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PORT
DICKSON
This small town used to produce charcoal, but it was later
developed as a small port by the British during the Strait
Settlement period. Port Dickson was also known as Tanjung. In
Malay language that means "cape". The oldest shophouses were
the four situated presently at Jalan Lama. There was also a
carbon mine at the first mile of the coast road (Jalan Pantai),
and therefore Port Dickson was also called "Arang" (charcoal)
in the Malay language.
Tin ore was plentiful in Lukut, an area within the Port
Dickson district, during the 1820's, and it attracted Chinese
immigrant miners. The British considered the area to have
great potential as a harbour. It was intended to supersede the
port in Pengkalan Kempas. The in-charge officer's name was
Dickson, and thereafter the town was named Port Dickson.
Others claim that Sir John Frederick Dickson founded Port
Dickson and Pulau Arang in 1889.
Port Dickson, the playground resort in Negeri Sembilan, is
thirty-four kilometers from the state capital of Seremban and
about an hour and a half from Malaysia's capital city, Kuala
Lumpur. It has miles of fine sandy beaches fringed by
Casuarinas, palms, and the intricate, above-ground root
formations of the Banyan tree. The road to Port Dickson hugs
the Malaysian coastline, making impromptu rest and swim stops
almost impossible to resist. Vendors along the road offer
thirst-quenching drinks of coconut water and sugar-cane juice.
A complete menu of leisure activities is available in Port
Dickson, including water-skiing, canoeing, snorkeling,
windsurfing, and sailing, all of which can easily be handled
through the reception desk at your hotel.
Despite Port Dickson's reputation as an area firmly focused on
beach resort activity, the sights and history of the
surrounding area are well worth experiencing. At Kota Lukut, a
mere seven km from Port Dickson, stands the fort of Raja
Jumaat, a renowned nineteenth-century Bugis warrior. The fort
was built in 1847 to control the lucrative tin trade in the
area. Another rewarding site is the lighthouse at Cape
Rachardo, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century in order
to guide ships to the safety of Malacca's harbor. The
lighthouse is still functioning today, and visitors can ascend
its narrow spiral stair to the beacon, which offers a
magnificent view of the coastline of Sumatra. The Cape is also
a popular stopover point for migratory birds. From September
to March, flocks of sparrows, honey buzzards, and swifts can
be seen here, together with birds of prey, such as hawks and
eagles.
Twenty-three kilometers south of the lighthouse, on the road
to Malacca, sits the small and mysterious village of Pengkalan
Kempas. The village houses the enigmatic 15th-century tomb of
Sheikh Ahmad Majnun, whose epitaph explains that he fell while
fighting to save a now unknown woman referred to simply as
"the princess." It is home to a more prominent mystery as
well, however. Beside the tomb stand three megaliths,
elaborately carved, of unknown origin and use. As if to seal
the reputation of this hamlet of the unknown, there is also in
Pengalen Kempas an "ordeal stone." This ancient lie-detector,
through which a person would put his arm when answering
questions, allegedly reacts to an untruth by closing upon the
liar's fist. Whether or not this story is true makes for an
interesting dare.
Port Dickson has ever since evolved into a busy trading
Centre. Railways were constructed to facilitate the growth and
development of Port Dickson. Although Port Dickson experienced
rapid development, the beautiful beaches are fairly well
preserved. Now, Port Dickson has become not only a beautiful
tourist destination, but a large municipality with over
400,000 residents.
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