CO882-(2-3) — Page 494

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILIC.O.

882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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tion that they gave themselves up entirely and without reserve; and I am glad to be able to inform your Lordship that on the 19th instant they arrived in Singapore and surrendered themselves unconditionally to the British Government.

48. I feel some difficulty as to their future disposal, whether to allow them to return under any conditions or circumstances to any of the native States or to retain them here. For the present I propose following the latter course.

49. I have just received a first report from Captain Tatham, whom, as I have informed your Lordship, I have temporarily placed in Sungie Ujong, and he informs we that everything is in a satisfactory state, the people, both Malays and Chinese, being most quiet and orderly.

50. I trust your Lordship will consider that the measures I took were those best calculated to effectually obtain the end I had in view, i.e., the peace and well-being of Sungie Ujong, with a lasting safety to the lives and property of its traders and inhabitants, as well as to show our readiness to help our ally, who has given ample evidence of his sincerity in his engagements with us.

I have, &c. (Signed)

Inclosure I in No. 12.

A. CLARKE.

Second continuation of Report on Proceedings of Government relating to the Native States in the Malayan Peninsula.

Rumbowe and Sungie Ujong.

Situation. These form two of the numerous small States lying to the north and east of Malacca, and remarkable for their small size and peculiarity of Government.

Rumbowe lies immediately to the north of Malacca, and Sungie Ujong to the north and west of Rumbowe; both territories being watered by the Lingie and confluent

streams.

Our information as to the geography of these States is but small and of old date. Lieutenant Newbolt, writing about 1838, says that Rumbowe is bounded on the north-east by Sri Menanti and Sungie Ujong, to the south by part of Naning and Jobole, to the west by part of Naning and Salangore, and to the east by part of Sri Menanti and Johole. The same author describes the situation of Sungie Ujong as towards the source of the right branch of the Lingie river, and bounded on the north by Jellabu, on the south by part of Rumbowe and the Lingie river, to the east by Sri Menanti, and to the west by Salangore. There were nine States in all, viz.:-Rumbowe, Sungie Ujong, Johole, Naning, Segamet, Jellabu, Ulu Calang, Jumpole, and Jellye.

States.

The accompanying sketch map will give a general idea of the position of the several History. Their history is somewhat obscure, and it is difficult to understand how so many small States (the whole together not equalling in size any one of the other recog- nized modern Malay States) should have been established, or allowed to remain, if already established, in the immediate neighbourhood of Malacca, the seat of the central Malay Government in the Peninsula. It is necessary, however, in order to understand the position of affairs at present, to enter into somewhat lengthened detail of their past history.

There is a tradition that, soon after the foundation of the first Malay Empire at Singapore, by members of the Menangkabowe family, in the twelfth century, a Chief of that house had come across from Sumatra, with a number of followers. They settled in the interior of Malacca, where they married with the women of the country, Orong Benus (the aborigines), and established a large Colony, the people of which, always called the Menangkabows by the old Dutch writers, in course of time formed the nine States (Negri Sambilan).

Orang Benua. It would be out of place here to attempt to follow the history of these aborigines, but it is necessary to notice their existence, as their Chiefs or Batins exercised considerable influence in the States.

Government.--The Government of the nine States, as provided for by the Johore, or, probably even earlier, by the Malacon Sultan, was as follows:-Kach State was presided over by a Chief, named Panghulu (a word meaning the Chief of a distziot), who bad, an a Council, four Officers named Sukus (the word Saku means, literally, a quarter, a branch

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of a family, a tribe: the words "Chief of” should therefore be understood before it). The Punghulus, so long as the supreme authority was near them at Malacca, would have had limited powers, such as might be expected from their modest title; but their powers would naturally have increased when the supreme authority was removed from Malacca to Johore; and would have become supreme as the distant Johore authority weakened.

During their occupation of Malacca, from 1511 to 1641, the Portuguese did not extend their influence inland; and, it may be, that the neighbouring places having been so organized by the Menangkabowe Chiefs, had been, out of respect for their origin, permitted to retain their organization; or, it may have been, that the territory, having been so close to the head-quarters of the Malay Government, had been divided by that Government into smaller districts than the more distant places; and on the removal of the Malay Government from Malacca to Johore in 1511, these districts were left undisturbed by the Portuguese, and gradually became recognized as States under their respective subordinate rulers.

Punghulus.-The Punghulus were chosen by the Sukus and people, from a certain family or tribe on each vacancy. It is reported that a Sultan of Johore, when appealed to on one occasion as to the difficulty of choice in Rumbowe, where there were two great tribes, the Bedoands Jakun and the Bedoanda Jawa, that is, the tribe of Jakuns (abori- gines) and the tribe of Malays, decided that the Punghulu of Rumbowe should be chosen from each tribe alternately; a decision which is said to have given satisfaction, and to be in force at the present day.

Origin of the Chiefs of Sungie Ujong and Rumbowe.-The tradition as to the origin of the Punghulus of Sungie Ujong and Rumbowe is, that the Bandahara of Johore went from Sekudai, in the Straits separating Singapore from Johore, and settled in the Sungie Ujong river, where he married a Jakun and had by her three daughters.

The eldest Toh Mudih married a Passe (in Sumatra) man, and had by him two sons, Toh Klamba and Toh Sulong, and two daughters, Tob Samurga and Toh Sirimanee.

The second daughter, Toh Bangkal, married a Menangkabow Inche, and had by him one son, Lela Maharaja, and three daughters, Toh Pendang, Toh Lejah, and Toh Mahraman.

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The third daughter, Toh Mungkudu, went with her father to Pahang, where he established himself, and is said to be the predecessor of the Bandaharas of Pahang.

Toh Klamba, son of the eldest daughter, married a Jakun, and his son was the first Datu Klana, or Chief of Sungie Ujong. Toh Klamba, who became venerated as a saint, was buried on the banks of the river near Bukit Tiga, where his monument remains, and

is looked upon as a sacred shrine by all pious Mohamedans.

Lela Maharaja, son of the second daughter, married a Jawa, that is, Malay woman, and was the first Punghulu of Rumbowe,

Lela Maharaja's son by his Malay wife was called Sedia Raja.

The Klana's father being the son of the elder sister was called Abang, elder brother, and this distinction remains.

Titles of the Punghulus.-The titles conferred on the Punghulus by the Sultan of Johore, and used till this day, are as follows:-

Bungie Ujong, Klana Putra;

Rumbowe, Lelah Maharajah and Sedia Raja;

Johole, Lelah Percassa;

Naning, Maharajah Lelah; Segamet, Orang Kaya Muda ;

Jellabu, Akhir Zaman;

Ulu Calang, Tuanku Calang; Jumpole. Raja Andra Segara; Jellye, Maharajah Perba;

Naning replaced.-The State of Nanang soon became so closely connected with the Europeans, and the authority of its Chief was so ourtailed by them, that it was excluded from the confederation. Its place was, in course of time, supplied by Sri Menanti, a small district on the north-eastern boundary of Rumbowe. The Pungbulu of Sri Menanti, with the assent of the other Panghulus, assumed the title of Satia (or Sedia) Maharajah.

The five States last named in the list above given remained under the direct Govern- ment of the Sultan at Johore: owing probably to their poverty the Europeans did not interfere with them. Only the four first named came under the Menangkabowe Ruler hereafter referred to. When the Kingdom of Selangore was formed Ulu Calang was incorporated in it, and ceased to form a part of the confederated States.

Dutch Connection.—After the Dutch established themselves in Malacca, in 1641, they