THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BRITISH POWER IN WEST SUMATRA 1685-1716

Abstract

Documentary studies on early British activities in Southeast Asia have been few and far between. During the seventeenth anc.1 eighteenth centuries Southeast Asia lay on the periphery of British interest. Consequently, British historical research has tended to revolve around those areas where Britain came to assume predominance, notably in India. Another factor which probably prevented research into British activities in Southeast Asia is the popularly held assumption regarding the British establishment in West Sumatra. British connection with West Sumatra is generally described to be “inglorious" and this view has provided little stimulus for the researchers. This Dissertation attempts to shed some light on the opening three decades of British settlement in West Sumatra. The scope and content of the study were largely determined. by the available historical materials. The approach is Europe-centric, in so far as the Dissertation is mainly an investigation into the early attempts of the British to establish their political and commercial ascendancy over the West Coast. Little mention has been made of the indigenous political systems or the economic and social institutions. The only reason for this omission is that the records consulted were silent on these aspects or Sumatran history. This Dissertation makes no pretence at finality. As the research was done in Singapore, I did not have the benefit of access to all the Company’s research which are preserved in London. In the writing of this Dissertation, I have relied largely on the Sumatra. Factory Records. The gaps in the above series have not permitted the Dissertation to be presented as an exhaustive or definitive work. Many questions have been left unanswered in the hope that future research will throw more light on them. The reading of the microfilms also presented certain difficulties; much time was spent in trying to decipher the documents, some of which were abandoned as beyond comprehension. In the completion of this Dissertation, I was fortunate to receive assistance in various foms from different people. To Dr. D.K. Bassett, I wish to record my deep appreciation of his help. Besides supervising my Dissertation for over a year, he was kind enough to loan for my use his notes transcribed from the Letter Books which have been incorporated, in Chapter Two of the present work. During his recent stay in England as Visiting Lecturer in the University of London Dr. Bassett spent much of his precious time, selecting for my use, relevant documents from the Fort St. George Consultations. I am also gratetul to Professor K.G. Tregonning for reading the Dissertation in manuscript and offering his comments and criticism. To Professor John Bastin, I am thankful for his assistance and suggestions.