THE MARITIME COD ' 



OF THE V 



MALAYS. 



[The following Paper comprises a translation by Sir S. 

 Raffles of the more important passages of the Malacca Mari- 

 time Codes, interpolated with notes by the Translator. The 

 manner in which this valuable contribution came into the 

 Society's hands is sufficiently explained in a note which appears 

 at the end of the Miscellaneous Notices. The reprint of this 

 Translation, except for a few necessary corrections, appears in 

 the exact form of Sir S. Raffles' original Paper as printed in 

 the Malacca Weekly Register. A few foot notes under the 

 initials above referred to are appended in explanation of certain 

 obscure phrases.] 



In the following Sketch, which defines the Laws and 

 usages of the Malays at Sea, the Malacca Code has been select- 

 ed for the text, as well on account of the admitted superiority 

 of that once flourishing kingdom among the Malay states in 

 general, as from the circumstance of this Code having, with 

 some slight modifications, been adopted by several of the an- 

 cient and- powerful states on the Island of Celebes, and still 

 continuing in force among many of the Bugis and Macassar 

 Traders from that Island. The Bugis and Macassar states, 

 which are nations radically distinct from the Malays, possess a 

 Maritime Code of still greater antiquity, but in better times 

 they appear to have, in many instances, adopted the Sea Laws 

 of Malacca, nearly in the same manner as the Romans adopted 

 the celebrated Rhodian code. 



The Malacca code appears to have been compiled during 

 the reign of Sultan M ah mud Shah, the first ,.' Later ori^ 

 Malacca mentioned in the Malayan annals to h a \lie writes: — ■ 

 the Mahomedan faith. The circumstance is under- 

 faken place about the year of the Hajirah, cerresp" met with 

 the Christian Era 1296. — The origin of the MaUovery. It is 

 therefore, be considered as nearly coeval with £ though very 

 blishment of Islamism among the Malays, The a "me as one 

 the code is thus stated in the preamble, 



