From its beginnings in the late eighteenth century, the vibrant colonial port of Penang attracted a diverse range of people and encouraged pioneering commercial enterprises. A place of inter-ethnic collaboration and inter-cultural borrowings, the island came to be known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' and for many travellers was the first port of call in Southeast Asia. In the nineteenth century, Singapore displaced Penang in long distance trade, but the island remained a major focus of regional trade. For this reason, the story of Penang's relations with the Malay Peninsula and neighbouring territories reveals a great deal about conditions in Southeast Asia. This collection discusses the personal networks that linked prominent individuals in Penang with neighbouring areas, and considers the position of the island within the Southeast Asian region. The authors write about a wide range of topics, including local entrepreneurs, mutual help associations, cross border trading, political networks, and aspects of how the cosmopolitan population of the island negotiated the transition from British colony to Malaysian state.