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NEGRI SEMBILAN
The State of Negii Sembilan, the smallest of the Malay States, lies on the West Coast of the Malay Peninsula to the south of the States of Selangor and l'abang. It is in fact a federation of "Nine States", consisting of the four major States of Sungei
and 2 Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau, and the five minor States of Uln Muar, Jempul, Terachi, Gunong Pasir and Tuàs. Sungei Ujong is mentioned in a Javanese poem in 1365 A.D., as being subject to the Javanese Empire of Majapahit. In the 15th century it was ruled by Chiefs of the old kingdom of Malacca. Most of the Malay inhabitants of the States are descended from iminigrants from Menangkabau in Sumatra, and have an interesting exogamous, tribal and matriarchal social organisation.
This immigration appears to have begun in the 16th century. The original Malay federation seems to have consisted of Sungei Ujong, Klang (now in Selangor), Jelebu, Rembau, Naning (now in Malacca), Segamat (now in Johore), Pasir. Besar (now in Johore, its place having been taken by Jelai), Jelai, (now Inas) and Ulu Pahang (now partly in the Temerloh District of Pahang). After the capture of Malacca from the Portuguese by the Dutch and Johore Malays in 1641 A.D., Johore took a leading part in Negri Sembilan politics until 1773 A.D, when the Undang or Chiefs of the present four major States invited a Sumatra prince Raja Melewar, ancestor of the present Yang Di-Pertuan Besar to preside over the federation,
In 1874 the Dato Klana, Undang of Sungei Ujong, the most important of the nine States invited the assistance of the British Government to maintain his rule, and a British Resident was appointed.
In 1883, Jelebu applied for a British Officer, and Rembau agreed to refer all its disputes to the British Government, and in 1887 accepted a British Adviser,
In 1889, the Yang Di-Pertuan of Sri Menanti who no longer effectively presided over the whole of Negri Sembilan, the Rulers of Tampin (a small principality which had come into existence to the east of Rembau) and Rembau asked for a Resident and agreed to a confederation known as "The Old Negri Sembilan". In 1895, the Resident of this con- federation took charge of Sungei Ujong and of Jelebu, and the modern Negri Sembi- lan was constituted. Finally in 1898, the Yang Di-pertuan of Sri Menanti was elected titular Ruler of the whole State. The present Yang Di pertuan is His Highness Tuanku Abdulrahman, K.C.M.G., ibni Al-Marhum Muhammad, Yang Di-pertuan Besar, Negri Sembilan.
The area of the State is approximately 2,550 square miles. It is bordered on the south by Malacca and Johore, on the north by Selangor, on the east by Pahang, and on the west by the Straits of Malacca.
The niain mountain range of the Peninsula ends in Negri Sembilan, and the watershed between the East and West Coast in the southern part of the State is no longer mountainous. The highest mountain is Telapak Burok (3,915 feet).
There are no large rivers, and the State does not suffer from disastrous floods which sometimes cause such great loss in the larger river valleys of Malaya.
The climate is hot, moist and equable. The shade temperature has but a small annual range, and averages 81°F. It seldom rises above 92° or falls below 68°.
The average monthly rainfall throughout the year was 7.54 inches, the highest re- corded being 15.04 inches at Kuala Pilah for the month of May, and the lowest at Port Dickson with 0.89 inches in June...
GOVERNMENT.
At the beginning of 1933 the State Council was reconstituted and now comprises Itwo Chambers.
The Council of the Yang Di-pertuan Besar and Undang which consisted of His Highness the Yang Di-pertuan Besar as President, the British Resident, the four UUndang, or Ruling Chiefs of the four major divisions of Negri Sembilan, and the Tengku Besar of Sri Menanti formed the Upper Chamber. The Lower Chamber, or State Council, consisted of the British Resident as president, and six Official, and five Unofficial Members. Legislation is introduced into the State Council and if passed is submitted to His Highness and the Undang in their Council for confirmation or [amendment and assent is finally given by His Highness and the Undang.