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Perigi Raja, Malacca (10 July, 2005)
Perigi Raja (GPS: 2.19585, 102.25536) is a well at the foot of Bukit Cina in Malacca. It is located to the right of the entrance to the Poh San Teng Temple. It is believed that this is the oldest existing well in the country, and was dug by the orders of Sultan Mansur Shah (1458-1477), purportedly for his consort, the Princess Hang Li Poh. Thus, the well is also called the Hang Li Poh Well. However, there is no documented evidence suggesting that Puteri Hang Li Poh existed in Chinese imperial records, and there is great likelihood that she is not of royal blood.
After Malacca was overthrown by the Portuguese, the Sultan of Malacca fled to Johore, where he launched a counterattack by poisoning this well, resulting in the death of 200 Portuguese soldiers. History repeated itself in 1606 when the Dutch poisoned the well, and in 1628-1629, it was the turn of the Acheenese to do the same.
Realising the importance of this well, the Dutch built a wall around the well, complete with cannons and a guard post to protect it from sabotage. When Malacca was ceded to the British, the well was neglected and consequently fell into disrepair.
Interpretive plaque at Perigi Raja, Malacca (10 July, 2005)
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