In Court and Kampong Being Tales and Sketches of Native Life in the Malay Peninsula

Through a series of nineteen vivid sketches, this collection opens a window onto the Malay Peninsula at the turn of the nineteenth century. From the polished courts of local sultans to the humble kampongs that line rice‑filled valleys, the stories capture daily rhythms, market chatter, and the quiet resolve of fishermen on the shoreline.

The narrator, a long‑time resident of the region, blends personal observation with tales passed down by the people he lived among. His accounts reveal the tensions between traditional customs and the encroaching influence of foreign powers, while showing a genuine affection for the diverse characters—traders, peasants, and royalty alike. Listeners will hear the poetry of sunset over palm‑fringed hills and the subtle humor that underlies life in a world poised between old ways and inevitable change.