weapons offered him by the armourer, selected an old rusty looking kris, blackened by the smoke and resin of the dammer torches, to the trimming of which it had been constantly applied. He then returned to the Capitan, and informed his astonished employer that the rejected weapon he held in his hand, was the kris destined to pour out the blood of DELANGIT as a sacrifice to the insulted honor of the Sultán.

With this wonderful weapon (fit companion for the enchanted sword of king ARTHUR), JUARA returned to Naning. But DELANGIT, hearing of his purpose, had already fled thence into Muar, and concealed himself with the concubine amid the fastnesses of that wild country. Thither the persevering JUARA tracked his victim, and coming up with him at the mouth of the river, plunged the fatal steel deep into his heart.

The concubine he conveyed in safety to Malacca, whence she was sent, with an account of what had occurred, by the Capitan, to the Sultán of JOHORE. The Sultán recommended JUARA to the Dutch government, who made him Panghúlú of Naning; and bestowed on him as mark of royal favor, two slaves, a man and woman; (from whom the Súkú or tribe at present known by the appellation of Tigá Nenek sprang;) a sword, termed Ulár-kenyáng," the satiated serpent," a silk bájú or vest, and lastly, a tract of the Gominchi territory, hence called Pembáshú Tungan. To the Capitan Malayu was given a piece of land extending from Kleybang to the Sungi Baru river, and inland to Bertam. The title Sri Rájá MERAH, the sword, Baju, and a genealogical book, generally preserved in the families of Malayan princes and noblemen, called Silselah, have descended to JUARA's successors as a Kabesaran, or regalia.

JUARA MAGAT was succeeded, agreeably to the Menangkábowe law of succession, by his sister's son, KUKAH; to KUKAH succeeded EANGARANG OF MULANA GARANG, JANGOT, TAMBAH, and ANJAK OF BUKIT JOOTOR. The present ex-Panghúlú ABDUL SAYAD OF DHOL SAYAD, succeeded his uncle ANJAK, in 1801, when he was confirmed in his office by the British Resident at Malacca, colonel TAYLOR.

When ABDUL SAYAD had control in Naning, the Kabesáran of his ancestors was kept in a house-shaped chest, and was only publicly produced once a year. Its contents were perfumed with the smoke arising from a censer of odoriferous gums, and washed with water and rice-flour, by the sacred hands of the Panghúlú himself. On their being exhibited, the superstitious natives, not even daring to look at these miraculous relics, fell prostrate with their foreheads pressed to the earth, exclaiming, Dowlet, dowlet !

The properties ascribed to the sword are those generally known by Malays under the term Betuah, which, among other meanings, has that

of any thing imparting invulnerability and irresistability to the wearer. Secret enemies are detected, by their involuntarily trembling in the august presence of the weapon. The silk bájú, it is believed, will fit none but the Panghúlú or the person destined to become his successor. And to this day, it is firmly credited by many of the Malays, that the elder brother of ABDUL SAYAD was rejected from the Panghúlúship solely on account of his inability to get his head through the neck of the vest, which is represented to be so small, as scarcely to admit of the insertion of two fingers.

The truth of the matter is, that he was set aside by the Ampat Súkú, on account of his unfitness, and unpopularity. How the exPanghúlú contrived to slip his large head through the silken vest must still remain matter of conjecture to the learned.

In 1795, the English took possession of Malacca and Naning; of the latter, under the same terms as the Dutch had held possession. In 1802, Colonel TAYLOR, the Resident at Malacca, made treaty with the ex-Panghúlú and the Ampat Súkú. Among other stipulations, it was agreed on that the Panghúlú chiefs, Menángkábowes or Malays of Naning, do pay one-tenth of the produce of the soil to the East India Company; but in consideration of their poverty, it is resolved, that instead of paying the tenth, the Panghúlú come in person annually to Malacca, and present 400 gantams of paddy to Government. And further, that "the Panghúlú and chiefs promise, in the name of the said community of Naning, that whenever the chief rulers happen to resign the Government, or any misfortune befal them, they shall in such case propose one of the nearest and most qualified of his family to the Governor of Malacca, for his successor; but it is not expected that such a proposal must always meet the Governor's approbation; on the contrary, it is optional with him, whom he thinks proper to appoint."

Colonel FARQUHAR became Resident of Malacca in 1803, and in 1809, reserved to the British Government, the power of inflicting capital punishment on criminals in Naning. The duty of one crusadoe, on boats coming down from Naning, was withdrawn.

In 1810, the Dutch again assumed possession of Malacca. In 1822, Governor TIMMERMAN THYSSEN, had caused a statement of the land's produce of Naning to be drawn out, and transmitted it to the Netherlands Government at Batavia, with the ulterior view of levying the tenth. But before their decision was received, the British flag was again hoisted at Malacca. This took place in April, 1825. Up to this period, the 400 gantams, in lieu of the tenth, had been annually paid by the different Panghúlús of Naning. In 1827, the Panghúlú and Ampat Súkú, came down to Malacca to pay their re

spects to the new Resident, Mr. GARLING, who had been appointed in 1826. In 1828, Mr. LEWIS, Assistant Resident, proceeded to Tabú, the capital (if a village be so called) of Naning, with the view of making arrangements with the chiefs, for putting that territory on the same footing as the Malacca lands, which, in pursuance of Mr. FULLARTON'S plans, had been transferred, on the 15th of March, 1828, by the private landholders, for the aggregate annual sum of 17,000 Sicca Rupees, to Government, from the 1st of November, 1828, but afterwards fixed from the 1st of June, until such period as the British flag should continue to fly at Malacca. Mr. LEWIS was empowered to offer the Panghúlů the sum of 600 Spanish dollars, and each of the Ampat Súkú, 50 per annum, provided they would consent to transfer their lands to Government, in order that the tenth might be levied thereon, as well as on the Malacca lands. These proposals met with a refusal.

In 1829, Mr. CHURCH, Deputy Resident, was sent to Sungí-puttye, on the Naning frontier, to confer with the Panghúlú, with instructions to make known to him that Naning was an integral part of Malacca, and that it was intended by Government to subject it also to the general regulations affecting the rest of the Malacca territory, but directed no immediate levying of this duty. He was further instructed to take a census, and to make it known, that all offenders, except in trivial matters, must be sent down in future to Malacca for trial. Mr. CHURCH, on the part of Government, offered the Panghúlú and Ampat Súkú pensions as a compensation.

The census was allowed to be taken, but the rest of these conditions met with an absolute negative.

When Mr. FULLARTON arrived, he wrote to the Panghúlú, who had not presented himself with the annual tribute, summoning him to Malacca, but without effect. An expedition was then proposed to be sent to chastise the sturdy chief; but deferred, pending a reference to the Supreme Government. The Panghúlú still further committed himself by the forcible and injustifiable seizure of a Duson, at Panchúr, within the Malacca boundary, the hereditary property of INCHI SURIN. This man preferred his plaint to Government, and in consequence another message was dispatched.

The Panghulu's answer set forth a determination to retain the Duson, affirming it to be his own property, and impeaching the right of Government to interfere. A proclamation was now published, declaring, that ABDUL SAYAD had forfeited all his claims, and was thenceforth no longer Panghálú of Naning.

R R

Such are the principal circumstances leading to the expedition in August, 1831, its failure, and the subsequent successful operations in 1832.

Tabu fell on the 15th June, 1832, ABDUL SAYAD having barely time to carry off his family and his Kabesaran. The chest in which these relics were deposited fell into the hands of the troops. The Panghúlú fled first to Condong in Rumbowe, thence to Míko, and finally to Passir, in Sriminánti. Here he left his family, and has been wandering about the interior for some time past. After the evacuation of Tabu, he paid several pious visits to the tombs of his ancestors, who there lie buried; he has since returned to Sriminánti, where he lives in indigence, and would probably come in on terms and deliver himself up to Government.

His private property and lands have been confiscated.

The Ampat Súkú fled to Sabang, but finally separated and sought asylum in the neighbouring states. The two Mantris, MELANA HAKIM and GOMPOR, who principally instigated their chief to rebellion, are at Míko, (since returned.)

Mr. IBETSON visited Naning in the ensuing October, and created 15 Panghúlús over the different Mukims, or parishes, into which the country is divided, and thereby abolished the ancient power of the Panghúlú and Ampat Súkú.

The office of these newly elected chiefs is to preserve peace and quiet in their respective Mukims; to examine into and decide matters of little importance. Cases of a heavy nature are to be referred invariably to Government, and not as formerly to the Ampat Súkú, or heads of tribes, whose authority is now at an end.

They are to assist in the collection of the revenue, and apprehension of criminals; and are constituted as authorized channels of communication between the Government and the peasantry.

They derive no further emolument from their office, than part of their own lands, and produce being exempt from duty: this is also enjoyed by the four priests of each mosque.

On the 27th of October, 1832, Government took the judicious step of placing Naning and its new system of internal administration, under the superintendence of Mr. WESTERHOUT, a gentleman not only eminently qualified for the task by his perfect knowledge of the Malay character and capabilities, but on account of his extensive influence with the principal persons of the district and neighbouring independent states.

The terms under which Mr. WESTERHOUT undertook the settlement of the country are principally as follows: that he shall have the whole

of the tenth collected in Naning, until the 30th April, 1834, his travel. ling expences to be defrayed on the usual scale. Mr. WESTERHOUT is to introduce and establish the collection of the tenth, he shall make a census of the population, number of houses, &c. The quantity of grain sown by each individual is to be ascertained by him; also the extent of ground belonging to those individuals who are exempt from paying the duty. He shall likewise ascertain the quantity and nature of the lands, lately the property of DHOL SAYAD, and send in a return to Government of the new Panghúlús and places under their authority. The expediency of a number of wells being sunk at intervals of half a mile apart, along the Naning boundary-line with Rumbowe and Johore, was also suggested by Government.

On the 9th of January, 1833, Mr. WESTERHOUT met the Rumbowe chiefs at Sungí seaport, near the frontiers of Rumbowe, to arrange the respective boundaries. The boundary line agreed on follows the ancient one as far as Jírat Gunjí, from thence as stated before.

The Rumbowe chiefs revived some old claims to the Ramoan Chinas, stating, that in their old boundary papers, the line passed from Qualla Lingí over Bukit Bruang, and through Ramoan China, &c. to Padang Chachar.

We also find the Rájá of Salangore making a somewhat similar claim, in 1804, encroaching on the Company's territories as far as Sungí Baru. (Vide ANDERSON'S Considerations, page 203.)

They however readily ceded the point, when informed that according to all European copies of former treaties, the boundary-line in that quarter was the Lingí river, and that the Ramoan Chinas had always been private property under the Dutch and English Government.

The country, since the taking of Tabu, has been occupied by the Madras troops; but as its security has progressed, and the inhabitants have became more and more settled, the force has been gradually diminished. Distress and poverty are still too visible. These powerful agents, operating on a few desperate characters, have produced, in many instances, the natural results, robbery and murder. The newly-created Panghúlús, with families, crying out for food at home, and fearful for their own personal safety, are at present very far from being useful as a police; in time to come, after the machine has once received a proper impulse, the inhabitants returned to their rice-fields, and the ex-Panghúlú, now dwelling in the neighbouring state of Sríminánti, disposed of, then the troops may be withdrawn, or concentrated in a centrical post, and the Panghulus, with their Mata Matas, may then be found sufficient for the duties required of them; but at present they stand more in