An Illustrated Guide to the Federated Malay States – Cuthbert Woodville Harrison (1920)

S$525.00

An Illustrated Guide to the Federated Malay States – Cuthbert Woodville Harrison (1920)

S$525.00

Title: An Illustrated Guide to the Federated Malay States

Author: Cuthbert Woodville Harrison, H. C. Barnard (illus)

Publisher: The Malay States Information Agency, 1920. Third impression, 4000 copies.

Condition: Hardcover, no dust jacket. Very good. With a plastic sleeve. Slight soiling to covers. Binding tight, text clean. With 7 colour plates and numerous black and white photographic plates. A large foldout map in back insert, dated 1919, in good condition but with two small closed tears at folds. 356pp., including catalogue, app 6″ x 4″. Scarce.

This is one of the most detailed, specific, and interesting guidebooks ever written on the the Federated Malay States. The author takes you on a tour beginning at Penang, down through the West of Peninsula Malaysia and along the North-South train route, which is still the same route taken by the KTM today. He stops at various train stops along the way, such as at Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, and explains various places of interest either within the cities or within driving distance. During the trip he gives an account of these places of interest, along with the culture, scenery, industry and other noteworthy observations, and finally ends his journey in Malacca. It is still possible to follow his route today, and to compare how each locale has changed over the course of a century.

This travel guide also explains, in great detail, timetables and routes, as well as how much a traveller in the 1920s can expect to pay for. There is a brief history of the Malaya at the beginning, which mentions Singapore, as well as chapters on topics such as hunting and shooting in the jungles, driving advice, and an introduction to “strange” things like durians and sarongs.