First published in 1928, this book us a very complete survey of the Malay Peninsula, its physical aspects, its history, laws government, and present day problems; while a large part of the book is devoted to a study of the Malay himself. Mr. Wheeler, who has travelled far and wide, has spent seven years in Malay, and the thorough research which has gone to the making of the book is backed up with personal experience and observation, with the result that the book is as readable as it sounds.
Part 1: Introductory 1. First impressions 2. Physical Features of Malaya 3. Political Part 2: Early Influences (Up to A.D 1874) 1. Ethnography (i) Races in the Peninsula (ii) Allied Races of the Malay Archipelago (iii) Language (iv) The Origin of the Malays (v) Physical Qualities of the Peninsular Malay 2. Early History: Up to AD. 1400 3. Malay Ascendancy: AD. 1400-1511 4. Malay Decline: AD. 1511-1874 (i) The Malay States (ii) Alien Invaders (European) (iii) Alien Invaders (Asiatic) (iv) Summary of the Period 5. Early Malay Beliefs and Character (i) Primitive Culture (ii) Islam and the Sultanate (iii) The Menangkabau Tradition: Malay Law Part 3: Recent Influences (From AD. 1874) 1. General Condition of the Malays at the Beginning of this Period (i) General Decadence (ii) Piracy (iii) The Chinese Invasion (iv) Larut 2. Early British Influence in the Peninsula (i) Before A.D. 1874 3. Influence in Recent Times of Other Races 4. Later Effects of British Influence (i) The Work of British Officals (ii) Prosperity of the Country (iii) Malay Affairs Part 4: Present Conditions 1. Land Policy 2. Education (i) General (ii) Malay Education in the Vernacular (iii) English Education (iv) Higher Education (v) Education for Girls 3. Special Opportunities for Malays 4. Contact with Europeans (i) The Old Traditions (ii) Present Familiarity 5. The Cinematograph 6. Asia and Modern Islam (i) The Changing Outlook (ii) The Religious Revival (iii) Racial Ideas 7. The Unfederated States (i) General (ii) Johore (iii) The Northern States (iv) Brunei Part 5: The Present Response 1. Malay ‘’Types’’ (i) The Peasant or ‘Rayat’ Class (ii) The Noble or ‘Raja’ Class (iii) The Growth of a Middle Class 2. General Characteristics Part 6: The Future of the Peninsular Malays 1. The necessity for a Sense of Proportion 2. The Clash of Ideas (i) Political (ii) Racial and National (iii) Religious; Islamic and Non-Islamic 3. Developments in Education (i) Malay Education (ii) English Education; Special Facilities for Malays; Certain Factors in the Curriculum (iii) Moral Education 4. Developments in General Culture (i) Preliminary (ii) Forces of Inertia (iii) The Position of Women (iv) The Development of Malay Industries; Handicrafts, Agriculture, Fisheries, Jungle Produce, Conclusion 5. Health and Racial Progress (i) Introductory (ii) A Dying Stock? (iii) Lack of Vitality (iv) Improvements: Present and Future (v) A Hopeful Outlook 6. Conclusions (i) Is it Worthwhile Fostering the Malays? (ii) Exploitation (iii) The Future of the Malays; The Population Factor; Dependence on British Co-operation (iv) Sundry Problems Common to Malaya and the Rest of the World; Natural Resources; Empty Spaces; Order of Anarchy, Peace and Prosperity, Capitalism, State Control (v) British Imperialism
Biography
L. Richmond Wheeler
