Simon Soon
Tabek tuan tuan dan puan puan sekalian
Tabek dengan kata-kata hiasan
Di-atas peta di-tulis sa-buah karangan
Cheritakan hal Boria dan Bangsawan.
Kerana diminta memberi pengenalan
Sabuleh buleh sahya kerjakan
Jikalau salah tulong tunjok-kan
Inilah renchana yang dikarangkan.
Pulau Pinang zaman dhulu
Menjadi boria seratus tahun lalu
Banyak lah tumpat yang meniru
Di Pulau Pinang juga yang maju.
Bangsawan pula menjadi bharu
Di Pulau Pinang lima puloh tahun dhulu
Inilah sangat telah di maju
Serata alam negri malayu
Qissah darihal Boria dan Bangsawan
Buleh juga lagi luaskan
Dua puloh minute masak sempitan
Oleh itu biar Sahya tamatkan.
- Verses from Dr. Kamel Mohamed Ariff. 1932. 'Penang The Original Home of Boria' The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 29 April, p. 3. The opening verse is adapted to address this project but retains the spirit of Dr. Kamel's composition. English translation below:
Hail and welcome ladies and gentlemen
I greet you with these garlands of well-wishes
On this map I have an essay drawn
The tale concerns the Boria and the Bangsawan
Since an introduction has been requested
I shall endeavour the best that I can
If mistakes arise, please correct them
Here goes, the essay that I have composed.
On Penang Island, in the days of yore,
The Boria appeared a hundred years ago,
Its form grew to many other places,
But none can match Penang’s greatness.
The Bangsawan appeared more recently,
Around fifty years ago in Penang Island
It is now at the height of sophistication
Reaching all corners of the Malay world.
A lot more that can be said about
The story of the Boria and the Bangsawan
Twenty minutes on this subject might be tight
without further ado, I end my opening note.