has been passed in feuds and bloodshed, and whose ambition has since elevated him to the dignity of the Eang depertúan Besár, was the son of the wife of the Menángkábowe prince Rájá ITAM, by her former husband, Rájá HAMAN, brother of Sultán IBRAHIM, late Rájá of Salengore. Rájá ALI's mother is the daughter of the second deputed prince from Menangkábowe.

Rájá ALI, who had fled to a place called Súngie Nípah, beyond Cape Rachado in Salengore, lent a ready ear to this proposition, and repaired to Rambowe, accompanied and supported by the Dattu Múda of Lingie. His weight turned the scale of events, and the Eang depertúan Múda, Rájá AssIL, after some fruitful efforts at negotiation, retired to Náning (1813), and eventually to Malacca (1814), where he appealed to the then British Resident, Colonel FARQUHAR; nothing however favorable to his cause resulted.

Having obtained a private loan of 2,000 dollars in Malacca, he again proceeded to Rambowe, but failing, retreated to Náning, where he died shortly afterwards (1814-15); and was interred at the green knoll on which stood the mosque of Búkit Tútu, near Alor Gajeh.

He left four sons and two daughters.

Rájá ALI, this obstacle to his ambition being removed, was elected as Eang depertúan Múda, under the Eang depertúan Besár LINGANG LAUT who died in 1824, leaving two sons, Rájá RADIN, of Sríminánti and Rájá U'JONG; both by his wife, the daughter of the Rájá of Jillabú.

In consequence of intrigues and dissensions among the four elective chiefs, artfully fomented by Rájá ALI, a successor was not appointed until 1826, when Rájá LABU, a son of the Rájá of Menángkábowe, bearing the ancient credentials from his father, and a letter from the chief of Siac, arrived.

He was preceded by an adherent named Rájá KREʼJAN, and having presented his documents at Malacca, went up to Náning. From thence, escorted by the chief of that place, the present ex-Panghúlu, he repaired to Rambowe, where he was installed according to custom. He married with TUANKU ITAM, daughter of the late Túan Múda, Rájá ASSIL, and proceeded to his astánah in Sríminánti.

ven, with all its black-eyed hourís. In disposition, he is crafty and determined; taciturn and deliberate in council; but prompt and decided in action-qualities of which I had opportunities of judging during a recent struggle between the Rambowe and Lingie chiefs. These, added to his high connexions, which however were not sufficient to give him a lawful title to the eminence which he has attained, mainly contributed to his success.

In 1830, in consequence of his countenancing the licentious proceedings of his follower, Rájá KRE'JAN, and the intrigues of his wife; and above all from the ambitious machinations of Rájá ALI, he was compelled to quit Sríminánti, but shortly afterwards, having gained over to his cause three out of the four elective Panghúlus, viz. those of Johole, Sríminánti, and Súngie-újong, as also the chief of Jompole, besieged Rájá ALI, in his mud fort of Bander in Rambowe.

Rájá ALI held out resolutely against the formidable confederacy; till at length, through the pacific mediation of the Panghulu of Naning, after having lost one of their principal leaders, who was killed by a cannon shot from one of the old iron guns on the fort, they withdrew their vassals, and retired to their respective states.

Rájá ALI, his son-in-law, SYED SABAN, and Rájá RADIN, of Sríminánti, shortly after this seized on an opportunity afforded them by the absence of the Eang depertúan Besár at Sungie-újong, of surprising Sríminánti, and repossessing themselves of the guns which Rájá LABU had formerly taken from RADIN, under the pretext of their forming part of his regalia (Kabesáran.)

When tidings of this reached Rájá LABU, he marched, supported by the Panghulu of Súngie-újong, KLANA KAWAL, against Rambowe; but in consequence, it is said, of some horrid cruelties perpetrated upon a female by some of their followers, they were deserted nearly to

a man.

:

Rájá LABU did not advance further than Náning whence, after a short stay, he went down to Malacca, and finally, in 1832, recrossed the Straits to Sumatra. His adherent, Rájá KREJAN, fled to Paháng, and thence to Múar, and finally, to Johole, where he is now engaged in fruitless intrigues.

He assisted the ex-Panghulu of Naning during his rebellion against Government.

Such is the origin and decline of the Menangkábowe dynasty in the interior of the peninsula.

Rájá ALI was elected as the Eang depertúan Besár over the four states, and his son-in-law, SHERIF SYED SAABAN, as Eang depertúan Múda of Rambowe at Bander, on the 13th September, 1832.

The question of succession still remains unsettled: among the elective Panghulus, great discordance of opinion prevails, arising principally from the premature and impolitic revival of old but contested rights appertaining to their titles by Rájá ALI and SYED SAABAN. This has led to rebellion, and the strangulation of the tin trade in Súngieújong; and to bloodshed and disturbances on the banks of the Lingie river, unadjusted at the present moment.

An innate antipathy to innovation, and a secret wish to revert to the Menangkábowe dynasty, prevails more or less throughout the four states, and in case of the demise of Rájá ALI, if not previously, a severe struggle may be expected between the partizans of the Eang departúan Múda, SYAD SAABAN, on the one hand, and the advocates for the addat dhaulu, or ancient custom, on the other.

SYED SAABAN, by no means insensible that in this case, the best way to secure an advantageous peace is to prepare betimes and vigorously for war, has been for some time past actively engaged in strengthening Sémpang, a post advantageously situated on the apex of the delta, formed by the junction of the Lingie and Rambowe streams, and about six miles from their debouchément into the sea. Here he has lately been joined by a chief from Sumatra, with a numerous train of followers.

APPENDIX.

Translation of the Credentials called the Tromba Menangkábowe „Kiss

brought over from Sumatra by the last deputed prince Rájá Lab’U.

The seals at the top are placed from the right to left, according to the order of precedence of the princes whose titles they bear; all feudal to Menángkábowe. According to the etiquette of Malay letter writing, the "place of honour," for the impression of the seal, is about the commencement of the epistle, to its extreme right, and on the highest Mistar. In letters from a subject to a sovereign,

2. Sultán Indrá Rahim was the first monarch of Palembang, and grand-father

of the Eang depertúan Makat Denam, brother of Baghinda Abras.

3. Baghinda Tuan was the founder of the dynasty of Jambie, which extends to Chi Jambie, of nine districts.

4.

Sultán Sri Kahil was the founder of the dynasty of Indraghiri, which extends to the sea.

5. Sultán Berkumpa Puteh was the founder of the dynasty of Súngie Pakú, which extends to Bandar Sapuloh.

6. Rájá Magat was the founder of the dynasty of Rogum, which extends to Kúri, in the Mampawa territory.

7. Sultán Mahomed Shah was the founder of the dynasty of Indrápurá, which extends to Moco Moco.

8. Sultán Mahárájá was the founder of the dynasty of Priáman, which extends to Tiko and Kakanuli.

9. Sri Paduka Berpakat was the founder of the dynasty of Achin, which extends to Telabu and Battu Barra.

10. Sultán Mohikat was the founder of the dynasty of Bintan, extending to Batavia.

11.

Sultán Suanku was the founder of the dynasty of Siac, which extends to Patta Pahan, to Pulo Sawan, and Kasang Bunga.

"Oh God, look down upon the greatest of Sultáns, prince of great men, the shadow of Allah in this world, renowned among Arabs and barbarians inhabiting this material world, (created for) the children of Adam Oh Lord of the kings of the earth, it hath been declared in the Korán that every day and night is to be accounted as void of light, until the dawning of the true faith in the appearance of MUHAMMED SEYD-AL-MURSALIN, the last of the prophets. Amin! Oh God of

worlds.

The Almighty hath caused this firman to appear in the Korán in respect to princes, viz. "I have created man infinitely superior to the angels, the sun and the moon. I have given him sovereignty on earth. I have created genii and mankind, in order that they may worship me."

The Almighty caused the dry land called Púlo Langkawi to descend between Palembang and Jambie, as the place of residence for the original sovereigns of the world, viz. the descendants of Sultan HIDAYET ALLAH TA-ALA, whom he had brought down from the clouds.

Among these descendants was Rájá ISCANDER zer Alkurnein, whose country is Srang, and who is possessor of the iron lock intensely green; sometimes assuming a red, sometimes a yellow, and some. times a white hue; and, in short, possessing all colours so vividly as to dazzle the eye of the beholder; this forms part of the kabesáran (regalia) of the three royal brothers, who scatter profusely their justice and munificence to all the slaves of Allah, and to all princes who are feudal to them and derive favor and advancement from the beloved of Allah, MUHAMMED. These three Sultáns were very wise and faithful protectors of all the slaves of Allah.

It hath been declared that the fountain in paradise, Jannat unnahim, causes the young shoots to spring up from within the earth; in like manner, the slaves of Allah exist by inhaling the fragrant odours emanating from the glorious Bálie (a sort of hall of audience) of their prince.

Odoriferous as ambergris and musk are the prosperity and power of the three royal brothers, viz. the Sultán of Rum, Sri Mahárájá

ALIF, the Sultán of China, Sri Mahárájá DEPANG, and the Sultán of the Golden Island, in the territory of Menangkabowe, Sri Mahárájá dhi Rájá BERDOULET. Amin, Oh God of worlds!

Whereas the following are declared to compose the kabesáran (regalia) of his majesty the lord of the state of Menangkábowe, viz. the diadem of the prophet SOLOMON : the web called Songsang kála, which weaves itself, a thread every year, until the completion of the duration of the world. The wood Káyu Gámet, which is divided into three portions, one of which is in the possession of the King of Rúm, the other in that of the King of China, while the third remains with the King of Menangkabowe. The ratan termed Manno ghiri, which erects itself. The Parang (chopper) of gold. The Chongka Chongkye (a tray with a pedestal). The mass* of gold, Kedah Allah, (lit. the tinder box of Allah,) resembling a man in shape. The gold Jattah Jatti, to be suspended across his shoulder. The tree Naga† Tárin, studded over with precious stones and rubies. The Sépit Pinang, (betel-cutter,) Kapála bára, which performs its office spontaneously. The Choie Siméndang ghiriş, with one hundred and ninety notches, occasioned by the wounds it inflicted on the serpent Sicatimána. The mountain Bongsyé, from whence the Sultán ascends to the fiery mountain, and by whose supernatural influence the rivers which flow from it possess rocks of gold, and waters emitting odours delicious as those of flowers. The lance whose shaft is of the Sággar sántan. The spear called Sambárah, with a sheath of Gárda wood, on which is inscribed a passage from the Korán. The kus Allang bára. The mat composed of Súlang leaves, which is worn as an ornament to the head by Mahá RA'TE, but forbidden by Mahá RUNJUT, who were cotemporary with the origin of this country.

The elephant Sacte. The fresh-water sea extending a day's sail. The mountain emitting flames of its own accord, where grow the plaintive bambus, which entrap wild birds by the fascination of their melody. The petrified cotton. The Gándang Valigúri (a sort of drum). The Gong jejatan. The Gong semándrang, the sound of which reaches to the clouds.

* This mass of gold, according to the information of a native of Manangkabowe, was what remained after the making of the crown of one of the ancient princes of that empire.

+ The Nága Tárin is supposed to be a tree transmuted into gold.

This instrument is said to be endowed with the faculty of ascending the Areca trees, and cutting the nut without human assistance.

§ Vide Sejára Maláyu for an account of the combat which terminated by the serpent's being cut into three parts by the invincible sword of Sangsapurba, traditionally the descendant of ALEXANDER the Great, and founder of the dynasty of Menangkábowe.