龜咯地區的墾殖與華人聚落的形塑

The Shaping of Chinese Settlements under the Development of the Kukup Area

1844年柔佛天猛公頒行港主制度，鼓勵華人頭家或公司移入開芭。華人基於技術和成本的原因，偏好在內陸淺丘地區申請港契，以致19世紀後期，大部分馬六甲海峽沿岸地勢低平的海岸平原，缺乏華人港主問津。只有阿拉伯商人賽．穆罕默德．阿薩哥夫，在1878年向柔佛統治者申請龜咯地區的港契。
雖然華人並未在港主制度的架構下參與馬六甲海峽沿岸低窪平原的墾殖，但至20世紀中期，這裡卻已是渠道縱橫，種植園滿布的熱帶栽培業景觀，也出現不少純華人聚落。本文的主旨是，企圖以龜咯地區為個案，透過歷史地理的研究途徑，釐清熱帶沼澤地區的墾殖方式，並探索非華人墾殖區華人聚落的形塑機制。

In 1844, the Kangchu system was launched in Johor by Temenggong to encourage the influx of Chinese entrepreneurs from Singapore. Due to the difficulties and environmental restrictions, Chinese entrepreneurs tended to settle down in the hinterland rather than the swampy and low-lying coastal areas, most of which still remained undeveloped until the end of the 19th century. It was not until 1878, when a Singapore-based merchant, Syed Muhammad bin Alsagoff, obtained a Surat Sungai from the hand of Temenggong, that the fate of this area began to change.
In these swampy coastal areas along the Malacca Straits, Chinese entrepreneurs did not settle down under the structure of the (Chinese based) Kangchu System. These areas were already well developed, as canals, plantations and many Chinese settlements already existed there by the mid-20th century. This article aims not only to investigate the process of developing these low, swampy areas but also to discuss the development of Chinese settlements on non-Chinese territory. The experience of the Kukup area will be examined through the approach of historical geography.