Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra17181886roya).pdf/215

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PORTUGUESE HISTORY OF MALACCA.


[The following paper is reprinted from a volume of the Malacca Observer, a newspaper published in Malacca in 1823. It appears to have been borrowed in the main from the "Asia Portugueza" of Manuel de Faria y Souza, a translation of which is to be found in Vol. VI of Kerb's Voyages. The notes have been supplied principally by Mr. D. F. A. Hervey.

E. Koek.]

MALACCA was built by the Celates,[1] a people who chiefly subsisted by fishing, and who united themselves with the Malays, who inhabited the mountains. Their first Chief was Paramisôra.[2] who had been a person of high rank in the island of Java, whence he was expelled by another Chief who usurped his lordship, on which occasion Paramisora fied to Cincapura (Singapura)[3] where he was well received by the lord of that place and raised to high employment. But having rebelled against his benefactor,[4] he was driven from thence by the King of Siam, and forced to wander about Malacca, as

  1. i.e. orang laut—no doubt from "Selat," the common designation of Singapore now-a-days by Malacca people.
  2. Javanese, Prâma-sûra, or Prâmeya-sûra; Sanscrit, Apramasyasúra, incomparable hero (?).
  3. Sanscrit, Sinha, lion, púra, city (cf. Indra-pûra, on west coast of Sumatra).
  4. De Barros says he murdered him, and ruled Singapore 5 years, before he was expelled by the Siamese under the Râja of Patâni, who was brother of the murdered king.