Context (Amendments / updates)
Although this item does seem to be Skeat I 428, the catalogue differs from the card slightly in giving the length as 24.0" .
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Acquisition Details)
The 14th Annual Report (1899) noted that 'Mr Walter W. Skeat, M.A., District Magistrate of Larut, Selangor, Perak, has presented his extensive collection of Malay and Sakei weapons, implements, costumes, models, etc., comprising over a thousand specimens. This collection, the result of many years residence in the country, fills a considerable gap in the Museum series, and is the more valuable as many of the objects it embraces are actually no longer in use among the people, or are being rapidly displaced by European goods. By Grace, 10 February, 1898, Reporter, p. 486, the thanks of the University were offered to the donor for this most valuable gift.
The cost of packing and conveyance to Singapore was defrayed by the donor; while his father, Professor Skeat, generously paid the expenses of transit from Singapore to Cambridge; so that the collection was received by the University free of cost'.

Listed in the 14th Annual Report (1899) 'Appendix II Skeat Collection./This collection was formed by the donor, Mr Walter W. Skeat, M.A., District Magistrate of Larut, Perak, in the Kuala Langat District of Selangor in the years 1896 and 1897'.
Event Date 1899
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Context (Related Documents)
In the 14th Annual Report, Appendix II entitled "Skeat Collection", the object was given No. 428, under "7. Means of locomotion/All the objects included in this section are models." The object was described, "A Borak. Model boat with two masts and rudder. Carries square dandan over the bluff bows and stern, a large deck-house aft, and a man's bust as figure-head. Length 24"."
Event Date 1899
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Description (Physical description)
A Borak. Model boat with two masts and rudder. Carries square dandan over the bluff bows and stern, a large deck-house aft, and a man's bust as figure-head.
Event Date 16/1/1987
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
Boat and sail reassembled for photography with the assistance of Professor Maznah Mohamad, Head of the Department of Malay Studies, National University of Singapore. However, not all items were firmly identified and their positions on the model may not be accurate.

Decorations of motifs of Mountain Meru, also called "bamboo shoots" or "hanging bat elbows", are seen on both side boards with a floral motif in the rear dedan. The front panels of the deckhouse are decorated with motifs of rolling-clouds
Event Date 17/11/2023
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
A model boat (.1) of Borak. With two rectangular sails and masts (fore .2, main .3) and mast holders. The fore mast holder (.4) has a point on the base, which fits in the hole in the hull; the main mast holder (.5) is pieced to fit the spike in the hull. Decorations of motifs of Mountain Meru, also called "bamboo shoots" or "hanging bat elbows", are seen on both side boards. The railings at the prow and the stern have four-petal decorations, with pyro-work details. Decorations of two rolling-cloud motifs are carved into the front panels of the deckhouse. Figurehead of a human on the prow, with eyebrows, eyes carved out and filled with black ink or paint. Black hair. A square slot on the back of the figurehead. A rectangular hole on the deck board at the stern. Missing deck boards in front of and at the back of the deckhouse.

The boat model comes with three short angular sweeps or oars, the blade and shaft pinned together (.6-8), a fourth shorter sweep in the same style (.9), and two sweep handles, with missing blades- one long (.10), and one short (.11). No sweeps and handles are attached to the boat. Potentially missing at least one sweep, and the handles may belong to sweeps on other boats

One deck board near the deckhouse (.12) can be detached. The right panel at the back of the deckhouse (.13) can be detached.


Event Date 17/11/2023
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Description (Labels & Markings)
Hand-written "BORAK/(PAHANG)" in pencil on starboard prow
Event Date 17/11/2023
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Description (Labels & Markings)
Printed number '31F' pasted to object. These were the numbers supplied to Skeat by von Hügel as noted in the Skeat correspondence.
Event Date 17/11/2023
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu

Description (Labels & Markings)
Paper label "428/Borak" written in pencil pasted to starboard bow.
Event Date 17/11/2023
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu