Abstract
Uncovering sources on topics of criminality such as piracy without the filters of colonial governments written in Bahasa Melayu from before the twentieth century remains particularly difficult. These are English language translations of letters originally in Malay mentioning piracy. The first letter discusses difficulties in trading between Singapore and Terengganu, including the problem of Chinese piracy. Our second letter is from the Sultan of Riau-Lingga to his father concerning trading recommendations and an incident where the King of Terengganu executed convicted Chinese pirates. The third letter concerns an act of piracy targeting collected taxes, which appears to be an act of resistance against new colonial taxation policies. These letters provide a rare window into issues of trade and governance during the nineteenth century when piracy remained rampant and centralized authority was contested through violent and non-violent means.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Asia Pacific Translation and Intercultural Studies
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
