#Thomas Stamford Raffles (person)

[southeastasianarchaeology]

[Podcast] Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore and London Zoo

via BBC Sounds, 08 August 2023: Featuring the life and times of Singapore's founder, Stamford Raffles and his time in Indonesia and (this is new to me) subsequent founding on the London Zoo.

via BBC Sounds, 08 August 2023: Featuring the life and times of Singapore’s founder, Stamford Raffles and his time in Indonesia and (this is new to me) subsequent founding on the London Zoo. It’s a famous name – there’s Raffles Hotel and Raffles Hospital, plus the rafflesia, the largest flowering plant in the world, an ant, a butterflyfish and a woodpecker, as well as the Raffles Cup, a horse…

[microcosme11]

Visit to Napoleon at Longwood House, May 1816. This was written by Stamford Raffles’ aide-de-camp, Thomas Travers:

“On our landing [at St. Helena] we were most kindly received by the Admiral, Sir George Cockburn, who requested us to call at the town-major's and peruse the garrison orders, to which he directed our particular attention. After which we paid our respects to the Governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, who invited us to dinner, and promised to send horses for us. We then solicited permission to visit Buonaparte, which was granted, on condition that during our interview we were not to address him as Emperor, but simply as General, and in the event of our being received by Buonaparte with his hat on, we were not to continue in conversation uncovered; to all which we willingly assented, and after passing a very pleasant evening at the Government house, we commenced our journey to visit Buonaparte immediately after breakfast in the morning. Our first object was to see Marshal Bertrand, whom we found in a miserably poor habitation, together with his charming Countess. The Marshal received us with the easy air of a well-bred gentleman, and the Countess with great affability and good humour, contrasting her present abode with that which she lately occupied in France.

The Marshal seemed to feel anxious that we should not be disappointed in the object of our visit, but expressed some fears, in consequence of his royal master having signified his intention not to receive any visitors for some days; he, however, kindly offered us letters to Count Las Casas, entreating him to use every exertion to obtain an interview for us. With this letter we proceeded to Longwood, and were most kindly and politely received by Count Las Casas, with whom we enjoyed some very agreeable conversation.

On our informing him that we were to leave the Island in the evening, he seemed anxious that his royal master should see us, and he left us for a short time, and on returning informed us that the Emperor would dress in an hour, and although he could not say for a certainty, yet he hoped, and thought, he would see us. With this we took our leave and went to Dead Wood, about a mile distant, where the 53rd regiment were stationed. Whilst we were taking refreshment with Colonel Mansel, Mr. Raffles received a note from Count Las Casas, saying that the Emperor would see us, and we accordingly returned to Longwood; where, before being introduced, we found this once great man in earnest conversation with Countess Bertrand, who was walking with him in the garden; General Gourgaud preceded, Marshal Bertrand, Count Las Casas, Captain Poniatowsky, and a page followed, all uncovered. On our arrival being announced, we were quickly informed that the Emperor would receive us in the garden; and Count Las Casas added, that although it had been the Emperor's intention not to see any person for some days, yet on being told that it was Mr. Raffles, late Governor of Java, who wished the interview, he immediately consented to see us.

On our approaching, Napoleon turned quickly round to receive us, and taking off his hat, put it under his arm. His reception was not only not dignified or graceful, but absolutely vulgar and authoritative. He put a series of questions to Mr. Raffles in such quick succession, as to render it impossible to reply to one before another was put. His first request was to have Mr. Raffles' name pronounced distinctly. He then asked him in what country he was born? how long he had been in India? whether he had accompanied the expedition against the Island of Java? who commanded? and on being told Sir Samuel Achmuty, he seemed to recollect his name, and made some observations to Las Casas respecting him. He was particular in asking the extent of force, and the regiments employed, and then enquired if Mr. Raffles delivered up the Island to the Dutch, or was relieved by another Governor. He appeared to be acquainted with the value and importance of the Island, but put some strange questions to Mr. Raffles, such as how the King of Java conducted himself. On Mr. Raffles explaining, he seemed most attentive, and then asked whether the spice plantations at Amboyna were doing well, and whether the Spice Islands were to be also restored to the Dutch. He then asked the name of the ship in which we were going home, with what cargo laden, and which was best, Bourbon or Java coffee; all these questions were put with great rapidity, and before replied to he turned round to Captain Garnham and myself, asked our names, and what service we had seen; whether we were ever wounded , or were ever taken prisoners; how long we had been in India, and several other similar questions. He then again addressed himself to Mr. Raffles, and seemed interested with his remarks on Java. He conversed with Sir Thomas Sevestre, and put similar questions to him with those he had put to Garnham and myself. On his making a slight inclination of the head, we prepared to take our leave, and on our making our bow we parted, Napoleon continuing his walk, and we returning to the house. During the whole time of our interview, as Napoleon remained uncovered, common politeness obliged us to keep our hats in our hands; and at no time was it found necessary to give him any title, either of General or Emperor.

Las Casas returned with us to the house, where a cold collation was prepared. He was most polite and attentive, and seemed much pleased with Mr. Raffles, with whom he conversed most freely. Of Napoleon he spoke in terms of the highest possible praise, and seemed to lament most bitterly his present situation.”

[kubernarayan]

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A post shared by Kuber Kabadi (@kuberkabadi1)

#singaporediaries #episode1. ... We come from a place where showing neatness is considered to be a show, a drama just to impress folks around, coupled with an ego of an ownership conscious citizen who believes in blaming the government and a change in the dynamics of politics for our country not being in an order and in subsequent chaos... As soon as i entered Singapore, its not the neatness that hit me first, no. It were the mannerisms and the weight people carried along with their personality. Their faith in discipline which they follow very religiously, I am sure that this is the singapore that Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles dreamt of building. This a video of me entering singapore after me and my family exited from the airport. Marvelous.. isnt it??? #singapore #traveldiaries #kuberinsingapore #natgeotravel #travelersnotebook #travelblogger #roads #sirthomasstamfordraffles #dream #architecture #culture #journey #indian #india #indianblogger #proudindian.

[indische-party]

Kebaya Encim as the Phenomenon of Mimicry in East Indies Dutch Colonial’s Culture

From 1872 until 1920 Dutch women also wore kebaya and batik sarong in their house because the clothes were very comfortable to use in the hot and humid tropical region. To differentiate their position as the highest class in the colonial hierarchy, they wore kebaya made from luxury fabric and batik sarong, which designs was derived from European style in soft colors. On February 10, 1910 the colonial government issued a regulation for the Tionghoa Peranakan: “Wet op het Nederlandsch Onderdaanschap” (Act on Dutch nationality), on gelijkgesteld which means 'equalization'. This equalization led the rich Tionghoa Peranakan women to wear kebaya and batik sarong similar to the Dutch women's. First they imitated the Dutch kebaya made of white cotton decorated with white lace. After a while they began to modify their Dutch kebaya to white kebaya kerancang 3)

In 1872 colonial government applied that concept through the ordinance that required every residents to wear their ethnic clothes in public (Achjadi, Judi Knight, and Asmoro Damais, 2005: 29). The reason is that clothing is the most obvious marker of many outward appearances used to differentiate one person from the others, and in turn can identify someone of a specific group (van Dijk, 2005: 57-58).

The main purpose was to prohibit other ethnic groups from using Western clothes. Undeniably that the rule was created to support the racist apartheid system which divided the population and to establish social stratification based on ethnicity: the Netherlands at the highest position, the Chinese and the Far Eastern nations at the middle position, and the natives of Indonesia at the lowest position (Onghokham, 2005: 4).

However, since the 18th century they were wearing long kebaya and batik sarong at home, and wearing European’s gown as they were visiting the senior official’s wife or attending a mass in church (Jean Gelmar Taylor, 2009: 59, 111, 114). At the early 19th century when the Dutch East Indies was controlled by the British Empire under the reign of Governor Thomas Stamford Raffles, there were attempts to westernize the Dutch and Indo Belanda women. Kebaya and batik sarong were considered not decent to wear, because they looked like underwear. Kebaya was considered as a chemise, and batik sarong as a petticoat. Therefore, they recommended those women to wear again the European’s gown to restore the European’s dignity (id et 175). However, following the end of British government at the Dutch East Indies, the Dutch and Indo Belanda women wore again kebaya and batik sarong, even the first class ladies wore it (id et 209). Certainly the main reason for wearing these clothes was because they were more convenient to use in the humid, hot tropical country than the European gowns. However, this was often regarded as something degrading, so that differentiation had to be made through the selection of fabrics that were more expensive (white fabric as voile, paris, batist, and antekres imported from Europe); and decorated by lace from Europe and some luxuries (decorative breastpin strung with gold chain). As for the batik sarong, they created their own designs (patterns) derived from European’s style such as bouquet of flowers, butterflies, birds, or a character from European’s fairy tale as Snow White. These batik sarongs were different from traditional Javanese batik, which tended to be dark brown, as they had soft pastel colors from synthetic dyes. Subtle differences were used to distinguish their position as first-class citizens.