Several centuries ago, the merchants from the Persian Gulf had been aware of the existence of the Seychelles archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. In 1609, an expedition sent by the East India Company landed at the uninhabited Seychelles archipelago, which became the first human landing at Seychelles in recorded history. French explorer Lazare Picault traversed the archipelago twice in 1742 and 1744, and the archipelago was officially incorporated into French territory in 1756. Originally named Séchelles by the French, the archipelago was renamed Seychelles by the British later. After the end of the Seven Years’ War between Britain and France, Seychelles surrendered to Britain in 1810, and it was ceded to Britain in 1814 by the Treaty of Paris.
Back to the story of Sultan Abdullah, now Prince Abdullah. After leaving Seychelles, his two daughters recalled the years they spent there and mentioned that their father lives by the seaside on Mahe Island where a “French music band” delivers performance in public every Tuesday. Had Prince Abdullah ever watched the performance during his exile, or did he hear the moonlight-related “melody” from the sailors or the island residents who hummed it?
Raja Chulan ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdullah Muhammad Shah II Habibullah KBE (1869-1933), a son of Prince Abdullah, visited his father in Seychelles some year after 1885. He might also serendipitously hear the “melody” that his sisters mentioned previously. In 1902, Raja Chulan accompanied Sultan Idris (the then Sultan of Perak) to attend the coronation of Edward VII in Britain. Raja Chulan was reportedly asked the question as to whether there is a “state anthem” of Perak to be played as Sultan Idris enters the venue. Raja Chulan immediately hummed the “melody” he heard in Seychelles when he was young. This melody became the state anthem of Perak thenceforth.