Treasures of Indonesia’s cultural heritage:udVan der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscripts inudLeiden University Library

摘要

A large number of manuscripts in various Batak languages, collected by HermanudNeubronner Van der Tuuk during his stay in North Sumatra (1851 until mid-ud1857) is kept in Leiden University Library. The contents of the collectionudreflect not only Van der Tuuk’s own interests, but also the interest of DutchudBible Society who employed him. His main task was to provide materials forudthe instruction of Batak languages to protestant Christian missionaries.udTherefore, many manuscripts in the collection are connected with Batakudreligious practices and contain myths and stories with a religious meaning. AsudVan der Tuuk’s personal interest went far beyond religious matters, he alsoudcollected more general information on Batak culture and explanations of local customs that were useful to scholars of literature and of “adat-law” asudwell as to administrators. Following the death of the few scholars of Batakudlanguages, Van der Tuuk’s collection of Batak manuscript has long been leftudunattended. This paper discusses the relevance of this unique manuscriptudcollection for researchers in Indonesia and in the world at large. Specialudattention is paid to manuscripts in the presently endangered Dairi language