VISITORS to Perak, travelling from Taiping to Kuala Sepetang, may have spotted a white building surrounded by a low brick wall as they pass through Matang. That is the Matang Museum, which chronicles the history of the Larut district, which dates to the 19th century with the discovery of tin ore. It is said that this district in the silver state - now officially known as Larut, Matang and Selama - got its name from an elephant.
Is this true?
Verdict:
TRUE
According to records found at the museum, Larut was the name of Long Jaafar’s pet elephant, a local chieftain in the 19th century.
On his journey from Lubok Merbau to Bukit Gantang, he stopped to rest in the area, when the pachyderm went missing.
Desperate to be reunited with his beloved pachyderm, Long Jaafar offered a handsome sum to the finder as a reward.
When the animal returned several days later, his owner noticed smudges on its legs that were later found to be tin ore.
That discovery transformed the area from a sleepy backwater into a mining powerhouse, forever changing its socioeconomic landscape.
Long Jaafar then travelled to Penang to learn more about mining and brought back Chinese workers to work at the mines.
Having grown rich thanks to the mineral business, he named the place after his elephant in honour of its contribution.
Tin ore was the economic lifeblood of Larut in the 19th century, bringing much prosperity, but also conflict to Perak.
After Long Jaafar’s death, his son Ngah Ibrahim took over the business and in 1855, built the now Matang Museum as his residence.
Ngah Ibrahim was eventually exiled to the Seychelles islands for taking part in a plot to kill the first British Resident of Perak, JWW Birch.
References:
1. Delving into cultural roots of north Perak
2. Orang Pertama Temui Bijih Timah Di Larut
5. Info Taiping
