Picture Credit: http://www.malaysiahistory.net/. Used under fair use act
Kuala Lumpur means a “muddy riverbank”. And that’s how it all started.
In 1857, the Selangor Malay ruler ordered 87 Chinese men to go up the Klang river to search for new tin resources. But when they arrived at a meeting point of two rivers, the men had to stop as the rivers was too shallow for their fully laden flotilla.
The prospectors then continued to explore on foot until the Malay shaman in the group declared that the grand prize they have been looking for will be unearthed in the present day Ampang.
Luckily, the shaman was right. They found traces of tin in the area, and the excited adventurers decided to camp out in the jungle. But the joyous mood was short lived as only 18 men made it through the first month. The rest died of malaria.
Tin Mines & Chinese Prospectors
Despite the promise of deaths, the lure of fast fortunes was hard to contain. Within a year, a number of Chinese traders and miners made huts around the area and formed a little Hakka village in the tin-rich delta.
The small area is now known as Kuala Berlumpur – or a muddy riverbank – no thanks to the effect of the wastes poured from the tin mines into the river.
More tin was then found in the surrounding areas and the place immediately became a settlement, which quickly grew into a town, and expanded rapidly to become a thriving small city.
But like most prized resources, the twinkling tins eventually lead to wars.
NOTE: The “muddy delta” – the place where the city is born is still preserved in the middle of the city today. The area is now occupied by the Mughal inspired Masjid Jamek.