This is the Last Will and Testament of Munshi Abdullah, whose famous autobiography, the 'Hikayat Abdullah', was written in Singapore from 1840 to 1843. The 'hikayat' included his impressions of the early developments of the port here. This will was written a few days before he left for the 'haj' (pilgrimage) to Mecca in January 1854. He died suddenly at Jeddah in October 1854. The will shows that he owned property, a horse and carriage, fine brassware, elegant fittings and jewellery - revealing the affluent status of an internationally renowned author of the time.His will is part of the John Koh collection which comprises of various legal documents in Arabic, Jawi, and English, and serves as a record of the 19th and early 20th century colonial legal systems in Singapore and the interactions of various ordinary individuals with the law.
