JOURNAL

OF

THE ASIATIC SOCIETY.

No. 41.-May, 1835.

I-Sketch of the four Menángkåbowe States, in the interior of the Malayan Peninsula. By Lieut. J. T. NEWBOLD, 23rd Regt. Madras Native Infantry.

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[See Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, 11th March, 1835.]

THE inhabitants of the states in the interior of the southerly part of the Malayan Peninsula, particularly those of Súngie-újong, or Símújong, Rambowe, Johole, and Sríminánti, derive their origin from the parent empire of Menangkábowe, in Sumatra, more directly, than the natives of the neighbouring states. This peculiarity, with respect to Rambowe alone, has been cursorily noticed by Mr. MARSDEN and Sir STAMFORD RAFFLES. The former, quoting the Transactions of the Batavian Society, observes, that the interior boundaries of the Malacca territory "the mountains of Rambowe, inhabited by a Malayan people named Menangkábowe; and Mount Ophir, called by the natives Ganong Ledáng. These limits, say they, it is impracticable for an European to pass; the whole coast for some leagues from the sea being either a morass or impenetrable forest; and these natural difficulties are aggravated by the treacherous and blood-thirsty character of the natives." If we give the author of this unpropitious account due credit for veracity, we must, in justice to the Menángkábowes, and the tract they inhabit, acknowledge at the same time that the progress of civilization has been rapid, and the change in the face of their country corresponding.

The forests are, at the present time, certainly thick, and some of the morasses deep; but during a recent ascent to the summit of Mount Ophir, and a journey along the foot of the Rambowe mountains, I found neither the one nor the other impenetrable or impracticable, and experienced nothing but kindness and hospitality from the natives.

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Sir S. RAFFLES, in a letter to Mr. MARSDEN, thus notices the state of Rambowe: "Inland of Malacca, about sixty miles, is situated the Malay kingdom of Rambowe, whose Sultán, and all the principal officers of state, hold their authority immediately from Menángkábowe, and have written commissions for their respective offices. This shews the extent of that ancient power, even now reduced as it must be in common with that of the Malay people in general. I had many opportunities of communicating with the natives of Rambowe, and they have clearly a peculiar dialect, resembling exactly what you mention of substituting the final o for a, as in the word Ambo for Amba. In fact, the dialect is called by the Malacca people the language of Menangkabowe."

The foregoing remarks apply equally to the three vicinal states, Súngie-újong, Johole, and Sríminánti, and as has been already observed, to Náning. It is also worthy of remark, that in the ancient records of the Dutch, preserved in the archives of Malacca, the natives of Rambowe and Náning are invariably styled " Menángkábowes.”

The period when these colonies, from the heart of Sumatra, settled in the interior of the peninsula, is unknown. It is generally admitted, that Singapore and the extremity of the Peninsula were peopled by a colony from Sumatra in the middle of the twelfth century, by the descendants of which Malacca was founded nearly a century subsequent; as well as other places on the sea-coast, as Perak, Quedah, Pahang, Tringano, &c.

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Antecedent to this, according to the best native information, the coasts of the peninsula and adjacent islands were inhabited, though thinly, by a savage race, still known under the name of Ráyet Laut, (subjects of the sea,) the Icthyopophagi of the ancients, and termed by VALENTYN, probably from their situation, Cellátes." The interior was peopled by those singular aborigines, the Ráyet Utan, (subjects of the forest,) of whom there are various tribes. Those that have hitherto fallen under my observation have all borne the Mongol stamp on their features; though the Sémang in the interior of Quedah is said to be characterized by the woolly hair and thick lips, &c. of the Papúan.

Tradition ascribes the peopling of the interior of the peninsula by the Menangkábowes to a more recent and direct emigration from Sumatra than the one above alluded to. In absence of all historical information, the following story, as current among the better informed descendants of this colony, may perhaps not be out of place.

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After SRI ISCANDER SHAH had fled from Singhapura to Malacca, in the seventh century of the Hejira, a Menangkabowe chief, named Tú Pattair, came over to Malacca attended by a numerous retinue.

He ascended the river to Naning, where he found no other inhabitants than the Jacoons, (a tribe of the Ráyet Utan), and settled at Taboo and took to wife one of the Jacoon damsels; an example speedily followed by his vassals. This little colony gradually spread itself over Súngie-újong, Rambowe, Johole, and other places, chiefly inhabited by the aborigines, (who gradually betook themselves to the woods and mountains, as the intruders encroached,) viz. Jompole, Sérling, Jellabú, Sríminánti, and Teráchi.

In course, of time, Tu Pattair died, and was buried at Lúbo Koppong, in Náning, where his tomb is to this day venerated as a Krámet. From these accounts then it would appear, that the present inhabitants of the interior of the part of the peninsula here spoken of, are chiefly descendants from the Menángkábowes and Jacoons; and those on its coasts, from the Malays who fled from Singhapura, and the Rayet Laut.

The new settlers, rapidly increasing in numbers, divided themselves into nine petty states, under as many Panghúlus or chiefs, feudal to the Malayan Sultáns of Malacca, and after their expulsion by European powers, to those of Johore, by whom they were consolidated under the name of the Négri Sambílan, or the nine territories.

The names of these states, and the titles bestowed on their chiefs by the Sultáns of Johore, are as follow, viz. Segámet, under Orang KAYU MU'DA; Johole, JOHAN LE'LAH PERCASSEH; Náning, Mahárájá LEʼLAH; Súngie-újong, KLANA PU'TRA; Jellabú, AKHIR ZEMA'N; Rambowe, LELAH Mahárájá; Cálang or Salengore, TU'NKU CALANG, Ulu Paháng, including Serting and Jompole, Rájá ANDRA SEKA'RA, and Jellye, under Mahárájá PU'RBA.

These titles were hereditary, and their possessors used to present themselves (Mengádap) once a year at the court of Johore.

In a manuscript collection of treaties made by the Dutch in the east, are found contracts principally of a friendly and commercial character, with Rambowe and the Négri Sambílan, from 1646 down to 1759. Prior to this period, the Dutch had assumed considerable influence over the nine Négris: and, with the formal consent of the king of Johore, Sultán ABDUL JALIL SHAH elected a Bugis prince, named DYEN CAMBODIA, as chief over the whole nine. Náning had long fallen into the hands of the European Government at Malacca, and Sríminánti rising into importance, tacitly assumed its place among the nine Négris.

The Menángkábowes, disgusted with the arbitrary proceedings of their Bugis ruler, invited over one of the princes of the blood royal of Menangkábowe from Sumatra, named Rájá MALAYWAR. The Panghúlus of Súngie-újong, Rambowe, Johole, and Sríminánti espoused

the cause of the latter, whilst the five remaining states took up arms in favor of the former.

The Dutch, it would appear from an official communication addressed to the Panghúlu of Náning, in answer to a requisition made by that chief for ammunition to defend himself against the Bugis, did not take any active part in these disturbances, but pithily advised the Panghulu to observe a state of neutrality, and in no case whatever to intermeddle with such intestine commotions; and refusing the supply of ammunition solicited, informed him that, being a subject of the Mátschappy, he had not the slightest cause for fear.

In the event, the Menángkábowe claimant, Rájá MALAYWAR, was successful, and DYEN CAMBODIA retired to Rhio, where he died about 1773.

The Panghulus of the four states, which had espoused his cause, with the assent of the Sultán of Johore, and the government at Malacca, elected Rájá MALAYWAR as their sovereign, under the title of Eang depertúan Besdr*, renouncing at the same time their allegiance to Johore.

Rájá MALAYWAR was the first prince of the Menángkábowe dynasty in the interior.

The five other states remained as before, feudal to Johore.

The following stipulations, a copy of which is said to be in posses. sion of the chief of Sríminánti, were then agreed on : viz. that the Menangkabowe sovereign, on all affairs of state, should assemble the four Panghúlus, and should submit to a majority; that his maintenance should be supplied equally by the inhabitants of the four states, each house contributing annually one gantam of rice, two cocoa-nuts. and one súku.

The Panghulus bound themselves to furnish a certain complement of men, arms, ammunition, and provisions, in case of a war; also on occasions of deaths, marriages, circumcision, &c. in the royal family, to send, each of them, three head of buffaloes, and to distribute a certain sum in sadkeh (alms).

The instalment of the Eang depertúan Besár devolved upon the four Panghúlus, hence termed Punghúlu Defántye.

To them also, on the decease of their sovereign, fell the duty of transmitting the news of the event by letter to the Rájá of Menangkábowe, who on its receipt deputed one of the princes of his house, with pompous credentialst, viâ Siac, Malacca, and Náning, to Ram* The title assumed by Menangkábowe princes of the blood.

A translation of these credentials is annexed: they bear a strong resemblance to the Menangkábowe document published by Mr. MARSden.

bowe, where he was met and crowned in state by the four Panghulu Defántye. Hence Rambowe is termed tánnah kréjan.

From thence the newly elected prince proceeded to his astánah, or palace, at Sríminánti, which is the royal burial place, and also called tánnah mengándong.

Peculiar Báleis are elected by the Panghúlus in their respective territories, for the reception of their feudal chief, the shape and fashion of which it would be deemed high treason, Angkára Mahúrájá Lélah, to alter.

That at Súngie-újong is called Bálei Melinátong, from the circumstance of its being built at right angles with the river; and that at Johole, Bálei Bertínkat, having two stories.

The revenue of the four Panghúlus is derived from the power they possess in the states under their sway, of inflicting fines and levying discretionary contributions, enforcing gratuitous labour, &c. The levying of the tenth on the crops is not in general usage.

The real power is monopolized by them, that possessed by the Eang departúan Besar, being only nominal, and depending on opinion.

On the decease of the first deputed prince, from Menangkábowe, Rájá MALAYWAR, Rájá ADIL was nominated by his father, the reigning sovereign in Menangkabowe, as his successor; and having arrived at Rambowe, was there duly installed.

Rájá ADIL died in 1795 or 6, leaving three children, Rájá ASSIL, Rájá SABUN, and TUANKU PUTRI, a daughter. He was succeeded by Rájá ITAM, also deputed from Menángkábowe; and Rájá ASSIL, eldest son of the deceased Rájá ADIL, became the first Eang deper< túan Múda. This innovation was made with the concurrence of the four Panghúlus.

Rájá ITAM died in 1808, succeeded by Rájá LI'NGANG LAUT, who was the fourth deputed prince from Menángkábowe.

In 1812, Rájá HADJI, one of the sons of the Eang depertúan Múda, Rájá AssIL, carried off by force his sister-in-law, in consequence of the Panghúlu of Rambowe's refusing his consent to their marriage on the ground of its illegality. A war ensued, in which the Eang depertúan Múda, Rájá AssIL, who had sheltered the fugitive couple at Sríminánti, took an active and decided part in their defence against the Panghulu and Ampat Súka of Rambowe. The latter then sent to request the co-operation of Rájá ALI*. This notorious chief, whose life

* Rájá ALI is about 50 years of age, low in stature, dark in complexion, of a forbidding and rather ferocious aspect; negligent in dress and person; grossly ignorant and superstitious: though, for a full enjoyment of the drug opium, he would willingly relinquish his hopes of the Jannat al Firdous, in the seventh hea