MARITIME MUSEUM PHASE I (Flor de La Mar)
THE MELAKA PORT DIORAMA
The diorama visualizes the liveliness of the trading activity in the port during the Melaka Malay Sultanate. Ships laden with cargo from all over the world came in turns to seek riches and fortunes. In the Malay World, in line with its popularity as the Venice of the East, Melaka offered a large variety of merchandise including spices, silk and porcelain. Traders from Arab, china, India and the Malay Archipelago bargained and sold their merchandise and obtained large profits. The excellent administration and badling of trading activities according to Islaomic phlisophy and eastern values made this city the centre of attraction to many traders from the East and the West.
THE MANAGEMENT OF TRADE IN MELAKA PORT
Foreign sea captains arriving in Malacca reported to the Syahbandar (harbour master). Through him, conscent of the Bendahara and the Sultan were procuted. Gifts were presented. The trading rights, docking facilities and warehouse provisions were assigned. A 6% tax advalorem was imposed to the larger ships originating from Coromandel which tonnage reached 12 to 15 thousand cruzados. An ad hoc assessment committee was appointed to determine the value of taxes. It was aimed to safeguard the interest of Malacca and the welfare of the traders. A group of Melaka merchants would bargain for the price of the goods with sea captains or their representative. The goods were subsequently distributed and marketed at the port, bazaar, stall or a number of booths set along the bridge across the Malacca River. The bussiest seasons for trading in Melaka would be between the month of December and March when the ships from West Asia and East Asia arrived. Junks, boats and ships from Java and the Spice Island traded during the months of May to September. The navy under the command of the Laksamana consisting of the natives and the Orang Laut manned the waters. The Melaka ruler had absolute power to promulgate and discharge the trading system. Thousand of Arab Persian, Gujeratis, and others traded here. 84 languages were spoken in Melaka.
THE BARTER TRADE
The barter trade has been used since time in memorial. The mode of exchanging certain amounts. The commodities of one party for a certain amount of items believed to be of equal value belonging to another party was also practiced in Melaka.
The Malay and foreign merchants carried out barter trade with the indigenious people such as the Jakun, Semang and Senoi. Forest products such as resin, rattan, sandalwood, medicival roots and the like were exchanged for pottery, utensils, salt, tobacco and others brought by the local and foreign traders. Markets were meeting places where goods charge bands. Foreign merchants who traded in Melaka also practiced barrier trade. However this system became less popular following the introduction of the currency system in Melaka.
THE PROSPERITY OF MALACCA TRADE
The 15 and early 16th centuries were the golden era for trade in Melaka. The harbour and the importance of its trading network were well reputed elsewhere including Europe. Melaka was the floating marked with an international image from its trading merchandise to the merchants involved. 84 languanges were spoken here. 4 Syahbandar were representing the interests of foreign traders were appointed. More than 2000 vessels of all shapes and sizes could be accommodated at the harbour. Arab Persian, Indian, Chinese, Ryukuyan, Filiphines and Siamese merchants traded here. Arab Persian traders sold perfumes, glassware, carpets, medicine and others. From China, items made of copper, tea, silk and porcelain were brought here. The Indian merchants brought various embroidery and opium. From Burma, jewellery including precious stones, jade and others were transacted. The Siamese supplied rice, liquor and dried fish. Rice, spices, clove, nutmeg, sandalwood, gold camphor and others were brought in from Java, Sumatera the spices island and Brunei. From Melaka and Peninsular, ivory, rattan and the link were transacted. The average annual volume of trade reached 2 million cruzados, while 50,000 cruzados were contributed to the Melaka coffer in the form of taxation. Barter trade and currencies were used. The maritime laws of Melaka were promulgated to regulate trade and shipping.
ELIMINATION OF PIRACY
Sea piracy was an activity that established itself around strategical points all over the world to prey upon ships that happened to sail alone. South East Asia too experienced piratical activities. Sometimes those pirates set about to trail and attack merchant ships at the most vantage points or go on rampaging spree on some coastal small towns. There were many infamous pirates South East Asia even during the Srivijaya and Majapahit area. Even a Chinese pirates stationed himself around Palembang during early 15th century.
The Sulu Seas, Riau, Lingga, Karimun Islands vicinity and Pulau Sembilan areas were quite notorious areas at one time or another. If the sea routes did not guarantee smooth sailing and the sea passages of the merchants ships were hindered by universally elements or pirates, then the trade activities would be affected that would eventually lead to the runous state of the Kingdom. So the empires and the Kingdoms around this area ensured the safety of the passages that the merchants could trade in peace.
The Sultans of Malacca too took stern action against the pirates who disturbes the sea trade routes to Malacca. They had the services of Orang Laut (Straits Fisher Folks) to help navigate the Malacca naval forces in search of the hide out of the pirates or seek out the pirates to ensure the arrival of the foreign merchants and continual commercial activities.
SYAHBANDAR AND THE MALACCA TRADE
The institution of Syahbandar was established in the Malay world since the pre Melaka era. This official was one of the most important posts promulgated in the Melaka legal codes. The Syahbandar drafted trading regulations in Melaka. He acted as the intermediary action between the foreign merchants and the Melaka authorities. At the height of Melaka’s trade activity, 4 Syahbandar were assigned to regulate commerce comprising various nations. The natives and foreign merchants held this appoinments. The effectiveness of this institution led to its prominent to its continuously even after 1511, when foreign powers ruled Melaka. Among the duties of Syahbandar are:
- Verifying and granting the permissions and trade with the consent of the Bendahara
- Controlling the stapping system and its organization
- Standardizing and implememting tax collection
- Ensuring that transactions were discharged in accordance with regulations and current needs.
- Handling the matters of orphants, ship captains and markets
- Upholding the safety and regulations for storage of goods in the warehouse and
lodgings
- Calibrating weight and scale
- Controlling the value and supervising currency exchange
- Ensuring the welfare and interest of merchants
TRADING ACTIVITY IN MALACCA
Malacca was the centre for collection and distribution of spices from Banda and Maluku. And market for various textiles from Gujerat, Coromandel, Malabar, Bengal. Commodities from East Africa, West Africa, China and Ryukuyu especially silk and porcelain were traded. The Melaka Sultanate provided the appropriate facilities such as warehouse and bazaar to facilitate transactions. The position of Syahbandar was created, while the Maritime Laws of Malacca were to formulated safeguards shipping. The preferential tariff system was introduced in Malacca whereby all goods except food that were brought in were subjected to a certain amount of taxes the ruler, dignitaries and native merchants were actively involed in the trading system.
FIRST BUGIS ATTACK ON MALACCA
Malacca faced another attack when the Prince of Mengkasar, Keraing Semerluki, set out to seek fortune. Mengkasar was located in the island of Makasar (Celebis), the land of Bugis, the sea-fares. Semerluki, gathering his naval forces of 200 ships of various types, directed his attack first against the coastal areas of Jawa and ravaged them. As he proceeded north, he reached Ujung Tanah (southern Peninsular) and plundered the coastal districts which were part of Malacca then. Sultan Mansur Shah ordered his admiral, Hang Tuah, to oppose them and Hang Tuah with his fleet, set out to meet Semerluki’s forces.
Bombardment of arrows and clashing ships killed many on both sides. When Hang Tuah closed in on the ship commanded by Semerluki hurled a grapre at Hang Tuahs ship and started to wind in Hang Tuah cut away the rope and eluded a potentially dangerous situation.
Semerluki, of losing many ships, pulled away towards the north. Hang Tuah did not chase the withdrawing Semerluki instead waited for them to return. When Semerluki, after another defeat at Pasai, return on his way to Mengkasar, Hang Tuah pounced upon and inflicted a heavy toll on Semerluki naval forces. Semerluki on his Bugis forces never disturbed Malacca again until a few centuries later and the Malacca Sultanate never faced another naval attack until 1511.
