Transcript and Translation to 22 January 1878 Agreement Signed by Sultan Jamal-ul-Azam of Sulu appointing Baron de Overbeck

This document is a territorial Transcript and Translation to 22 January Agreement  signed by Sultan Jamal-ul-Azam of Sulu appointing Baron de Overbeck as Dato Bendahara and Raja Sandakan written in Malay using the Jawi script.

Source image: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Concession_of_Sabah_%28Sulu%29_1878.jpg, document reference number CO 874/23 titled “Commission from the Sultan of Sulu appointing Baron de Overbeck Dato Bendahara and Raja of Sandakan.” from the National Archives of the UK Government.

Below is my own attempt on the transcripts and translation based on the image above:

Full transcript in Jawi and Rumi Malay, and English translation of the 22 January 1878 Agreement Signed by Sultan Jamal-ul-Azam of Sulu appointing Baron de Overbeck as Dato Bendahara and Raja Sandakan (Reference number CO 874/23 in the National Archives, United Kingdom).

Jawi (Arabic script based Malay) transcript:

كڤد سكلين بڠسا يڠاد^(؟) د اتس بومي دان كڤد بارڠسياڤ^(؟) يڠ اكن داتڠ ڤركارا يڠ ترسبوت د باوه اين بهواسڽ اداله كيت سري ڤادوك مولانا السلطان محمد جمال الاعظم ابن المرحوم سري ڤادوك السلطان محمد فضلٔ يڠ ممڤوڽأي كواس دان ڤرنته دالم نڬري سولوق سرة سكلين دايره تعلوقڽ بسرة دڠن سكلين داتؤ٢ دالم كراجأن كيت يڠ سده برهيمڤون برموافقة امڤوڽ تيته بهاواسڽ اداله كيت سده ڤاجقكن كڤد صحابت كيت يڠ كڤرچايأن دان ككاسيه كيت يڠبرنام^(؟) توان ڬستبس بارون دي اوبربق دان كڤد الفريد دينت اكوير دڠن سحڽ اكن تانه٢ دالم كراجأن كيت يأيت سمواڽ تانه٢ د سبله تيمور ڤنتي ڤولو بروني دري سوڠي ڤنداسن يڠ ترماسوق سكلين ججاهن٢ د تڤي ڤنتي سوڠي سيبوكو دان ڤسيسر ڤيتن دان سوڬوة دان بڠڬاي دان لابوق دان ساندكن دان چينابتاڠن دان مميڠ دان لاين٢ تانه دان ڤسيسر دكت تلوق دربل سمڤي د سوڠي سبوكو برسام٢ دڠن سكلين ڤولو٢ يڠترماسوق^(؟) دالمڽ ايت كارنا سبب درڤد حاصيل ڤجاكن يڠ تله تنتوكن. بهواسڽ اداله توان ڬستبس بارون دي اوبربق ايتوله منجادي كڤالا دان والي اتس كمڤني دالم ڤولو بورنيو مك سكارڠ اين كتاهويله اوليه سكلين اورڠ بهوا اداله كيت سري ڤدوك مولانا السلطان محمد جمال الاعظم ابن المرحوم سري ڤادوك السلطان محمد فضلٔ سلطان دالم نڬري سولوق تله منجاديكن مننتوكن توان ڬستبس بارون دي اوبربق يڠ ترسبوة ايتو داتؤ بنداهارا دان راج ساداكن دڠن سڤنوه٢ كواس هيدڤ دان ماتي د اتس سڬال اورڠ ايسي نڬري٢ ايت سرة د اتس سڬال ڤركارا٢ يڠ كيت ڤوڽ دان د اتس حاصيل نڬري٢ ايت دان اد بركواس اكن مڽيواكن تانه٢ ايت دان لاڬي اتس بند٢ يڠدالم^(؟) تانه دان اتس تومبوه٢هن دان بناتڠ٢ سرة بوله ڤول مڠاداكن حكم٢ دان ممبواة وڠ دان ممبواة دان مناروه سلدادو دان كڤل٢ ڤراڠ دان مڠاداكن چوكي اتس دڬاڠن دالم نڬري ايت دان اتس دڬاڠن لاين٢ بڠسا اسيڠ دان لاين٢ چوكي دان بيا اتس اورڠ٢ نڬري ايت سڤرت يڠ دفيكركنڽ ڤاتت دان هاروس برساما٢ دڠن سكلين كواس يڠ برڤاتوتن يڠ دلاكوكن اوله سكلين راج٢ يڠ ممرينته. مك كيت سده انڬراهي دان سراهكن سمواڽ ايت دڠن سوكا ريضا كيت سنديري مك انيله كيت مڽتاكن كڤد بڠسااسيڠ٢ يڠتله^(؟) كيت مڠاداكن ڤرجنجين صحابة برصحابة دڠن ڤرهوبوڠن دان كيت امڤوڽ تيته كڤد سكلين داتؤ٢ دان اورڠبسر٢ دان ڤمرينته٢ دان ڤڬاوي٢ يڠاد^(؟) منداڤت كواس درڤد كيت دالم ڤسيسر٢ يڠترسبوةv ايت هندقله اي منريما داتؤ بندهارا ايت سڤرة ڤڠهولو ڤمرنته اتس كراجأن يڠترسبوت^(؟) ايت دان منورة ڤرينتهڽ سڤرة كيت سنديري مك جكالو داتڠ سسواة ماشا^(؟) الله^(؟) ّٰﷲكأتسڽ دان اي برهنتي درڤد ڤكرجأنڽ منجادي داتؤ بندهارا مك كمڤني د اتس ججاهن٢ ايت بوله دڠن سڤاتوتڽ دالم جاوتن ايت مننتوكن ڬبرنور اكن منجادي ڬنتيڽ يأيت داتؤ بندهارا دان راج سندكن سرة ممڬڠ سكلين كواس يڠترسبوة ^(؟) د اتس اين يڠتله^(؟) داداكنڽ ايت دمكينله اداڽ.٠

ترمكتوب سورة كواس اين دالم نڬري سولك د استان سلطان محمد جمال الاعظم كڤد ١١ هاري بولن محرام سنه ١٢٩٥ يأيت كڤد 22 هاري بولن جنواري تاهن 1878.ا

محمد جمال الاعظم

Rumi (Romanised Malay) transcript:

Kepada sekelian bangsa yangada^(?) di atas bumi dan kepada barangsiapa^(?) yang akan datang perkara yang tersebut di bawah ini bahawasanya adalah kita Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm ibn al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Mhmd Fadl [Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam ibn al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Muhammad Fadl (Fadzlun/Palulan)] yang mempunyai kuasa dan perintah dalam Negeri Suluk serta sekelian daerah takluknya beserta dengan sekelian dato’2 [dato’-dato’] dalam kerajaan kita yang sudah berhimpun bermuafakat empunya titah bahawasanya adalah kita sudah pajakkan kepada sahabat kita yang kepercayaan dan kekasih kita yangbernama^(?) Tuan Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron von Overbeck] dan kepada Alfryd Dint Akuyr [Alfred Dent Esquire] dengan sahnya akan tanah2 [tanah-tanah] dalam kerajaan kita yaitu semuanya tanah2 [tanah-tanah] di sebelah timur pantai pulau Bruni [Borneo] dari Sungai Pndasn [Pandasan] yang termasuk sekelian jajahan2 [jajahan-jajahan] di tepi pantai Sybuku [Sebuku/Sibuco] dan pesisir Pytn [Paitan] dan Sugut dan Bnggai [Banggi/Banguey] dan Labuk dan Sandkn [Sandakan] dan Chynabtangn [Kinabatangan] dan Mming [Mumiang] dan lain2 [lain-lain] tanah dan pesisir dekat Teluk Drbl [Darvel] sampai di Sungai Pndasn [Pandasan] yang termasuk sekelian jajahan2 [jajahan-jajahan] di tepi pantai Sungai Sbuku [Sebuku/Sibuco] bersama2 [bersama-sama] dengan sekelian pulau2 [pulau-pulau] yangtermasuk^(?) dalamnya itu karena sebab daripada hasil pajakan yang telah tentukan. Bahawasanya adalah Tuan Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron von Overbeck] itulah menjadi kepala dan wali atas Kmpni dalam pulau Burniu [Borneo] maka sekarang ini ketahuilah oleh sekelian orang bahawa adalah kita Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm ibn al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Mhmd Fadl [Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam ibn al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Muhammad Fadl (Fadzlun/Palulan)] sultan dalam Negeri Suluk telah menjadikan dan menentukan Tuan Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron von Overbeck] yang tersebut itu Dato’ Bendahara dan Raja Sndakn [Sandakan] dengan sepenuh2 [sepenuh-penuh] kuasa hidup dan mati di atas segala orang isi negeri2 [negeri-negeri] itu serta di atas segala perkara2 [perkara -perkara] yang kita punya dan di atas hasil negeri2 [negeri-negeri] itu dan ada berkuasa akan menyewakan tanah2 [tanah-tanah] itu dan lagi atas benda2 [benda-benda] yangdalam^(?) tanah dan atas tumbuh2han [tumbuh-tumbuhan] dan binatang2 [binatang-binatang] serta boleh pula mengadakan hukum2 [hukum-hukum] dan membuat wang dan membuat dan menaruh soldadu [askar] dan kapal2 [kapal-kapal] perang dan mengadakan cukai atas dagangan dalam negeri itu dan atas dagangan lain2 [lain-lain] bangsa asing dan lain2 [lain-lain] cukai dan biaya atas orang2 [orang-orang] negeri itu seperti yang difikirkannya patut dan harus bersama2 [bersama-sama] dengan sekelian kuasa yang berpatutan yang dilakukan oleh sekelian raja2 [raja-raja] yang memerintah. Maka kita sudah anugerahi dan serahkan semuanya itu dengan suka redha kita sendiri maka inilah kita menyatakan kepada bangsaasing2 [bangsaasing-bangsaasing] yangtelah^(?) kita mengadakan perjanjian sahabat bersahabat dengan perhubungan dan kita empunya titah kepada sekelian dato’2 [dato’-dato’] dan orangbesar2 [orangbesar-orangbesar] dan pemerintah2 [pemerintah-pemerintah] dan pegawai2 [pegawai-pegawai] yangada^(?) mendapat kuasa daripada kita dalam pesisir2 [pesisir-pesisir] yangtersebut^(?) itu hendaklah ia menerima Dato’ Bendahara itu seperti penghulu pemerintah atas kerajaan yangtersebut^(?) itu dan menurut perintahnya seperti kita sendiri maka jikalau datang sesuatu maasha^(?) Allah^(?) keatasnya dan ia berhenti daripada pekerjaannya menjadi Dato’ Bendahara maka kmpny [Company] di atas jajahan2 [jajahan-jajahan] itu boleh dengan sepatutnya dalam jawatan itu menentukan gbrnur [governer] akan menjadi gantinya iaitu Dato’ Bendahara dan Raja Sndakn [Sandakan] serta memegang sekelian kuasa yangtersebut^(?) di atas ini yangtelah^(?) diadakannya itu demikianlah adanya.

Termaktub surat kuasa ini dalam Negeri Suluk di astana Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm [Sultan Muhammd Jamal al-Adzam] kepada 11 hari bulan Muharram sanah 1295 iaitu kepada 22 haribulan Januari tahun 1878.

Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm [Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam]

Witness to seal and signature
(Sgd.) W.H. TREACHER
H.B.M. Acting Consul General in Borneo

English Translation:

TTo all the races who are on Earth and to whose items that will come {to} {the} matter mentioned below this that is we His Majesty Mawlānā al-Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm son-of the deceased His Majesty al-Sultan al-Sultan Mhmd Fadl [Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam son of al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Muhammad Fadl (Fadzlun/Palulan)] who has power and command in the State {of} Suluk as well as all district(s) {under its} jurisdiction along with all the dato’s within our government that has gathered to agree that its owner commands that it is that we have ‘pajakkan’ (taxation/lease/cease) to friends we trust and love our friend that {is} trusted and our love is named Sir Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron de Overbeck] and to Alfryd Dint Akuyr [Alfred Dent Esquire] with legitimately will {the} lands in our government which are all lands on the east coast of Bruni [Borneo] island from Pndasn [Pandasan] River which includes all the colonies on the shores of Sybuku [Sebuku/Sibuco] River and the coast of Pytn [Paitan] and Sugut and Bnggai [Banggi/Banguey] and Labuk and Sandkn [Sandakan] and Chynabtangn [Kinabatangan] and Mming [Mumiang] and other lands and coasts near Drbl [Darvel] Bay until the Sungai Pndasn [Pandasan] yang termasuk sekelian jajahan2 [jajahan-jajahan] di tepi pantai Sybuku [Sebuku/Sibuco] River along with all the islands that is within them because due from ‘pajakan’ (tax/lease/cease) proceeds that has been determined. Stated as it is, Sir Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron von Overbeck] that has become the head and guardian of the Company in the island of Burniu [Borneo] hence at this moment (that) let be known by all people that it is us His Majesty Mawlānā al-Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm son-of the deceased His Majesty al-Sultan Mhmd Fadl [Seri Paduka Maulana al-Sultan Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam son of al-marhum Seri Paduka al-Sultan Muhammad Fadl (Fadzlun/Palulan)] sultan in the State of Suluk has made and decided that Sir Gstbs Barun Di Aubrbq [Gustavus Baron von Overbeck] who was mentioned the Dato’ Bendahara and the King {of} Sndakn [Sandakan] with complete power {of} life and death over all people within the states as well as on all the things that we have and on the products of those states and with power will rent out those lands and again on things that is within the land and on plants and animals as well as can also have laws and make money and make and place soldiers and warships and impose taxes on the trade within the state and on the trade of other foreign races and such other taxes and charges on the people of the state as he/she thinks fit and necessary together with all power that is appropriate to exercise by all kings whom are ruling. Hence, we have ‘anugerahi’ [award/bestow] and ‘serahkan’ [hand over / surrender] all that with our own pleasured sincerity hence this we state to the foreign races that have we made a treaty of friendship kinship with relationship and we the owners command to all dato’s and important people and rulers and officials that have received power from us within coasts aforementioned that shall receive Dato’ Bendahara as the chief ruler over the aforementioned government and according to his orders like our own hence if comes something [God Willing]^(?) upon him and he resigns from his job as Dato’ Bendahara {and} hence kmpny [{the} Company] in the above colonies can properly in that position determine the gbrnur [governer] who will be his successor, namely Dato’ Bendahara and Raja [King {of}] Sndakn [Sandakan] as well as hold all powers aforementioned above here that has held so be it as he has.

Enclosed in this procuration in the State of Suluk in the palace of Sultan Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm [Sultan Muhammd Jamal al-Adzam] on the 11th of Muharram year 1295 that is on the 22nd day of January 1878

Mhmd Jmal al-Adzm [Muhammad Jamal al-Adzam]

Witness to seal and signature
(Sgd.) W.H. TREACHER
H.B.M. Acting Consul General in Borneo