Source: Sungai Batu 788 BC: The Great Kingdom of Kedah Tua
Aromatic, exotic and metallic were the product of Southeast Asia in ancient time. It was the motivation of West Asia traders to brave the Erythrean Sea (Hindi Ocean) since BC era as to obtain those precious stuff from Barus in Sumatera, crossing Malay Peninsula and reaching as far as Kauthara in Champa, better know as Na Thrang in Vietnam, and as well as down to the south to the Moluccas, the spice island.
Aromatic are those that could produce fragrance and incense like sandalwood, agarwood, camphor etc that were highly demanded by the palace and aristocrat of the west and east. Spices and herbs are also aromatic substance like clove, cassia, black pepper etc were not restricted for culinary but was the vital part of medicinal formulation and healthcare.
All those stuff like camphor, agarwood, sandalwood, clove, cassia, black pepper were native of Southeast Asia region.
For those foreign traders that manage to establish their 'cable' with Southeast Asia people, in order to secure their supply, they do not hesitate to create a horrible story as to prevent others to establish the contact. They create a story like the giant birds, snakes and cannabalism. With such cunning and deception, it implies that the resources could be monopolise by 'cartel'.
Exotic stuff like tortoise shell, hornbill and kingfisher feather, gems, pearls, horn, ivory etc were very much sought after by the traders. There were thousand and one exotic stuff could get from the land and sea. Those stuff could become an ornament, decorative item and might be for supertitious purpose too.
SQ Fatimi wrote that in ancient time, the Arabs likes the fruits from Southeast Asia since it has unique looks, varieties of taste and texture while it could retain the freshness even after gone thru a long journey. Indeed, as we knew that we can pluck our fruit while it half ripe and retain it freshness after fully ripen for quite sometime.
The third resources that attracted explorer and trader to our region was the metallic substance, metal such as gold, tin, iron etc. The Greek named our land as Aureus Chersonese while Suvarnabhumi in Sanskrit, was already a recognition. Those two names from a distinguished civilisation have referred our land as " the land of gold" can be considered as a manifestation of wealth that this region possesed.
Both names can be referred either Malay Peninsula or Sumatra and even now, both land still producing gold. According to Persian sources, they used to travel to Chih-tu to get the gold. Chih-tu is a well known kingdom in Malay Peninsula.
Other source said, the traders from West Asia came over to Kun-lun country to obtained the gold. Kun-lun was closely associated to the people of SeAsia. Dong Son drum maker from Indochina, was believed to get their tin from Peninsula as to make the bronze drum. Bronze is an alloy, a combination of copper and tin.
A monumental remains of ancient iron smelting site in Bujang Valley - Malay Peninsula,had open a new chapter in SeAsia archaeology where it has indicate a largest iron smelting site in the world if the quantity of tuyeres were taken into consederstion (tuyere is the clay funnel to pumping the air into the furnace).
Although iron ingot from Malay Peninsula was written in ancient text, but it was not popular commodity if compared to others. Hardly mentioned in historical subject. This has raised a question and one possible answer is that the iron trading was controlled by the Ruler and sold to certain traders. It could be a some kind of 'cartel'.
C&P
24 May 2026: 10.47 p.m
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