I was in Cardiff for my postgraduate studies in 1995-96. At that time 19th century Sejarah Melayu and Hikayat Hang Tuah manuscripts were part of the collection of the University of Wales branch at Lampeter, which is about 73 miles away from the University's Cardiff campus. These manuscripts are rare as there are probably 20 to 30 of its kind still in existence around the world.
Fast forward to May 2017, a Welsh coracle fisherman named Andrew Davies found an 18th century sword while netting for fish along the River Towy near the town of Carmarthen. He said the sword would have probably got stuck to his net around the area between Carmarthen Bridge (A484) and Pont Lesneven Bridge (A40) near the B&Q DIY outlet. Carmarthen (Welsh: Caerfyrddin) (“Merlin’s Fort”) has been long associated with the Arthurian and Excalibur legend.
The 3ft sword was initially thought to be of Roman origin. A closer examination by the Carmarthenshire Museum concluded that it originated from the Southeast Asia. See photographs of the sword:
The Museum's curator, Gavin Evans, said it could have belonged to a sailor who had been travelling around the world. See news articles:
- 18th century Asian sword found on a Welsh riverbed
- 18th Century sword found in riverbed
- 18th century Asian sword discovered in Welsh river
- Boatman discovers an 18th century Asian sword in a Welsh RIVER
From its description and pictures circulated over the internet, I believe that it is a sundang sword (a.k.a. keris sundang) which is a traditional weapon for the Bugis and Suluk (Tausūg) people of the Malay archipelago. See map of the Malay archipelago:
I believe that the keris sundang may have some connection with the Malay manuscripts at Lampeter. My suspicion is based on the following:
1) the proximity between Carmarthen and Lampeter (23 miles). See picture of the University's main bulding at Lampeter:
2) the fact that there was a port along River Towy just before the Carmarthen Bridge (A484) that served as an inland port for ships coming from the Bristol Channel. See a painting of Carmarthen’s river port (c. 1840):
3) the fact that a keris sundang would have been a weapon of tradition for Hang Tuah. This is so as according to the Sejarah Melayu, Hang Tuah, whose real name was Daeng Mempawah, hailed from the Buginese district of Bajeng, in Gowa, Makassar. As a collector, Phillips must have known that a keris sundang would be true to Hang Tuah's Buginese ethnicity. It would have been part of his memorabilia connected to the two Malay manuscripts at Lampeter i.e. all related to the character of Hang Tuah, the Malay equivalent to Sir Galahad of the Arthurian legend.
It appears that the two Malay manuscripts were part of the 22,000 manuscripts and rare books donated by Thomas Phillips to St David's College at Lampeter (now University of Wales Trinity St David). Phillips also donated about 7,000 of his rare books to Llandovery College which is about 28 miles Northeast of Carmarthen. See portrait of Thomas Phillips:
Thomas Phillips (1760-1851) was an East India Company's surgeon. He spent most of his military career in India. He was a pupil of John Hunter (1728-1793), the founder of 'scientific surgery'.
According to his biography by Morgan-Guy (2010), Phillips was born in London but bred in Radnorshire, Wales. In 1817, Phillips retired a wealthy man and returned to London where he invested his money in a sugar plantation on the island of St Vincent for £40 000 (£3.3m at current rate of inflation). With the profits, he amassed 'what can only be termed an obsession for the purchase and distribution of books on a massive scale’ (Walters, 1999).
A recent check with the University's list of manuscripts established that the Malay manuscripts are no longer in the University’s care and custody. It appears to have been sold to the British Library.
Checks with the British Library's website reveals more details on Phillips' Malay Manuscripts. The Sejarah Melayu manuscript was produced around 1830 by a scribe named Husain bin Ismail in Tanah Merah, Singapore. It was made by copying an older version of the Sejarah Melayu manuscript belonging to Sultan Abdul Rahman Muazzam Shah (1785-1832), the 17th Sultan of Johor, and the 1st Sultan of Riau-Lingga. Whilst the Hikayat Hang Tuah was produced in 1828.
From British Library's records, both manuscripts were purchased in London by Phillips around 1835 to 1842 and were donated to St David's College in 1842. Both manuscripts remained in Lampeter for 164 years before it was acquired by the British Library in 2006.
See Phillips' Sejarah Melayu manuscript of which digitized copy is now available at the following British Library’s site:
See Phillips' Hikayat Hang Tuah manuscript of which digitized copy is now available at the following British Library’s site:
According to Phillips' biography, 60 consignments of rare books and manuscripts began arriving in Lampeter in 1834 and continued until 1852, six months after Phillips’ death. The shipments were from London to the river port of Carmarthen. Upon arrival, the consignments would be carted the remaining 23 miles along rough roads to Lampeter. See Google map image showing the position of Carmarthen quay in relation to the two bridges.
Although there is no direct evidence by way of any cargo or ship’s manifest, I believe that the keris sundang was part of the 60 consignments from London to Lampeter via Carmarthen river port. Its final destination would have either been St David's or Llandovery College.
As to how it got into the river, I believe that the sealed crate or chest containing the keris sundang and perhaps other items may have fallen into the river during transportation or during unloading at the quay.
As to the actual origin of the keris sundang, we can only speculate that it was procured during the following events of Phillips’ life as established by his biography:
- In 1796, when he visited Penang on his return journey to India from Australia. It is possible that he could have procured it from Penang traders;
- In 1811, when he accompanied the British expeditionary force under Lord Minto which invaded and captured Java. Before departing for Java the fleet stopped in Penang and thereafter Malacca. Out of 30,000 troops, 1,200 of them fell ill and were ordered to be treated in Malacca. As a surgeon, Phillips could have been stationed in Malacca. The keris sundang may have been procured in Penang, Malacca or Java as it was widely used throughout the Malay archipelago;
- In 1817–1842 London i.e. during his career as a sugar plantation owner. Is it possible that the keris sundang formed part of other similar artifacts collected by Phillips during the same time he amassed his cache of manuscripts and rare books;
To me, it would have probably been in London. As it is a keris sundang, I believe that Phillips may have procured it at the same time he procured the Malay manuscripts i.e. around 1835 to 1842. All three items strongly relates to the legendary character of Hang Tuah. Furthermore, Europeans were unaware of the Hang Tuah’s epic until the manuscripts were circulated in Penang around 1810.
Phillips died in 1851 at the age of 91 and he was buried in the crypt of St Pancras church, London, next to his wife Althea Edwards. At his death, 50,000 books were found in his home. As he had no children, the books and perhaps other residuary movable items including the keris sundang were designated for distribution in accordance to his last will and testament. As the books and manuscripts made its way to Lampeter 6 months after his death, it possible that the benefeciaries of his will remained the same i.e. the recipients of his charitable donations during his lifetime. Specific to the keris sundang, it would have been part of the Malay manuscripts directly bequeathed or formed a residuary estate for the benefit of St David’s College (now University of Wales Trinity St David).
Note: This was my answer to a question posed in
Quora.com which was also referred to in the following news articles:
a) '
Historian sheds new light on sword found in river mystery', published by the South Wales Evening Post on 16.3.2019. Link:
b) 'Ancient weapon found in Wales, and it might be… a KERIS!?', published by Cilisos .my on 22.4.2019. Link:
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| South Wales Evening Post, 16.3.2019 |
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