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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PREC.O. 882

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3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Last Menangkabowe Prince.

Rajah Lengang Laut died in 1824, leaving two sons, Rajah Radin, afterwards called Eam Tuan, or sometimes Eam Tuan Besar, of Sri Menanti, and Rajah Ujong, or Imaum, both sons by his wife, the daughter of the Chief of Jellabu. Owing to intrigues of Rajah Alli, no successor was appointed from Menangkabowe for two years, when Rajah Labu arrived; and soon after married Tuanku Itam, daughter of Rajah Assil, the late Eam Tuan Muda, and cousin of Rajah Alli. Rajah Labu was preceded by a favourite retainer, Rajah Krejan, who soon, by his licentious proceedings, raised a feeling of opposition to his Chief.

His expulsion. In 1830 the opposition, fostered by Rajah Alli, rose to such a pitch that Rajah Labu was obliged to leave his residence in Sri Menanti; but he managed to enlist on his side three of the Punghulus, those of Sungie Ujong, Johole, and Sri Menanti, who had not recognized the appointment of Rajah Alli as Eam Tuan Muda, Peace was restored for and with them besieged Rajah Alli at Bandar, in Rumbowe. a time by negotiation, the Punghulus retiring from the siege; but soon after, the war broke out again; Rajah Alli, Syed Sabban, and Rajah Radin attacked Sri Menanti, in the absence of Rajah Labu; and ultimately, in 1832, Rajah Labu returned to Menang- kabowe. His favourite, Rajah Krejan, after having fled to Pahang, came to Jobole, where he engaged in intrigue, and gave much trouble for a time, but has long disap- peared.

Defects of the system. Thus ended, as might have been expected, the project of a nominal ruler from Menangkabowe. It may be gathered from the history of this extra- ordinary attempt to govern that, so long as the ruler had no personal or family interests to

any

of serve, the system might work well; but, as soon as there were grown up sons of the rulers left in the country, matters would become involved. Such sons, from their birth of mothers belonging to the States, would naturally look to have a proper position; and, from their exalted rank, they could hold none but the highest places.

In fact, the system broke down after only a few years on this account. But the con- sequences have been serious in the disorganization brought into the Government of the four States. The mere presence of Princes of such high rank was sufficient to affect the pre-existing modest system of a Punghulu and his elders; and in effect we find the later history of the States obscured by the appearance of several different kinds of rulers, called Earn Tuans, Rajahs, Mantris, Laxamanas, and others, whose origin, rights, and real posi- tion it is difficult to ascertain with certainty.

Menangkabowe rule of succession.—There is a peculiarity in the rule of descent among the Menang kabowe States which requires notice here, to explain why, as we shall find hereafter, the sister's son succeeds instead of the son.

In the Malayan Annals there is a puerile story told to account for the origin of the rule; but the real origin, doubtless, was a desire to keep the race of pure blood, on one side at least; and, not confiding practically in the canonical rule "pater est quem nuptiæ demonstrant," the lawgiver directed that the son of the sister should succeed.

The custom is the same as that in force among the Malayas of Malabar, in Southern India, from whom the Malayan Chiefs and civilization, if not the people, are supposed to have their origin. Under this rule, a son of the Sultan of Menangkabowe, not being eligible to succeed to his father's throne, would more readily seek fortune elsewhere.

Usurpation of Rajah Alli.

On Rajah Labu's retirement in 1832, the field was left open to Rajah Alli, who, in September of that year, was declared by the Punghulu and Sukus of Lower Rumbowe to be Eam Tuan Besar; and at the same time his son-in-law, Syed Sabban, was appointed Eam Tuan Muda. These appointments were only recognized in Lower Rumbowe, and both Eam Tuans were soon after expelled.

Syed Sabban.-Syed Sabban has played such an important part in the history of these States, and in the Naning war, that it may be permitted to say a few words about him here. He was born in Rumbowe. His father was an Arab, Syed Ibrahim, a zealous missionary, who had settled in the country to teach the people and convert the aborigines to Maho- medanism. His mother was a Malacca woman of low rank. Syed Sabban's frequent visits to Malacca had no doubt opened his eyes to the advantage of liberal views, and had given him some knowledge of Europeans. Being a Syed, he had access to the Malayan Royal families, with some of which he contracted matrimonial alliances, amongst others the Johore and Siak families. His marriage to the daughters of Rajah Alli pointed out his policy in the four States, and he supported his father-in-law till his death. By his know- ledge of the Europeans, he kept Rajah Alli free of the Naning war, in which he himself

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took a useful part on the side of Government. When driven out of Rumbowe in 1836 he and Rajah Alli retired to Tampin and Kru, where they were allowed to remain in peace till Rajah Alli's death in 1856, when Syed Sabban resided chiefly in Malacca. After Rajah Alli's death Syed Sabban's influence declined. He was principally supported by a pension of 2401. a year from Government for his services in the Naning war. The latter years of his life were spent in Malacca, where he acted as Khali Mahomedan Judge; and to prevent him from intriguing in the native States, he was put under an engagement not to leave Malacca without the permission of Government. On his death, in the beginning of last year, he left little to his children but Tampin and Kru, two small districts on the Rum- bowe frontier, to which he had particularly attached himself in his later years, and which he left by a written document to Syed Hamid, his second son by one of the daughters of Rajah Aili.

Rajah Radin. It is difficult to ascertain how matters stood as to the Eam Tuans after the expulsion of Rajah Alli and Syed Sabban (the usurping Eam Tuan Besar and Eam Tuan Muda) from Rumbowe, in 1836; but on the death of Rajah Alli in 1856, Rajah Radin, son of Rajah Lingang Laut, who had always lived in Sri Menanti, assumed the title of Ean Tuan Besar, of Sri Menanti.

This Prince, in August 1859, made a formal offer of his territories to the British Government, enumerating them and including the whole of the nine States. Strange as it may seem, his offer was accompanied by confirmatory letters under the chops of several of the Chiefs, prominently those of Sungie Ujong and Rumbowe; although, at the same time, the Punghulus of these States were carrying on the government of their respective States, and corresponding directly with the British authorities, without the slightest reference to the Eam Tuan Besar or Muda. The Punghulu of Rumbowe was, in accordance with the practice of that State, making himself disagreeable to our Govern- ment in various ways, such as sheltering our runaway convicts, harbouring criminals, and paying no attention to, or sending impertinent replies to, the letters of the Malacca authorities.

In 1861 Rajah Radin died, and Syed Sabban submitted his claims as Eam Tuan Muda, backed by some of the Chiefs, to succeed as Eam Tuan Besar of Sri Menanti. There were two other candidates, Rajah Radin's brother, Rajah Ujong, sometimes called Rajab Imaum, and a Menangkabawe Prince named Beringen. Syed Sabban's character for intrigue was so well established that it was thought to be inexpedient that he should be allowed to accept the office, to which, indeed, he had but little claim, other than what his own personal influence gave him. Accordingly he was informed that, if he accepted the office, he would lose his pension, on which he withdrew, and Rajah Ujong succeeded and ruled till his death in 1869. The title of Eam Tuan Besar, at first recognized over the four States, was, on Rajah Alli's succession, confined to Runbowe; when be was expelled from Rumbowe in 1836, it does not appear what title or authority he had, but on his death, Rajah Radin's title was confined to Sri Menanti. It is not clear what was the position of either Rajah Radin or Rajah Ujong in Sri Menanti, whether they were simply the Chiefs of the State governing as such, or whether they had the shadow of an office such as that before held by the Menangkabowe rulers, with jurisdiction slight as it might be over some of the other States. It must be noted, however, that all the Treaties with Rumbowe included the name of Rajah Alli.

The Dutch Treaty of 5th June, 1819, was made with Rajah Alli, Punghulu Pukat, and the four Sukus of Lower Rumbowe. The English Treaty of 30th November, 1831, was made with Rajah Alli, the Punghulu and four Sukus; while the subsequent Treaty of 28th January, 1832, was made with Rajah Alli, Syed Sabban, the two Punghulus and three Sukus of Lower, and two of Upper Rumbowe. The English Boundary Agreement, of 9th January, 1833, was made with Rajah Alli and Syed Sabban, together with the two Punghulus, Lelab Maharajah, and Sedia Rajah, and the eight Sukus.

Contemplated Restoration.-The want of a chief of high rank to govern all these small States is now again becoming felt; and it is said that the chiefs, if encouraged, would restore the system of Government in force at the end of last century (Menangkabowe Rulers), and that Sultan Alli, the present head of the family of the Sultans of Johore, would be chosen, and would accept the office. In the event of their not quoceeding in re-establishing the old form, they are said to be prepared to give certain privileges to the Raja who may be chosen for Sri Menanti, the candidates for which office are Raja Ahmut, son of Raja Ujong, the last Raja; Raja Antar, son of Raja Radin; and Syed Ahman, the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong.

Claims of Rumbowe.-It seems to be sufficiently clear that, before the Menangkabowe Rulers arrived, each of the four States had its own separate and, as among themselves, independant Government; and that, if there was any superiority in rank among them, it