ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Without the co-operation I received from different quarters I could not have accomplished the difficult task of bringing the compilation of this catalogue to a satisfactory end. Herewith I convey my gratitude. In the first place the co-operation from Prof. P.S. van Koningsveld who as head of the Documentatiebureau Islam- Christendom of the Faculty of Theology, University of Leiden, made it possible for me to make use of the facilities of the Institute to accomplish my task. He also gave valuable advice in the course of my work. Drs C. van Tilburg, assistant to Prof. Van Koningsveld who, through thick and thin, never swerved from my side in making the text and final indexes camera ready for print, beginning in November 1996 in Brunei. He also completed the MS of this catalogue in the form ready for print in August 1999. The late Prof. R. Roolvink made preparations for this catalogue by collecting titles of Malay MSS at the LUB when he was keeper of Oriental MSS. From July 1976 he supervised the catalogue project, checked and approved my draft-description until he was taken ill in 1979 and had to give up this task. The late Prof. G.W.J. Drewes continued the work started by Prof. Roolvink, until I completed describing LUB Malay and South Sumatran MSS in 1984. I profited abundantly from the experience of this great scholar. The late Dr J.J. Noorduijn, secretary of KITLV supervised my work when I was describing KITLV Malay, Minangkabau and South Sumatran MSS and received my draft-catalogue from the BIS, when this institution was abolished in 1985. He also supervised the work of the assistants after I had left for Brunei in 1986. Dr Russell Jones during my absence in Brunei, polished my English and besides this made notes and additions to the watermarks I described in the catalogue. Mrs Rosemary Robson-McKillop B.A. Hons helped me during the period 1998-1999. To her I convey my gratitude. Prof. Qasim al-Samarrai who at any time was prepared to explain problems concerning Arabic literature. Mr. J.A.G.M. Linssen, former assistant to the keeper of Oriental MSS of LUB, who was always helpful when I was describing MSS in that collection. The assistants whose task was typing out the draft-catalogue, adding references and bibliography to my description before it was dispatched to the above-mentioned scholars for approval deserve special mention: Dr R. Tol with whom I enjoyed a good relation and who assisted me in the first period. Miss I. Farjon, who continued to do the work started by Dr Tol. Drs E.M. Bogaerts, who took over the task previously performed by Farjon; Drs R. Dumas, who also assisted in making the physical description of the Athenaeum of Deventer MSS of which the internal description had already been made by Dr P. Voorhoeve which I provided through Dr Noorduijn. Drs H. Zwart, who completed typing the whole MS, made the initial indexes and collated the numbers of the MSS with those in the relevant collections.