Undang-Undang Laut Melaka ( Malay for 'Maritime laws of Melaka', Jawi : اوندڠ٢ لا ء وت ملاک ) was a legal code of Melaka Sultanate (1400–1511) that deals specifically on matters related to maritime laws and regulations, as well as nautical procedures concerning seafaring affairs of merchant vessels. It was composed by a group of Melakan shipowners, most of whom were Javanese in origin. The other important legal code of Melaka was the Undang-Undang Melaka ('laws of Melaka'), though it still contains certain provisions related to maritime laws, was sometime known as Undang-Undang Darat Melaka ('laws on the land of Melaka') instead. The clauses contained in the Undang-Undang Laut Melaka cover an extensive area, taking into account a wide variety of circumstances that could arise on a ship, with respect to social issues, such as slavery, adultery, murder, stealing, disrespecting an officer and negligence in carrying out duties; also, economic aspects such as tax and trade, including measurement of weight and area. The legal code also outlines a very well-structured organisation on ships, with titles of the officers are clearly specified complete with their responsibilities. In Melaka's court, matters related to the enforcement Undang-Undang Laut Melaka was placed under the authority of Laksamana ('admiral of the fleet').
11-432: The actual date when the legal code was drafted remains unknown. However, based on its manuscript, the promulgation of Undang-Undang Laut Melaka was the result of a meeting of a group of Melakan nakhodas ( sea captain ) during the reign of Muhammad Shah (1424–1444): First of all, Patih Harun and Patih Elias assembled Nakhoda Zainal, Nakhoda Dewa and Nakhoda Ishak, for the purpose of consulting and advising relative to
22-529: A Muttawa to lead prayers. The vessels ranged from the relatively small Banoosh to the 100-foot Jalboot, a corruption of the English term jollyboat. The trade was lucrative - at the turn of the 19th century, revenues from the Gulf pearl trade were estimated at some £1,434,000, with an additional £30,439 of this earned from mother-of-pearl . In the early 20th century, Lorimer recorded 1200 boats involved in
33-438: A day. The accumulated catch would be piled up and then in the early morning of the following day, the nakhuda would be responsible for overseeing the opening of the oysters, weighing and registering the catch of small pearls and selecting particularly fine pearls for individual sale. One nakhuda was assigned as the leader of the port's fleet for the 120-day season from June–September (this, longer season would often be preceded by
44-529: A shorter, 40-day season known as 'the cold dive' as the Spring Gulf waters would be cool at the time) and would take responsibility for co-ordinating efforts to help any boat in trouble. He would also lead the return voyage. Visiting the pearl banks during the season, the pearl dealers, tawwash , would buy the bulk catch from the nakhuda, sorting the pearls using grading pans. Nakhudas would seek individual sales for larger or outstanding pearls, taking them to
55-460: The laws of the sea be carried into effect at sea, in like manner as those of the land are carried into effect on land; and let them not interfere with each other; for you (addressing himself to the nakhodas ) are as rajas ('king') at sea, and I confer authority on you accordingly. According to Stamford Raffles , the clauses of Undang-Undang Laut Melaka which numbered up to 20, can be grouped into four distinctive chapters: Another position which
66-427: The prevailing winds, storm prediction and waves, sandbanks and corals. Clearly, the malim was the first person to give advice to the nakhoda about each voyage. The function of the juru mudi , who was the nakhoda's closest aide, was comparable to that of the bendahara ('prime minister'). The juru batu is said to have been the same status as the temenggung ('chief of public security'), this means that his role
77-552: The trade across the Trucial States, each carrying an average crew of 18. The nakhuda was responsible for selecting dive locations and for selling the catch, but the date of sailing to the oyster banks and the duration of the voyage would be set by the admiral of each port's pearling fleet. This official would be appointed by the Ruler. The actual work of pearling was dangerous and exhausting - divers would make up to 60 dives
88-609: The usages at sea, and of compiling, in conformity thereto, a code of Undang-Undang, or institutions. After they had consulted together, and collected the laws, they presented them to Datuk Bendahara , in the kingdom of Melaka, who laid them at the feet of the illustrious Muhammad Shah; whereupon the ruler said — I grant the request of the Bendahara, and establish these laws and institutions for your government and that of your posterity. When you administer these laws at sea, they shall not be afterwards interfered with on shore. Henceforth let
99-407: Was just as important as that of the nakhoda was that of the malim ( pilot ). It is rather difficult to find a comparative designation on the land, because most of his functions were maritime related. The position of malim is often compared to that of an imam (leader of prayer group) on a ship due to his sailing skills. He was the one who decides when to set sail because he is knowledgeable about
110-661: Was the captain of a pearling boat sailing in the Persian Gulf , typically from Kuwait , Bahrain , Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (then the Trucial States ). Arabian Pearling vessels would typically take to sea with the Nakhuda , assistant Mijadimi , a singer Nahham , some eight divers Ghais , and ten haulers Saib . The cook on the vessel was titled Jallas . Larger boats would even include
121-427: Was to keep the peace on the ship and act as a judge in any dispute. This corresponds to an excerpt of Undang-Undang Laut Melaka , "….to decide right and wrong". Undang-Undang Laut Melaka gives an example, a crewman ( awak-awak ) who refused to follow the orders of the tukang agong was punished by the juru batu by canning of up to seven strokes. Among other provisions in the clause are: Nakhuda A Nakhuda
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