Accession No

Z 33746.1-8


Description

Wooden boat model of a single-masted Jong Batubara, with cloth sail and deck house and four sweeps/oars and bows running into a beak. The stern dandan has a decorative railing.


Place

Asia; Southeast Asia; Malaysia; Peninsular Malaysia; Selangor; Kuala Langat District


Period


Source

Skeat, Walter William [field collector and donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

Z 33746.1-8; Skeat I: 443; 31AI [printed Skeat number on object]; 17A [on catalogue card]


Cultural Affliation


Material

wood; cane; bamboo; cloth; cotton; metal


Local Term

Jong Batubara


Measurements

105mm x 480mm x 520mm


Events

Context (Amendments / updates)
Although this item appears to be Skeat I: 443, the measurements given on the catalogue card differ slightly from those given in the Printed Catalogue I, where the length is stated to be 20.5" .
Event Date
Author: maa


Context (Related Documents)
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 (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'.
Event Date 1899
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


Description (Physical description)
A Jong Batubara. Of slighter build than Z 33745 (A Skuchi): bows running into a beak and the stern dandan is provided with a railing. One mast, four sweeps.
Event Date 16/1/1987
Author: maa


Description (Labels & Markings)
Printed number '31I' pasted to object. These were the numbers supplied to Skeat by von Hugel as noted in the Skeat correspondence.
Event Date 15/11/2023
Author: rachel hand


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, but not all items were firmly identified and their positions on the model confirmed
Event Date 15/11/2023
Author: rachel hand


Description (Labels & Markings)
"JONG BATUBARA' written in pencil on the side near the prow.
An old paper label on the hull notes '443/ Jong Batubara'
Event Date 15/11/2023
Author: rachel hand


Description (Labels & Markings)
Old laid paper or parchment label with '37' written in faded ink, on top of the deckhouse . Unknown origin, possibly from the collector's notes
Event Date 15/11/2023
Author: rachel hand


Description (Physical description)
Wooden boat model of a single-masted Jong Batubara, with cloth sail and deck house. There are four sweeps or oar (2-4), three of which are still attached to the sides of the hull; a wooden cannon (.5) probably originally mounted on the prow, a rudder extension handle (.6) pierced with a rectangular hole for attachment; a possible steering paddle/rudder (.7) with two pins indicating previous fixings- this may belong to a differnt boat. A curved rectangular piece of wood (.8), which may sit on the top of the stern.

The prow resembles a stylised bird's head and is decorated with simplified curvilinear designs. The stern railings are decoratively pieced. The deckhouse has scalloped edges below the roof
Event Date 15/11/2023
Author: rachel hand


Context (Related Documents)
In the 14th Annual Report, Appendix II entitled "Skeat Collection", the object was given No. 443, under "7. Means of locomotion/All the objects included in this section are models." The object was described, "A Jong Batubara. Of slighter build than Z 33745 (A Skuchi): bows running into a beak and the stern dandan is provided with a railing. One mast, four sweeps."
Event Date 8/11/2023
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


FM:78346

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