Page:A dictionary of the Sunda language of Java.djvu/486

Rh Boja Nagara, the country about St. Nicholas Point, may have got that name from having been the „Subsistance of the land," which it implies, and affording the necessaries of life to the numerous foreign traders. Séngyang Para, literally „the Holy divinity's gateway," or, as it is called in English maps „Thawt the way," is a real gateway for navigators who came down the coast of Sumatra. Palo Rakata, which Europeans have transmogrified into „Cockatoa Island," may be a Polynesian way of pronouncing Rakta, C. 578, dyed, tinged, coloured, stained, red, of a red colour, blood-vermilion The island is now-a-days rather green than red, but it is high and peaked, and may in ancient times have been an active volcano, when it would merit the name of red, or colour of blood. The seat of trade, in course of time, was removed further into the Java Sea, and, before the arrival of Europeans, was established at Sunda kalapa = the Hidden depot, where subsequently the Dutch founded the present town of Batavia, but which the Chinese, to this day, call Kalapa, after its ancient designation. In Malay no two consonants come together, unless one of them be a liquid or a nasal (CRAWFURD's Malay Grammar, Dissertation, page 19), thus Rakata may be the Malay way of pronouncing Rakta. Sunda Kalapa, the old name of a place not far from where the town of Batavia now stands. The Chinese still call Batavia, Kalapa, after this original name, which has been preserved by this people, though forgotten by even the native inhabitants of the country. The supposed meaning of Sunda has been given above. Kalapa is secret, hidden, out of sight. Vide voce. And thus Sunda Kalapa may, in early times, have meant a secret place of deposit or a depot for the traders from continental India, to collect their goods and rendez-vous before leaving in a fleet, to proceed up the coast of Sumatra, and then cross the Bay of Bengal on their way home. The Sunda people have a tradition that Europeans first showed themselves at Nusa Kalapa, a small island lying off the mouth of the Chidani river, and thus a little to the westward of the present town of Batavia. This may have been at Onrust or one of the adjoining islands. See RAFFLES, vol. 1, page 23 of Introduction. It is rather remarkable that this spot, the mouth of the Chidani river, is still called „Untung Jawa" : the prosperity of Java. Sundal, a prostitute, a whore, a woman of bad fame. This word is occasionally used, though Lonté is more frequent. Chandala, C. 193 and 196, is most likely the etymon of the Sunda and Malay word Sundal. CLOUGH gives at page 193: Chandala is a kind of generic name for a man of the lowest caste, properly an outcast, a mean, low, vile fellow; a sort of mischievous demon-like wretch, one ready to execute any vile or mischievous act.

Sundal, name of a plant with pretty, sweet, white flower, much worn in women's hair. Polyanthcs Tuberosa, or tuberose. Called in Malay Sundal malam or Sédap malam. Sunděk, inconveniently low. A place which you have difficulty to pass under. Sunděk amat lawang na, that door is very inconveniently low (you cannot get in without knocking your head against the lintel).