Abdullah Abdul Kadir remembered Stamford Raffles during his time in Malacca as a kindly and respectful man, who valued privacy and quiet to pursue his scholarly hobbies, but who was nonetheless firm when necessary. He also remembered Raffles’s irritation at European prejudice towards Malay people, and recalled how he was eager to meet them and learn their language.

Abdullah remembered Olivia Raffles as a highly unusual woman, sharing her husband’s scholarly interest in Malay language and culture, and breaking the same social taboos. Raffles used to consult her on every decision, and Abdullah likened wife and husband to a jewel and its setting, recommending their example to every generation to come.

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