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The Ancient History of Singapore

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Brian E. Colless
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Extract

It seems fitting that, on the occasion of the commemoration of the founding of modern Singapore 150 years ago, we should look further back than the year 1819 and see whether another examination of ancient documents can bring to light new data on the early history of Singapore. Accordingly it is here submitted that a previously unrecognised reference to Singapore, under another name of course, is to be found in a well-known Indian document written nearly 950 years ago. Such a discovery gives immediate rise to further speculation regarding the possibility that this island was also known to Chinese and Arab geographers and merchants as an important trading centre and possibly known as such as early as the second century of the Christian era.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian History , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , January 1969 , pp. 1 - 11
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1969

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References

1. Rouffaer, G. P., “Was Malaka emporium voor 1400 A.D., genaamd Malajoer? En waar lag Woerawari, Mā-hasin, Langka, Batoesawar?”, Bijdragen Kon. Inst., 77 (1921), 1–174; 359–569.Google Scholar

2. For a discussion of this and many other new interpretations taken for granted throughout this study see B. E. Colless, “Persian Merchants and Missionaries in Medieval Malaya”, to appear in JMBRAS, 1969Google Scholar, Part 1; “The Early Western Ports of the Malay Peninsula”, to appear in the Journal of Tropical Geography, 29 (1969)Google Scholar. It should be noted that D. G. E. Hall (History of South-East Asia, 2nd Edn, 59Google Scholar) includes, apparently erroneously, “Tumasik the old name for Singapore Island” in his list of places in the Tanjore inscription that can be identified.

3. Ferrand, G., Relations de voyages et textes géographiques arabes, persans et turcs.…, 2 tomes (Paris 1913–1914).Google Scholar

4. See also Wolters, O. W., Early Indonesian Commerce. A study of the origins of Srivijaya (Ithaca, New York 1967), 187 f.Google Scholar

5. See note 2 above.