Bugis aristocrats (p. 288). This period is characterized by internal strife, including the madness of Sultan Mahmud and the assassination of Sultan Abdu’l-Jalil, which forced the royal family to relocate to Riau and later Lingga (p. 287).
As the narrative progresses into the 18th century, the text documents the escalating conflict between the Malay-Bugis alliance and the Dutch East India Company, culminating in the siege of Penyengat and the death of the famous warrior Raja Haji at Teluk Ketapang (p. 292). Despite the military defeat, the chronicle notes a period of economic prosperity driven by the trade of gambir and tin, with specific market prices recorded for goods like silk and rice (p. 291). The political landscape shifts again with the British takeover of Malacca and Singapore, leading to the division of the Johor Empire where the Sultanate of Singapore emerged under the Temenggong while Riau remained under Dutch influence (p. 295).
The final sections of the history cover the decline of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, marked by the death of key figures like the Yam Tuan Muda Raja Jaafar and the eventual deposition of Sultan Mahmud Shah (p. 301). The text concludes with the administrative treaties signed between the Dutch and the Malay rulers, the suppression of piracy, and the religious pilgrimages of the royal family to Mecca, illustrating the cultural and spiritual dimensions of the era (p. 299). Ultimately, the chronicle ends with the Temenggong Abdu’r-Rahman establishing his authority in Singapore, signaling the end of the Riau-Lingga era as a sovereign power (p. 303).
Key Findings
- Economic data from 1735 A.D. indicates a pikul of gambir could be bought for one and sold for 8 or 10 in Java, while Javanese rice fetched 3 Bengal rupiah a pikul (p. 291).
- The death of Raja Haji at Teluk Ketapang in 1784 A.D. marked a turning point where the Dutch buried him with royal honours before his son removed him to Riau (p. 292).
- Specific treaties were signed between the Dutch and the Yam Tuan Muda, including a 1784 treaty with 26 sections that prohibited Bugis from holding state office in Riau (p. 293).
- The Yam Tuan Muda Raja Jaafar died in 1831, succeeded by his son R. Abdu’r-Rahman, while Sultan Abdu’r-Rahman died in 1832, leading to the proclamation of S. Muhammad Shah (p. 299).
- Religious practices included the study of the tarikat Khalwatiah and the performance of the Hajj, with R. Ahmad traveling to Mecca in 1828 A.D. (p. 295, 299).
- The text records the suppression of Ilanun pirates in 1832, where leaders were beheaded after being captured with the aid of the Dutch and the Y. T. of Indragiri (p. 299).
Conclusion
Winstedt’s editorial work underscores the Tuhfat al-Nafis as a vital historical witness to the fragmentation of Malay sovereignty and the strategic ascendancy of the Bugis within the Malay world. The author’s definitive takeaway is that the political history of the region cannot be understood without acknowledging the symbiotic yet contentious relationship between Malay rulers, Bugis military elites, and European colonial powers. The chronicle ultimately illustrates how internal dynastic struggles and external colonial pressures conspired to transfer the center of gravity from Riau to Singapore, effectively ending the era of the traditional Malay Sultanate in the archipelago.
Context
- The edition relies on two manuscript copies: one from the Royal Asiatic Society (Maxwell MS) and another from the Johore royal family (p. 285).
- The Maxwell MS was copied in 1890 A.D. from an original dated 1865 A.D., ensuring the preservation of the original narrative despite later transcription errors (p. 285).