An Attempt to Elucidate the Principles of Malayan Orthography

William Robinson

Jan 1823 · Mission Press

About the author

William Robinson (1784-1853), a Baptist missionary, arrived in India in 1806 without the requisite permission of the Court of Directors of the East India Company. He managed to stay in Serampore, and between 1808-10 he made annual journeys to Bhutan in an unsuccessful attempt to establish a mission. In May 1813 he arrived with his wife and child in Java where he opened a school. By April 1814 he was able to conduct his first regular church service in Malay, and he began to learn Javanese. He remained in Java intil 1820 when he moved to Benkulen to assist the recently established Baptist mission. He translated into Malay various Christian tracts for printing, and he preached to the local Indonesian community. Unlike the other Baptist missionaries in Benkulen, he enjoyed Raffles' respect and, indeed, friendship. He subsequently returned to India where he worked as a missionary.