Captain Alexander Hamilton was a Scottish sailor, privateer and merchant who spent his time in the East Indies from 1688 to 1723 and who visited Johor in the early 18th century. He traded and travelled by sea and land to most of the countries and islands of commerce and navigation between the Cape of Good Hope and Japan. He wrote a book entitled, A new account of the East Indies[1] published in Edinburgh in 1727, which was a collection of his observations and remarks. In this book, he described his travels and observations of various countries and islands in Asia and Africa, including Johor. It was ostensibly to promote a better understanding of the traditions and customs of the indigenous inhabitants of these areas. He also described the harbours and rivers that he encountered.
According to his book, he arrived in Johor in 1718, after sailing from Malacca. He met with the Sultan of Johor, Abdul Jalil Shah IV, who welcomed him and gave him permission to trade in his dominions. Hamilton praised the Sultan as a “wise and just prince” who treated his subjects well and maintained good relations with other nations. He also described the city of Johor as a “large and populous” place, with a “fine river” and a “strong fort”. He noted that the people of Johor were mostly Muslims, but there were also some Hindus, Chinese, and Portuguese. He observed their customs, religion, dress, food, and language. He also mentioned some historical events that happened in Johor, such as the Portuguese invasion in 1511, the Dutch alliance in 1606, and the Bugis rebellion in 1717.
Hamilton stayed in Johor for about two months, during which he traded some goods and made some friends. He then left for Borneo, where he continued his adventures. He later returned to Scotland, where he settled down and wrote his book. His book is considered one of the most valuable sources of information about the East Indies in the early 18th century, as it provides a detailed and vivid account of the places and people he encountered. His book is also one of the earliest records of Johor’s history and culture from a European perspective.
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This article was written by Roy Tan.