HISTORY ABOUT PENANG

Here are some notes and reflections on Penang early history which recorded by me through visit the Museum Pulau Pinang for further details.

THE OLD NAME OF PENANG

Penang was formerly know as Pulau Ka Satu.A sea cover by a name of Ragam named it Pulau Ka Satu a single island as it was the only large the related he come across to his trading trips between Lingga and Kedah. The name was retained until the coming of the British in 1786.

EARLY HISTORY OF PENANG AND SEBERANG PERAI

 

One of the early English trades who had 'found' Penang was Captain James Lancaster. His ship, the Edward Bonaventure was one of three English ships sent by Britain to the east in 1591. Based on this travel records, Capatain Lancaster found Penang after his stopover in Pulau Rimau in June 1593. Pulau Rimau is located to the south of Penang island. To him Penang seemed to be a desolate place. From archaeological evidence both Penang and Seberang Perai had already been inhabitrd since pre-historic times.

The first evidence were found in Guar Kepah, Seberang Perai in 1860. Based on mounds of sea shells with human skeletons, stone implements, broken ceramics and food leftovers inside, scholars believed the Gua Kepah settlement to be between 3,000-4,000 years old. Other stone implements found in various places on Penang island indicate the existence of Neolithic settlements since 5,000 years ago. Historically, Penang and Seberang Perai were originally a part of Kedah Sultanate. Long before its take over by the English East India Company, settlements had already been established on Penang Island.

The old registers of surveys issued in 1795 mentioned that Dotok Keramat had already been opened up since 1705 based on the existence of Malay settlements and an 18 acre cemetery in the area. Settlements were also opened up in Batu Uban, Sungai Kluang and other areas. Seberang Perai at the time of its take over by the East India Company in 1800 had already boasted a population of between two to three thousands.