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V .''
V ■■■■■■ I
' IWW"
o^-
IT ;26
N,
^(5-12. <. (o
*
■J^
MEMOIRS
OF A
MALAYAN FAMILY,
WRITTEN BY THEMSELVES.
I. u
MEMOIRS
MALAYAN FAMILY,
WRITTEN BY THEMSELVES,
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL
W. MARSDEN, F.R.S.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND.
J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET ;
PARBDRJ, ALLIM & CQ., LEASENHALL STREET.
1880.
^27.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY J. L. COX, GREAT QUEEN STREET.
INTRODUCTION.
The Malayan biographical tract of which
the following is a translation, appears to have
been chiefly drawn up, from time to time as
the circumstances occurred, by the principal
member of the family whose history it re-
lates, and subsequently added to and finally
arranged by one of his younger sons, whose
name of 'La-tcddtn is found at the conclusion
of the manuscript. The date of it he has
neglected to insert ; but the omission is sup-
plied, with sufficient accuracy, by his men-
tioning the name of the English gentleman
at whose desire the transcript was made, and
who is known to have been Chief of the
district in which the writer had taken up his
abode, about the year 1788. A deficiency,
however, of a more serious kind exists, in
there not being any statements throughout
the manuscript, of the years in which the
several occurrences took place, although the
intervals of time between each are carefully
B marked.
U IMTRODUOTION.
marked^ But tkis •■ also is: remedied in jgfepi
measure by tte incidental notice:' of sdme
public transactions,^ whieb let^ai^le a»if to va8cer->
tain that tkel most evniibfulf <period:'tof!^
narrative vms comprised between flvB : year^
1756 and 1766, when Mr. Garter, whose' pfd-»
tection the family sought, was relieved, in itiicr
government of Bencoolen.
The memoirs, although without any. pire^
tension to political or literary importance> ar^
by no means destitute of interest ; but their
principal merit is that of exhibiting a genuine
picture, by a native hand, of Malayan manners
and dispositions, more forcibly, and^ it may be
said, more dramatically represented, than theijr
could be drawn by the pencil of any strangeH
They have also the recommendation of aiSi»v4<<:
ing a specimen of simple narrative; a style
of which some writers have thought the Malays
incapable, and which is certainly rare in comoh
parison with the romantic and extravagant tales
so prevalent amongst these and other eastern
people. Nor should we be too fastidious .qb
the subject of their humble attempts at bio^
graplgr^
* Particularly the capture pf the Eoglish settlementa in Sttpmlra )^
a French squadron under the Comte d'EsUing, in April 1760, and their
re-oocupation iu the following year.
IXTIU>DUOTI0V« iti
ofi^hasttoical interest titat bekucigs^ifo some crif
OUT •^9vrQ naoat' ^op«l^ works of the irante dossf
•> 'TIi^>inbffa8Qript was sent to Ei^lalKt* in thd
year/ 1791, and not icmg afterwaids received
tb€r|d9ess( in wlli€& it now appeiai^'wfailsf i^k
tvtodatbp wis' employed in compiKng a die-^
tionary of the Malayan languages ' lis ha:vTng
lenojainped dO' long unattended to since that
periody •!» -to be attributed to various causes,*
scMe of a personal and others of a public
nature* Among the latter was the consider^
ation,' more es{>acidUy^ that the subject-matter
ofi the niembirs being so nearly connected witk
(^^disagreements between the English and
Biiij;oh' East^ India Companies, or their re-
s{)ecixTe governments abroad, on the grounds,
or pretences of rights infringed, enemies coun-
l^ikanced^ and other grievances, they could
ni9t have been published at the time without
thb hazard of giving umbrage to the one party
or the other ; but the circumstances being
suice entirely changed ; the persons implicated
intthe; traqsactions, both Europeans and Ma*
lay^s^ living long ceased to exist ; the rules
of 'iMniduct towards the country powers being
estabiislied on a more enlightened policy than
B 2 formerly
It INtRODUCTION.
formerly prevailed; and every pretext for
future national differences being removed , by
the treaty of 1824^* tk^e no longer appears,
to be any sufficient motive for suppressing a
recital (true in substance, however partially
coloured) that may serve ap an r useful ti^aming
to all persons who, in those countries, are
placed in situations of discretionary control,
to be just, as well as cautious in their pro-
ceedings with a spirited and adventurous race
of people, who have strong feelings 6f inde-
pendence, are impatient of injury, jeaJo;us of
insult, and who consider the ii^dulg^pcesj^af^
Tevenge as a duty at least, if not a virtue.
<\f -^.y ',• f
* By this treaty England consented to withdraw its' establishments^ ^
and to relinquish in fovour of the Netherlands, all right to settle or maiil-.
tain factories in the island of Sumatra; the latter power agreeing, on its ,
part, to renounce a claim to territorial rights over the small island of
Singapore^ on which, as an undccupied spot, a settlement had been
recently formed by the English; and also to give up its factories on ue
continent of India.
• \ {«. i AM
f t
V .. -J «:(M.J;
■ »«.'»■■
MEMOIRS
OF A
MALAYAN FAMILY.
This narrative, which contains a full detail of events
that took place at the period of the Dutch (East-India)
Company's taking measures for establishing a settle-
ment at Samangka^* is transcribed for the information
of the (English) resident (chief) of iMyCy'^ who has
expressed
* The name of a district in the Lampong country, as well as of a large
hkj near the western entrance of the Straits of Sunda, on the Sumatran
side, otherwise called by the Dutch, Keyser*s Bay. It does not appear
from the maps that the name of Samangka was applied to any particular
town I nor, especially, is it found in a survey made of the bay by direction
ot the late Sir Stamford Raffles, or in his excellent map of Sumatra
r I r
recently published. There is reason, however, to believe that the plac^
called Bind or JBimStX, its further extremity, is that which was occupied
by this fimiily and other Malays, and where the Dutch hoisted their
flag; for in a sketch made at the time by Captain Thomas Forrest»
and published in Dalrymple's Collection, it is the only spot where he
has maiked a town ; and it cannot be supposed that he would have
omitted the place where he procured refreshments, and lay (as will
appear) ten days at anchor. Nor is it extnioidinary that m the course
of this narrative the well-known name of the bay should be employed
instead of that belonging to an obscmre river at the mouth of which the
Malays had fixed themselves.
t A residency or settlement on the south-western coast of Sumatn^
about thirty miles from Bencoolen, of which Mr. B. Hunnings was then
chiet
2 ' OUiEAfOIRS. 0«r. A>'
IjevfkemeAafyibikio benaadcmoqnAitediriiKiidviliq dliji^iul-
itsaitteii . •'' " ' •,'; (.»
A Mabijr, a native of Bagting^ in the >kii^alzL/4)f
Mefumgklabau^f who wms distingaished by the 9|>p>^
ticm of Naldtoda Makuta, uttdatook a trading .To^B^e
td Java, and continued for some time to navigate fickn
one fott to another of that country. Visitiiig afikerwairds
an island called Karimdta^ situated betun^n Pam ^d
Banjav^X which he found to be the resort of a oonk^ider-
able number of Malays, who were drawn thithcrr, as well
for its being suited to the purposes of commero^ as on
account of gold mines at that time worked by iSat natives;
and observing it to be a place where the people lived
undisturbed in their industrious pursuits, he formed the
resolution of making it his future residence, and acooni-
ingly took to himself a wife. He had not, however, be^n
settled there more than three yeare, when a fleet (fS
praws) from the Bugis country (Celebes), cbmmanded
by Pangltma Ttiasah, made its appearance and coti-
menced hostilities ; the reputed wealth of ike infaaifaitants
holding out a strong temptation for plunder. The
attacks were resisted during the space of a manth^ l:yut
the invaders continually receiving fresh auocours at
length
* A p]j|oe not OMDJ milM to tke sMtb-eiflfc of Ptid^aigf^n 0e w^lt^ni
ooast of Sumatm.
t For an account of this andent, and probably original Malayan
Ungdoin/seetheRtetoryof 19anwtra,'p. 880; * r> / «
^ Ports of Borneo ; but the situation here described appHes father to
Pub Lata than to KarinUUa, which lies on the western oi Opposite* side
of the great island. • • . •' - ^ r
MALAYAN ^AMILV. 3
kagtb pvevttthd^ and the p^opb on dhMM^ wefe Mbeed
to the necessity of saving themselves by flight to the
'belt mumer Aey Could. Some made their ĕĕcsipe in
.fltwiffi^ and some in «ampans (cano^)^ wMlst others
fled on foot (to the interior of the idand). Nahkoda
MEkStavmbsakei in a praw, and sailing at night, un-
dbservcd by the enemy, reached in safety a place named
TjSyan^ in the ooimtry of Btinjar (in Borneo).
About a year alter his arrival, his wife bore him a
son» to irfaom he gave the name of Inchi Tayan, When
die child had attained its third year, he began to r^ect
on the expediency of dianging his residence ; from the
eonsideratioii that in the event of his own death, an
infaoit of that tender age, without a father or relatives,
would be exposed to danger. Influenced by this motive
he took measures for building a praw, for which he
provided a cargo as soon as she was ready for sea, and
' when a fortunate hour presented itself, he set sail, with
his fiunily and household, for a trading voyage to the
country of Lam/pdrng*^ The space of time employed in
the voyage is net mentioned, but he disembarked at a
place called Pidbong^'f whare he found a number of
Malaya livii^ under the jurisdiction of a parigeran
(native chief), who received his title of Pangeran Sura-^
batjoa fifbm &e sultan <^ BofUam (in Java)« Upon
this
»' -
^ A district that embiaces the soutbem extremity of Sumat» ; but
the name is purticiilariy applied to a bay within the Straits of Sunda, and
. 0^ to that of Sanumgka*
t An inconsiderable place in Ldmpong Bay.
4 M^SfOlES 6F A
this person he waited, to pay his respects, aind recdtnjted
to him the events of his life, partictdailj the eirc^un^
stances attending his flight from KafimSta. ThecY&ei
appeared to feel much concern at the recital, and ^d
to him, ** Nakhoda^^ you 'will do wisdy to fix your
^ abode in my country, and cease to lead a wandering
^ life. Reflect that you are now advanced in yesirs ; bM
m
•*if your indination be still to employ yoursetf In'tHe
«pursuit of gain, there is ample scope for trade between
*^ this place and Bantam." ' Mak&ta assented to this proi^
posal, and when their oonversation was at an end, ne^
turned to his vessel for the purpose of landing iier
cargo. This being effected, he hauled her on shore and
laid her up. His next object was to build a hou«ee near
the moutli of IHSbong river, where he established hiniself
as a trader. Many people, ais wdl Lampongs as MdAy ^,
resorted to him for the purchase dT his goods ; but even
liiough the purpose of their visit should be merely to
convei%e and ask questions, he neV^ failed to answ^
them with mildness in his words and complacency in
his manner. His dealings were open and candid, he
was above all dishonourable arts, and he avoided^veiyf.
thing that might lead to jealousy or dispute wltb Hi^
inhabitants. The consequence of which pnldent ^n*
duct was, that during the whole period of Ma living
among them he never ceased to experience their good ^iriH.
Hfo
*' A Peniaii tcnn adopted hj Uie Malays, deaotiDg a peraaa vlio is at
the same time navigator and owner of a trading vessel ; a condition
of much respectability amongst these commercial people.
MALAYAN FAMILY. 5
> Hk Jim Ta3ftM», \mng now of. sufficient age, he had
j^ tfiiUght to JGpeat the fbrmnlariea of f eUgion» apd
n&iKywiB to writ^. Th\» instructed ht was sent to
m&i iseyer^ cpuntnes, the name& of which have not
been recorded. Seven years wete employed in this
HU|9iier ; ai^ the expicatian of which he returned to re^*
i4de at PiSbong. By tbii^ time the father was fax advanced
ip yeaaps ;. living respected by the panjgeran^ beloved by
the.JIVIalayff^ ax^ r^^^arded as their chief by all the mi»v
chantBestablUsbed there. He resolved that his son-should
not th^Qoicurwaird undertake any long voyage. <^ Con-
f^lent yo^ijad^" he said to him, ^^ with making trips
f^ be^we^ this port and J3a^ torn, whither you may convey
ff cargoes of pepper; and even if you should effect only
'^ on^^pin the season, you may still mske it answer, by
Vje^d^Hiaying yourself duiuig the intervals, with the .aid
.^.^of a few.d^Bestics, in cultivating a rice plantation.^
, .. Th? value of pepper in this part of the country^. if
the^vances of n^oney are made in the preceding year,
that is, six months before, is six (Spanish) dollars for
the bfls^ (five hundred weight), or seven dollars, if the
jsygtohase be made at the place of wei^ng for money
pfi|d<^wn. Such are the established rates in all parts
o^ Z'fVfffmgs within the jurisdiction of the sultan. Now
tt^ pepper, when safely transported to Bantam, is resold
lo the sultan for twelve dollars the bahar; and be the
quantity what it may, he never fails to take it off. By
ium it is again di^Kxied of to the Dutch Company at
twenty dollars, according to an agreement that has long
subsisted
6 MJSM0I&9 OE A.
BMb8it9ted'I|etF«Ba^ ihem*f The Cow^axiyr eani»Ql;;.puN
<lifl9evit .in the first instezus^ ^roo^ the cUef» .qf fthe
coualsry» not from the Malay trad^ iv^tbo^.^ w»-
salt of the tsultan, and if these should ber^^teet^ hi
the sale of it, they would become • liaUe to -capitid
punishment; the pepper having ev^r rbecai oonsideced
as at the exclusive disposal of Uie prince»
In compliance with the wishes of his falher5 T^^<m
confined himself to the sh<»i; navigatitm pointed. out
to him. About twelve months after this time his name
of manhood was bestowed upon him,*)- and from thenci»-
Ibrwards he was distinguialied by tiie appellation of
Nakhoda Muda*
When he had been engaged for the ^ace of four or
five years in the business of conveying pepper to Bw-
tam, it happened that his father was seiaced with a
dangerous illness, and upon bdng called to bis presence,
the latter thus addressed his son: ^^ O my child, the
'' fruit of my heart and light of my eyes, preserve as a
<^ sacred deposit the advice that I now give you. When
*^ the decree of the Almighty shall have been fulfSled with
<^ respect to me, and by my death you shall have become
<^ your own master, avoid carefully to contract, debts. If
<^ your capital should be insujfficient for your ^mplojfing
<< it in mercantile adventures, cut timber in the wooti^,
" dispose
* The price paid to the planters, at that period, by the English Com-
pany, was fifteen dollars the bahar, exclusive of the customary allowances
or duties to the chiefs.
f For an explanation of this cognomen or titular name, termed gaht,
see Hist of Sumatra, p. 285.
^^'aiipotsi^tl^^ ^ TtSBt n eapital ; %ut «b tot cbJre
^^ nkti^ debt, et^^ ta the sultan^ Ihe Comfi^y > tnr
^^ aby ittdjriduai. Obs^ve this injunotion^ my dear son I'*
ghqH}y lifter pttonoundbg these ^&ti&^ Nahhad» M^.
%dM breathe His'Iast, in the country dT PiSbdng. The
commands he gave were listened to with attention by
'Nakhodd MSda, who treasured them up in his heart
and never swe'ved from them.
About three years after this event he married, according
to the mode termed semanda/^ a person from Satmrngka^
the daughter of Nakhoda Paduka^ who at his death left
only this child, whose name was Radm Manirt Her
the relations bestowed in marriage on Nakhoda Muda
ot PiSbofiff. Two years afterwards he made a trading
•voyage to Sama/ngka^ and upon his return asked hi»
fWife whether she felt a strong attachment to her own
'cbuntty, as in that case he should make no difficulty in
•'^gffetifying her wishes by removing thithCT. *^ Nothing,^
'tehe' replied, " could be more agreeable to me than to
^^ l*evisit Samangka^ and especially as I have there some
^*«pliftitations of coco-nut and other fruit-trees, which I
' *' inherited from my family, and have left behind me.'*
r Upon this he embarked with his wife and all his house-
'Ikold, in a praw, and removed to that place, where, upon
'his difiival he built a house. The produce of pepper
m
* In this, the proper Malayan niode> as distingiijshecl finom ^luwe in
use amongst the country people» the rights of the two parties are red-
IMTOcal. See Hist, of Sumatra, p. 226.
8 MEMOIRS OF A
in the cou^ti^ being considemble, he found ftiU en^ploy-
ment every eeaaon in transporting die afticle to Banlam; '
where also he married a wife. At dtts time his ^lin^y
atSamangka consisted of nine diiMrenytiiree datighteys'
and six soqb. The eldest of all was named In^t Pismff,
the nextf Inchi TenSm (daughters), then a boy named
Wa9fuh; the next was bom at Bantam, and named
Waml ; then again at Sa/i/haingka^ one named Bantai%j
and another named ^La^uddtn ; then the third daughter,
named Brlsihj and Muhammed and RqfjMldIn, (sons) ;
making in the whole ten children, (including the one bom
at Bcmiam). Besides these were three which he had by
concubines; one, a boy, named RabCt^ and two girls"
named SuRami and Si-KhamU, From the period of his'
removal to Sama/ngka^ the number of Malayan settlers i
there continually increased. ^
Beyond the hills that lie inland of this place, there '
lived a people known by the appellation of AMiigy who'
occupied ten villages. This singular custom prevafletf
among them, that when their 3roung men proposed to
marry, they were required to undergo a year'^ probation '
before their offers were accepted. In order to f\ilfil'
this, they formed parties, to the number perhaps of ten
persons, each of whom armed himself with a spear, a' '
sword, and a kiis, and thus equipped Ihey set out on
an expedition. Their provisions were three (gallon)
measures of rice, with as much sugar as each man chose
to provide; the use of this last article being to make a
composition with decayed wood, on which to subsist,
should
A
If
f->
v;
MALAYAH FAMILY. 9
sIvoilJArth^ii^ ^6 ^ expended. The olj^eet of these
ent^rpifi$^sw$i»to cut off the heads of such persons as
th?^; > should /moouBffaer on the road; and in this pursuit
th^jjf.'wevQ sometimes led as fiu* as the sear^^oast, in the
n^l4mi|r)HN^ f3f. Samongka. Scarcely a month passed
Dfitboiit soKie^ of the iiahabitaats losing their lives^ whose
hpdiecf w^are afterwards found headless in the woods;
ai^ when th#r^ was occasion toyisit the rice plantations*
or. feU tisdjbiers unless four or five persons associated for
defence) they . dfu^ not to yenture into the country,
from. the dread entertained of these AbSng men.*
A» soon as the invading party met with success in
oh^ning. heads, they returned hcnneward. In the mean
tijne their cpuotrymen, expecting their approach, pre*
p^^ coco-nut shells filled with milk, and placed in
the paths through which they must pass to their respective
villt^s. Such of the youths as were provided with tro-
phie$i passed on to their houses, escorted by a numerous
band of young women who met them on the road, and
witji every demonstration of joy, shewed their wiUing-
ne^ to beccnne the wives of the fortunate adventurers.
Those, on the contrary, who returned empty-handed,
wer(^ dcitei^d by shame from entering the villages, when
they perceived the ranges of coco-nut shells filled with
milk ; because the ceremony implied that they were to
be
* Mention is made of this savage tribe in the Hist of SuniBtni, on-
r -
ginally published in 1783» several years before these memoirs were
brOH^ to En^laad.
10 ' QiSMOIAS 'OVt^Af
ht looioid .Upon and fed an dogs:f and it ^loetifiies
b«{qpefied tbat to the hour of thetr d<totb» tjlea^'. jievet
revisited thekr iMimes. The iiae td which the jseidk
were gubseqiiei^y apilidd^ was thifi« The: young ix^
who was about to mafcy *pu4 ' into his* trit^hy sopoe gold
or silver, in order to pteB&at it tb tlm pai)en(lt of.hpls^iiq^
tended wife; and when the nupdal' <tei>enu$ny wa^ to
be pcarfonsiedy tl» 6cuU was filled with toddy^'of-.the
palm tree» <^ whidi the bride and bridegroom alternately
drank. The rites were then cc»nplete; whereas air thif
were neglected, su<^ an imperfect marriage wiould he
regarded only as a state of concubinage, itnd the w^oman
would not receive the respect paid to a lafwful wife*
Such were the customs of the Almng people, who lived
beyond the hills of Saamrngka.-f
Nakhoda Muda reflecting on these oircumstunbe», said
to
* The natives of the Malay islands neither drink milk nor ^alfe
butter. The same is said of the Chinese.
•f This story, which has much the air of romance, might, with per-
fect consistency, be reduced to simple matter of fact The people- «f
the hills and those of the lower country were (as vexy commfnlg^
happens) in a state of continual and inveterate hostility, retaliating as
opportunities offered, and giving no quarter. Those of the hills, though
strong In their natural defences, were in£»ior to the others in point of
numbers and means of offence. The object of their policy mqst there-
fore have been to surprise stragglers, and their young men were incited
to 'Shew their activity and skill in this spedes df warfore, by the most
effectual encouragement that could be held out to them; that of
bestowing their young women on those, in preference, who most distin-
guished themselves. Of their comparative merit the onlyosteailTblĕ
proof was the number of heads brought back with thein>.«i^..fhe
ignomy attendant on the want of success (however accidental), has
nothing in it of an extraordmary character. ^ "
MALAYAN FAlfflLY. II
to faimMlf» ^< Afti long lui the JASifig peopb r«BUifai un-
*< subdisedy the khabittfnt» of this place must 9iw$,ji
^hei exposed to danger; and it is inlolcfable> that a
^^^ person caimoi ventinfe to walk into the country alone.**
Undep these bnpresflion» he pioceeded to consult with
JSfMa Minfanj agent for the saltan c^ Banĕam at Sa^
mangkoy about the expediency of making an attack upon
their villages. Kirkt agreed with him in opinion, and
proposed that they should assemUe their respective de-
pendantik; giving notice ai their design to the chiefis
of the country. These chiefs were four ptmgerans ;
namely, Wei Ratna of Beniawcmg^ whose jurisdiction
ooniprehended twenty kampongB (or palisadoed villages)-;
Lout Daritsania of Blbu Lungu, who had eighteen
villages ; Jaya Kctauma of P^dang Rata^ who had
ten^ and Wei Samangkal of Samawcmg^ whose depen**
dants were numerous and occupied thirteen villages.
All these chiefs were summoned, and in about five days
they assembled at Scmangka to discuss the proposed
measures; when Kirla Mingan thus addressed them:
**The subject on which Nakhoda Muda and myself
'^have ealled you together is, the expediency,, as it
<^ appears to our judgments^ of conquering the AbSmg
" people, in order that the inhabitants of this country
*< may be relieved from apprdi^ision and enabled to
^^ attend to their pepper and rice plantations, which, as
^ we are informed, they cannot do at present without
** imminent risk, should they venture to go singly : and
" for this state of things, there seems to be no other
" remedy.
IS MEMOIRS OF A
" remedy." The pangerans unanimously repUed : ** The
^^ circumstances, Kiria Minjan, are as you represent,
"and we perfectly concur with you in c^inion as *to
" the necessity of the war; but for oui^ parts we are
" entirely unprovided with the proper *inins, such as
" pieces of ordnance and musquets. Oiir weapons die
" no other than long lances, which must prbve exceed-
^< ingly inconyenient in a country where hills are to be
" continually ascended and descended.*** — *' No diilB-
" culties," said NaJchodd Muda^ " need to be made
^^ respecting arms. Such of the depdxdants dt the
"country chiefs a9 accompany me, may be provided
"with the common short lances; the long ones being
" useless." He was appointed sole leader of ^ expe-
dition ; nor was it accompanied either by Kifla Mmjan
or by any of the pangerans in perscxa. The force em-
ployed consisted of about four hundred mten, of whom
eighty carried musquets; the remainder beii^ armed
in a variety of modes. After spending three days in
making their way through uninhabited forests, they
approached the neighbourhood of the Abmig village^.
A council of war being now held, NakJuoda Muda gave
orders that the people belonging to the country chiefs
should remain where they w^e, for the present, whilst
he advanced with those who were aimed with musquets;
but that as soon as they should hear the report of agun,
they were to hasten immediately to the spot. ' Marching
close
* These very long lances are described in the Hist, of Suinatni, aa
being borne by three men. See p. 261 of early editions, or 297 of new.
MALAYAN FAMILY. IS
close Up to one of .the Tillages, ikamed Minjangy he
ordered a shot to be fired into it, and then altered with
his men: but they found it empty; having been aban-
doned by the inhabitants, who had fled in various
directions. The remainder of the tocce now came up,
and fell to plundering such effects as were left in the
houses. . Inquiry was theiji made of persons acquainted
with the country, whether the other villages of these
people were far distant from thence, and upon being
informed to the contrary, Nakhoda JUSda, immediately
proceeded against them with all his followers. The
particular names of these places are not mentioned, but
of the ten not one remained untaken, and by order of
the commander the bouses were burnt to the ground.
Two months were employed in searching ios the fugi-
tives, scarcely any of whom could be discovered*. Such
as they happened to fall in with were hunted like deer
in the forest; none attempting to make resistimce, so
much were they terrified by the report of fire-arms;
nodiing of the kind having ever been heard among
them, either in the course of their own lives or fix>m the
days of their forefathers. In all this destruction of
villages, however, not more than four of the Abung
people were killed by the musquetry ; and of the four
hundred who accompanied Nakhoda MMa^ not one man
lost his life, and only one waa wounded in the foot by a
ranjau.^ Since this event nothing has been certainly
known
* These are soaall, gharpened stakes of bamboo» stack in the ground tc^
annoy a pimutng, barefooted enemy.
14 1<BM0IRS 6F A
known of these fugitive(>r) but it was reported that they
had fled as far as the sea, on the opposite side of the
island, and were settled near PcUembang. Nakhoda
Muda and his army returned to Sama/ngka^ where they
were met by Kirla and the jpcmgercm^, and eagerly
questioned respecting the circumstances of their cam»
paign ; of which a complete detail was afforded. Being
now satisfied of the entire dispersion of the Ahung
people, those of Samangka were relieved from fiirther
apprehension. After four or five days had been spent
in fbstivitiea and rejoicing in the town, the country chiefs
returned to their respective villages with hearts quite at
ease^
Half a year had elapsed from the time of this trans-
action, when Nakhoda Muda made a voyage to Bantam
with a cargo of pepper. Upon his arrival he waited on
the principal minister of the sultan and depositary of
his cofifidence in all business, of whatever nature, within
his realm, whose title was Ptmgwan Kasuma Ningrat
Upon entering the house, be sat down (respectfully) in
the presence of the minister, who^ when he perceived
him, said ; •' When did Nakhoda Muda arrive ? What
<^ cargo has he brought? What news was stirring at
^ Samangka when he left it ?'*—." My lord pangeT0n^
replied he, <' I have brou^t nothing besides peppar ;
^ being the <mly produce of the country. Of this I
*^ have one hundred bahars (about thirty tons). As to
<* news there was none, excepting what relates to a
^ certain people beyond the hills, who had no king nor
" were
MALAYAN FAMILY. 15
<< were under any certain ^vemment ; belonging neither
'^ to his highness the sultan of Bant<Bm^ nor to the
*^ sultan of Paiembangy nor to any other power. 80
'^ great was the terror they inspired, that when any of
^ them were known to approach the coast, the inhabi-
tants of Samangka dared not to venture into the
country, from the dread of being murdered This
*^ caused the chiefs to resolve upon attacking their
^ villages, and to appoint me to proceed thither at the
^^ head of their dependants; on which occasion the
*^ villages were all destroyed, to the number of ten.^ The
minister expressed himself to be extremely gratified by
this intelligence, and Nakhoda Muda, after some furdier
conversation, took his leave, to return to his vesseL
As soon as the landing of his caxgo was effected, an
officer on the part of the sultan, and another aa the part
of the Dutch Company, attended to receive it. When
weighed, the amount was paid in dollars, which he laid
out in goods for the Samangka market. His returning
cargo being ready, he again waited on the minister, to
signify his intention of departing. << Nakhoda Muda^
said he, '^ as your residence is at Samamgka^ it is expe-
'^ dient that you should be in a capacity of rendering
*< service to the sultan, in your district, which is far
*' removed from the seat of government Should any
*^ disputes, or actual hostilities tok^ place amongst the
pangerana or proatms (heads of villages), be it your
duty, in conjunction with Kiria Jdinjan (the agent),
^^ to inquire into the causes of their difference, and,
c 2 " provided
16 MSMOIBS OF A
*^ provided that no lives have been lost, to adjust the
^^ affair, judicially, on th^ spot : but in the event of any
^^ persons being killed, the proattns must be sent over to
^^ Bantam^ and the particulars of the affray communi-
^^ cated to me in writing. Moreover, when persons sent
from me and commissioned by the sultan, arrive at
Samangka for the purpose of making a survey of the
pepper plantations, do you, Nakhoda Muday accom-
^^ pany them in the business. These, you must be
^^ aware, are not my private suggestions, but the com*
'^ mands of the sultan, which I have his directions to
<* make known to you." — ^^ The performance of what
^^ your Excellency, requires," replied Nakhoda Muda^
^^ would not be attended with more trouble than what I
^^ should willingly undertake ; but I have doubts of the
^^ appointment being satisfactory tp the chiefs of the
^< coimtry ; seeing that I am no more than a settler in
^ the place, as is well known to your Excellency."-—
^^ All persons who dwell at Samangka,* the minister
observed, '^ are equally to be considered as settlers, and
*^ as continuing to reside there under the sultan's licence;
f J nqr can any pne of them pretend to exerdse powei: qx
f^ will,, otherwise th^ through the sultan, to whom th^
country has belonged from early times, unto the j^r^
'* s^nt hpur." To this, Nakhoda Muda returned no
furttxer answer, but only, took leave, preparatory tq his
4i£j)arture; on wjiich occasion the minister invested Wuj
with a complete dress, su^^ as the proat'im jn tl^e
dominions of the sultan of Bantam are accustomed to
wear.
MALAYAN FAMILY. 17
wear. Upon going down to the port, he waited on the
Fiscal (Dutch officer of the customs), in order to pro-
cure a sear-pass for Samcmgka^ and as soon as that was
made out, he set sail, and performed the voyage in a
short time.
About six months after his return a boat arrived from
Bantam having on board two officers, who came, by
the sultan's orders, to make a survey of the plantations
belonging to every village, and brought direction to
Nakhoda Muda and Kiria Minjan to proceed along
with them. They accordingly set out together, and in
the progress of the survey (or circuit of inspection), the
principal officer thus addressed the respective proatina :
'^ It is by the command of his highness the sultan that
^^ Nakhoda MSda, m conjunction with Kirla Minjan,
^^ accompanies us on this duty : you are not therefore to
^^ feel any jealousy towards him for what he does in obe^
*^ dience to those commands. If any difference should
<* hereafter arise between one proaatm and another, or
** even between the pangerans^ these two persons are
<< appointed by the sidtan to decide upon it, and you
** are required to abide by their decision. Such, be it
>^ known to all whom it may concern, is the pleasure of
*' the sultan.^ In two months the business of the survey
was completed, when the party returned to the town,
and the boat (with the two officers) sailed for Bantam,
carrying a small quantity of pepper from each of the
country chiefs, as a complimentary tribute to his high-
ness.
The
18 M£MOIBS OF A
The MalayaB town at Samangka continually in*
creased in its population. There were about fifty praws
belonging to the place, navigated by Malays, and em-
ployed in the transport of pepper. These were obliged
to take out passes for their voyage from Nakhoda Muda^
and to produce them on their arrival at Bantam, In
this manner he advanced in personal consequence, and
rose in the esteem of the inhabitants of the place» The
native Lampongsj the Javans, and the Malays, were
equally attached to him.
It happened that about this time a war brcJ^e out in
the country of Bantam, between the sultan and the
people of the hills. The leader of these insurgents was
named Ratu Bagua B&a/ng, a man of an active mind
and of desperate resolution, whom none amongst the
hill-chiefs dared to oppose, and whose word they impli^
ddy followed* Under him they collected in a body to
make an attack on the capital, and soon obtained posses^
sion of all the smaller towns in the neighbourhood. Even
within the oil^' itself^ those persons who were not in
immediate connexioh with the court, were in general
inolmed to the plu^y of Matu Bagua. Theatdy places
of ooosequenjce that remained untaken, were three Ibrts ;
one belongiiig to the sultan, named- Oadong Inimni ai^
twobek)!^ing tothe Dutch^ oaiHed Pitok^ (?)and Jo<sa%
MUu; the gimiaons of which h^ out. The suSt^
however, received occasional assistance from Bafak^ia^
at&d th^ was* was carried on for the space of about two
years ; the insurgents being induced to mdntain it with
such
MALAYAN FAMILY. 19
such obstinacy, by the prospect which Rati Bagu9 held
«mt to them, that in the event of his getting possession
•of the city, they would be relieved from all future
control, either on the part of the sultan or of the
Ccnapatiy. Endowed in an -eminent degree with the art
of working upon the minds of men, he led them in this
manner to promote his designs, and to disregard the con-
sequences of such proceedings.
Upon Kiria IMnjarCa receiving the intelligence of the
dty of Bantam being attacked and of the probability
of its capture, he immediately left Samangka^ in order to
join the party of Rati Bagus^ being himself a hiU<-man of
the Bantam country. As soon as he was M^ooitted to
his presence, and made the customary obeisance, the
Rata* inquired, ^^ from whence does this man come P***^
<^ He is,'' said the officers in attendance, '^ Kiria Minion,
^^ who for some time past has had the management of
the Seaaangka country under the orders of the sultan,
and is anived to pay his compliments to your high^
ness, in consequence of his learning that you are
making preparation to effect the conquest of the
atjJ^f^^^ Your dave," said Ki/na^ *^ comes to ei^ress
his readiness to .submit t& the will of your highness,
^ .and BO kmger acknowledges aUegianoe to .die sukan.^ —
^< Are thtfi^'' itiquired the Muiiiy ^^ any Malaya settled
^^ at Saman^iJkV*^'^^' Theie are many, please your
.^^ bi^ness^ ^dio luce established, there for tliB purposes of
^^oonttD^ce;
'■*- B&Hk is n title of raiiki denoting a feudal prince.
1S0 MEIAOl&S OF A '
*< commerce ; perhaps two hundred and fifty men capable
*' of bearing arms ; and their chief is named Nakhoda
** ISMaT — ^^ Such bang the case,"^ said the BMu^ ^* do
^^ you return directly to Samangka^ and bring hither to
*^ me all those Malays.^ — ^^ But how am I to act,^
4mswered Kirta^ <^ if they do not shew a willingness
>' to obey your highnesses commands by accompanjring
^^ me?^ — << If all should not be disposed to come, bring
^ with you at least one hundred and fifty : by fair means,
^^ if they are submissive, or otherwise by force; but at
^' all events bring them hither ; and should any spirit of
^' resistance be manifested, take off the head of their
** chief, and let it be conveyed to me." ■
After this conversation Kiria embarked from a place
jaamed Kwala Charmgan^ for Samangka^ being pro-
,vided with two large boats, of the sort called pa/n-
chalang. Upon his arrival, he repaired to the residence
of poffgeran Wei Ratna of Benidwcmg^ whom he thus
addressed : <^ I am come hither, pangerany by the orders
^ of Rdtu Boffus Buang, to make a progress through
^^ the country of Lempang, and ascertain who amongst
'^ the chiefs axe dkposed to yield obedience to him, as
<' their aovcsreigm and who are not; it having be«»me
.« cerl«in,ihat <he must soon rrader himself mastesr of^tfae
'^ eily of Bantam*^ My reason for > applying, to yoa .in
^ the first instance is, rthat I consider you to be /the
^^^CQieipail person^ in rttik and eoBsequenoe^ o£ lihit
*' CDvaAry.***^^^ If it ware indeed certain," implied the
pangeran^ f' tiiat Ban^m-must submit to RttiUBfg^is^
" there
MALAYAN FAMI|.Y. SI
^< there would be no room for hesitation, because who-
ever is king of that place is entitled to our allegiance :
I hope that what I say does not give dissatisfaction/'
*' What is your opinion/' said JTtria, '* with regard to
*^ the Malays who are settled here ? Do you suppose
^^ them inclined to attach themselves to the cause of the
*^ Rdtii^ or the contrary ? My reason for the inquiry is,
^^ that I have his instructions to cause all those Malays
*^ to join him ; by fair means, if they are so disposed ;
** or if not, by force.**
It happened that this conversation was overheard by
a person named Rodin Sapang^ who was particularly
attached to Ndkhada Muda^ and who immediately com-
municated to him the purport of it. Upon receiving the
information, the latter called a meeting of all the no-
khodas (masters and owners of trading praws) that were
then in the Malayan town (kampong maldyu). Being
assembled at his house, he addressed them in the
following words : ^^ In what light, my brethren and
fellow-traders, are you disposed to view the commis-
sion brought by Kiria Minjan from RatS Bagu8^ for
^< transporting us all to Bantam f If we shew a disin-
«clination to join in h» measures, he wffl assuredly
*< proceed to hostilities against us. Such is the in*
^ f<Mination communicated to me by Radki Sapcmg.
^^> What, my brethren, should be resolved upon under
^' these circumstances ? Our decision mutst be instancy
^^ made ; for at this moment Kma Minjan is at the
*^ viikge txf pffngeran Wm Ratna^ collecting a force to
" march
22 MEMOIRS OF A
*^ mardi this way.** Of the traders who met together
on this occasion some advised it, as the more prudent
bourse, to accede to what should be proposed by the
agent of the Ratu ; whilst others maintained a contrary
opinion ; and there was no consistency in their deUbe^
rations. At lengtii an dderly person named Nakhoda
Malhn^ who came from Krnnpar (on the north-eastern
coast of Swmatra)y suggested, that since so much un^
certainty prevailed amongst them, it would be expedient
to refer the matter back to Nakhoda Mudoy and to
request die aid of his counsel. This referaice being
approved of by the oth^s. and his sentiments being
desired accordingly, he said to than : ^^ In my humble
opinion, so long as the sultan oiBurdam remains un-
subdued, and the Dutch Company continues to exist
^^ at JBatavia^ it would be unwise in us to embrace
^^ the party of Rdtii Bagits BOang, With regard to
'^ Kirla^ if he shall judge it proper to advance towards
^^ us, I think it will be more advisable to resist him
by open force, than to be led away by any pro-
posals; as I am fully persuaded that Bantam will
not be tak^n by his masta*, however brave he may be^
*< so long as like sultan is ffiraiished with succours fiross
" Baiavia. Thus you have my counsel.** — " This beii^
" the decision,** said they, ^^ no time should be lost ; let
*^ each man of us get ready his arms^ and let us proceed
^ to occupy situations where we csoi mostadvantagecMsfy
" make a stand and oppose the enemy.'*
Nakhoda Muda took measures for fitting out two
praws ;
Malaya>^ familv. 88
prawa; which were well {»t>vided with arms and ammu*
niticHS, and eadi had two experienced perfsons on boiurd»
who were instructed to lie off the mouth of the river for
the purpose of intercepting Kirm IMRnjnfis boats, in
the event (^ his attempting to enlar witb tbem. The
^ews were all chosen men, and Nakhoda Malhn^ to
whom the service was intrusted, had acquired mucH
exparienoe in naval warfare, from having been heretofore
«nplojed against the BSju people.* As soon as this
business had been arranged, he dispatched a small
vessel to Bantam^ with a letter to the sultan and another
to the Butch governor (chief or resident). Mynheer
Sambirik,*t* acquainting them that an agent from Rati*
Bogus had arrived at Samangka^ for the purpose of
securing that country for his master ; that all the native
chiefs ware intimidated by him, but that the Malays, on
the contrary, had shewn no disposition to sulnnit to his
(usurped) authority. Such was the purport of these
letters, which he committed to the charge of a person
named Nakhoda Tangdhy who likewise carried a pre^
sent to the sultan, of dried fish, rice, and ripe betel*nut^
tod to the. Dutch governor, a few fowls* The vessel
sailed immediately, and upon her airrivaL 9i JSantqm the
letters
* More commonly written Wqju : a race of people frequenting the
rivers of Borneo and Celebes, living constantly in their boats^ and said
1^ liawMfelsd to piracy* See Forrest's Voynge to N^w Guinea, Intro»
p. zii, and also p« 37^
t Such the name of this gentleman appears as written in the Malayan
character ; hutit is likely to be much corrupted.
84 MEMOIRS OF A
letters and presents were duly delivered. In consequence
of the advices sent, two ships were ordered to proceed
without delay to Sama/ngka^ one of them having three
and the other two masts, with three hundred soldiers on
board, European and BugisJ'^ In eight days from the
time of transmitting the advices, these ships made their
appearance.
Kirta Minjan was in the mean time enjoying himself
convivially, with the assemblage of proatms at the
residence of parigercm Wei Ratna, and using his endea-
vours to prevail on them to make an attack upon the
entrenchments thrown up by the Malays; when his
people observing the two atdfs to steer for the harbour
of Samcmgka^ hastened to carry the intelligence to their
master. " There are now,^ they said, **,two ships
^^ standing in towards the quarter of the Malays, and
*^ we judge them to be sent from BwrUam for die pro-
^< tection of that place.'' Alarmed- at this information,
and fearing for the consequences to himself, he instantly
withdrew to his boats, set sail without loss of time, and
returned to Rdiu Bagua^ near Bantam ; making to him
a report of his want of success in his mission. << Such,''
he said, ^^ were the circumstances under which I left
^^ Samangka. The country chiefs were unanimously
disposed to attach themselves to jour cause, but the
Malays were not to be influenced by my representa-
" tions ;
* Properly the natives of a district of Celebes ; but the name is com-
monly applied to native soldiers, in the service of Europeans, raised in
any of the Eastern islands.
MAXAYAN FAMILY. 25
<< dons ; and the appearance of the Dutch tdiips raidered
^ it necesaarjr for .me to return/' To this recital the
Bdtu uttered not a word in reply, but turned his attention
to the prosecution of the war, and from day to day
pushed on the attack against Bantam.
We shall now revert to the state of affairs at So-
mangka. Upon Nukhoda Muda'a perceiving the ships,
he summoned all the Malays to accompany him to the
landing-place, that they might be in readiness to receive
the captains; which was done with the usual compli-
ments, as well on his own part, as that of the other
nakhodas of the place. The subject of the first inquiriesi
made by the captains, was, the latest accounts of the
ngent of the Rata ; to which it was answered that he
was still supposed to be at the village of Wei Ratna ;
but being desirous of ascertaining the fact, they dis-
patched the two armed praws, after putting an hundred
soldiers on board of them, with instructions to the
following effect : that if the people of the Rdtu should
be still with the pangeran^ they were to send back
advige of jt with all possible speed ; but to remain them-
selves on the coast, to prevent their escape (by ^a%
^til ^hpy r^uld be joined.by the remmbder of the force,*
, . . Althougli
. *. To ^zplaia the seeipiog difficulty of pmws being sent to wntck.aii
inland place, it must be understood that all the dusuns or kampongs (wUich,
for watit of a better term, we call villages), are situated on rivers, and
stationing anned vessels off the mouth of one of these, is nearly tanta^
mount to investijig the places on its banks. The indicadoa ..of the
Javanese emissaries being still in the country» would be the appearance^
in or near the river, of the masted boats in which they arrived.
S6 MEMOIRS OF A
Although the praws left Samangka the same night,
they could not, upon reaching the spot, see either
ft panchalang or any other vessel at the anchorage.
When, on the other hand, the pangeran was apprised
of their arrival, he sent out people (in sampans) to look
after them ; and these upon their approaching the vessels,
being taken on board, were asked where Kiria -Mi/njan'
was at that time. To this they answered, that he wai?
no longer in those parts, but had sailed for Bcmtam two*
nights before. A party then landed, and proceeded
towards the village of the pangeran^ who, when te per-
ceived them coming, gave directions for their being
accommodated in one of his houses, and shortly after-
wards made his appearance, but with strong marks of
alarm in his countenance. Upon his asking what was
the object of their visit, he was told that they were com-
missioned by the Dutch commanding ofScer to search
for KxTta Minjan, who, they were informed, was har-
boured in his village. Being again assured of his
having taken flight, they returned to their praws, and
hastened to join their commander, to whom they commu-
nicated the intdSigence.
It was now desired that Nakhoda Muda should call
together all the chiefs of the country, and messengers
were accordingly dispatched for this purpose to every
village, inviting them to repair to the Malay town. In
about ten days from that time all the pangerans and
proattn8j with q, proportion of their respective dependants,
were collected, and such was the number of these servants
of
MALAYAN FAMILY. 27
of God (Mahometans), that the place was not sufficient
to contain them. The Dutch commander then desired
of Nakhoda Muda, that he would put the question to
the chiefs, whether or not they were resolved to maintain
their allegiance to the sultan of Bantam and the Com-
pany ; in order that it might be clearly understood what
their sentiments were. Upon this question being asked,
Wei Ratna replied, that all the chiefs remained loyal
to the sultan and the Company, as they had ever been.
When the Dutch commander heard this, he said to the
pa/ngeran with some warmth : ^^ If you are really well
« affected to the government, as you now declare, what
<^ is the reason that you admitted into your village the
^< agent of Rdiu Bogus f Did you not know that he
<^ was the enemy of the sultan and the Company ? If
^ the news of his arrival in the country had not been
*^ communicated to them by Nakhoda Muda, they must
^' have remained ignorant of it to this hour.'' — *^ The
^ cause," replied the pangeran, ^^ of my not having sent
^ the intelligence was, that I had no person about me
^^ who was fitting to be the messenger ; and besides this,
^ I was under apprehaision from Kirta, whom I was not
^ strong oiough to oppose. You well know, Sir, the
^circumstances of this country; that we are not pro-
^ vided with arms of a nature to defend ourselves against
^ an enemy. We are all here like women in respect to
^^ our powers of resistance, and the sole occupation
^ allowed to us by the orders of the sultan and the
*' Company, is that of cultivating our plantations of
" pepper.'
28 , .MEMOIRS OF A
** pepper.** With this answer the Dutch comma^dier
appeared to be satisfied; and on a subsequent day. he
desired NakAoda Muda to ask whether the proatin^
woMld have any objection to bringing down, their pepper»
in prder.to his receiving it on account of the Coii[q>any9
by whose instructions he acted. This was consented to
by the chiefe, and their respective dependants were
directed to convey their produce to the town, ,froij^
whence it was weighed off to the ships, and ip three
months the loading of both was completed.!'^ They did
not, however, proceed immediately to Bantfiu^, but
waited the event of the war with Sdtu Bagus^ When
at length he was defeated, and all his adherents obliged
to £y to the mpuntains, so that the sultan or the: Com-,
pany were no longer in danger of disturbance bovsx himy
the Dutch governor dispatched an order for the ship»
repairing to BaMamj which was executed without further
loss of time ; and upon their arrival, both the sultan and
the govenH>r were much pleased to observe the large
cargoes they brought The former directly sent a. pofi^
chalang to SamangkOy with a considerable number of
dollars, in payment of the pepper. In this manner. wa»^
business conducted by his highness and by Mynheei^ S.
Half a year after the return of .the ships, Nak^o^a
* The most obvious disadvantage was that expedenced by the M^a^
traders, who were thus deprived of their freight to Java ; but it is pro-,
bable that the real subject of difficulty and negotiation with the chiefs»
was the delivery of the pepper, in the fas&t instance, to any other- tiitir
the sultan, from whom they were accustomed to receive their payment :^
and for this, it is evident, the captains were not provided.
MALAYAN FAMILY. 9Q
Mida also sailed for Bantam, in company Vfith aU the
trading praws belonging to Samangka, laden with
cargoes of pepper. When they had proceeded as far as
the narrow part of the Strait, between the land of Java
«ad the island of PereAa (Sumatra), the wind became
foul, and Nakhoda MudcCa praw was wrecked on the
coast between the port of Bantam and Charingin* This
happened at midnight. The loading of the praw was
about one hundred bahars (thirty tons) of pepper, of
which not one grain was saved, nor any thing of value
excepting the arms, which the crew carried on shore with
them when they quitted the wreck; all the other vessels
arrived in ; safety* As soon as Nakhoda Wida had
collected the few trifling articles that coidd be. got at, he
took with him two of hia people, and proceeded to
Bantam in a small mmpan (canoe) ; where, upon h^s
arrival, he waited on the Fiscal, and acquainted him of
the accident that had befallen his praw on the coast pf
Java, and of the quantity of pepper that had been lost.
By the Fiscal he was conducted to the governor, who,
when he was informed t^ the event, observed, that there
was no help for it, and that he, the nakhoda, was out of
luck. After some conversation he, proceeded to the
house of pangeran Kasttma-Ningrat, the sultanas prin-
cipal and confidential minister, who had the entire
administration of justice, and took cognizance of all
matters, whether relating to sea or land; a minister to
whcnn his master could with safety trust the keeping of
his conscience. Having related to him his story, the
jD latter
30 MEMOIES O*? A
•
iatter said : *^ It cloinot be he}|>ed : good fortune and ill
" fortune proceed from God ; and do not you, nakkoda,
** be tiife less disposed, on iMs aiecount, to place your
" trust in Him. Let me know,** he added, *' in what
** respect 1 cto assist you.'*-^" My jmncipal object,**
he replied, ^^ in coniing to make my situation known to
** your ExceHascy, was, to request you to accommodate
<* me with the loan of a small- vessel, of about two
** kw/an burthen, for the purpose of bringing away my
^^ crew, wTth any articles they may have found the
"means of saving.^ A vessel properly equipped and
turned waa immediatdy put under his orders ; ih
whidi he returned to the wreck and eflfected the business
intended ; but upon coming back to Bantam^ he found
his health and spirits so much impaired, that he was
-obliged to confine himself to his house.
On a certain day, when the pangeran had an audience
of the sultan, he took an opportunity of mentioning,
that in a large fleet of praws lately arrived from Sa^
mangka with pepper, one vessd alone, the property of
NakJioda Muda, had been unfortunately wrecked on
thfe coast of Java ; and that he (the minister) felt mucli
concern for the man*s loss. " If Nakftoda Mudoy* said
the sultan, " is in want erf fiittds for tjtoying on his com-
**inercial dealings, supply him with whatever amoturt;
" his occasions inay require.'* When the pangeran
had taken leave and retiuned home, he sent for the
ndkhoday who immediately accompanied the mesiseng^
to his presence. Upon his entering, the pangeran said
to
MALAYAN FAMILY.
§1
tD him : ^^ You must not sufler your mind to be dis-
^^ tresssd. If jou are in want of funds^ it is the
^ sultan's pleasure tliat you should be isupiplied with
^ whalerer sum you require, for the purchase of a
^' vessel and cargo." Nakbĕda Miida, upon hearing
this offer, requested to be allowed a moments time
for reflectioB, and then aft^ a little eonj9Jdemtiqn said :
I beg your Excellency to be p^suaded of my sincerest
gratitude, and to accept my best acknowledgments,
^ but I dare not avail myself of his highneas'^s gracious
^ intentions, by accepting <tf the advance, because I am
<> appvehansive that in the event d[ my death, ft might
^^ he the occasion of trouUe to the children I dhall
*y lesaive behind me* My son is not yet experienced in
^^ business, ndr have I myself been accustomed toempk^
^ a borrowed capital, but to trade on my oWn little
<^ stock, and to confine myself to the profits that It
^ yielded.'' JTo this the minist^ replied : " If siieh is
<( your resolution, ndkhoda^ you must not blame the
^ «tdtan or myself &x saxy inconveniaice you may sulSsr.
^ I am not to force upon you a royal loan that you ar&
^f «ot inclined to accept.'** After, some further dis*
course he returned to his house at the port, whei^ hie
coiitiniAed to confine himself «as before ; but wh^ a
month had passed ih this manner, a praw arrived £rom
Smmangkoy which his wife had dispatched to him, with
a supply of dollars to enable him to make the purchase
D» of
* The solemn eidbortation of his fiither may probably haye bten the*
real motive for declining this liberal offer.
82 HfiMOlBS OF A
«
of thlff game Tessel, if he ^onld think proper ; the
optfon bdii^ v^seftved to him. He bought her aeciStftl-
ingiy, 'C(»oplete as she stood, and having provided^ k
cargo for her, set sail for Samangka, which place he
reached after a navigation of only atk^ day sciid one irighf .
It was now his design to relinquish the seafaring Hfe,
and in future to send his vessel to Bantam, with cargoes
of pepper, consigned by letter (to a person there)» He
set about building a house, the dimensions of which
were, teu fathoms in length and eight in depth (or
breadth) ; the whole of the frame and boards for the
sides beii^ oi teak wood* He was induced to under-
take this work from the consideration that in case of
his death, his ^cm would be exempt from any trouUe of
that nature for twenty years to come. In about two
years d^ building was completed; the sum expended
0tk it not amounting to less than one thousand Spanish
4pllars« After this, however, he raiewed his voytageb
to Bantam, and persevered in the navigation jfonthree
years. In one of his trips he made a purchase tJiĕre of
two praws, and took them with him to Samangka^ To
his eldest son Wastibj who on this occasion was distin-
guished by the appdlation of Nakhoda' Biganff, 'lie
gave one of these praws, fully equipped and pt^vid^,
t<^ther with' a trading capital. The other, with a
similar outfit, he gave to' his siecond son, named Wasal^y
who in like manner, by general assent, received the
appellation of Nakhoda Leila. These youths had been
taught all sorts of le^uning and accomplishments. In
penmanship
MALAYAN VAMILY. $S
p^unanship espeeially^ and the maiuigeiiieot of conk-
mercial business, their father took care to instruct them.
His two sons n^t in age to these» named JBimHsk
and '^La-ud^fyif he plaoed under proper mastess, by
whom they were taught to repeat their prayers and to
write.
These fiEunily concerns being arranged, he again sofled
for BĕnUunj in company with several other masters of
trading vessels, and attended by his two sons in their
respective praws* After a short passage they arrived
in safety, and, according to custom, JN'akhoda Muda
waited upon the Fiscid and upon GrovemcH: S., to inform
him of the quantity of pepper they had brought from
Samangka ; which afforded much satis^eu^ticxi. In like
manner he paid his compliments to the minister, to the
ahabandar (c(»nptroller of the port), and other ofikers
of government; after which he proceeded to ddiver the
pepper to the perscms appointed by the sultan and the
Company to receive it.
About this time the sultan having sent for his minister,
and the latter, being seated in his presence, said : <^ Thy
^^ servant is come in obedience to the royal summons :
«< whatever are the sultan's commands his servant is
ready to place them on the crown of his head,"— *
The occasion of my sending for you,'^ said the sultan,
is to express my inclination that you should bring
^^ hither and introduce to me Nakhoda l^da, on whom
^^ I am disposed to confer a title, in consideration of his
** many good services to me and to the Company.**—" At
" what
6i
^4 MEHOIUS OF A
^^ what time doel» it please your highness that I should
<< introdupe him ?**— ^ Bring him to the presdace to-
** morrow morning/' The minister then took leave and
returned home. As soon as morning came» he sent one
of his of&ceris for Nakhoda Muda^ who instantly waited
upon him.^ The pangeran then made him acquainted
with the sultan's gracious intentions, and they walked
together to the fort (or cattle) in which is the royal
i^esidence. Having reached the outer, ii'oa gate, wheue
the guard is stationed,, they there, stopped and sat down.
Thid guard is composed c£ nine officers (pangilS)f who
have each nine chosen warriors (ulubalang) undet them;
and these, in successions do. duty every day; motmting
guard at the side of the iron gate. A Dutch captain
and a company of forty men also do d!uty there.
When the native officer and the Diitdi captam
observed the approach of the pangeran^ accompanibd
by Nakhoda Muda^ they asked the reason of his bringing
the latter. " It is," said he, " in conMequence dT orders
*^ from the sultan himself, that I am going to introduce
<^ him to the presence.'*' The officers were all very mudti
astonished at hearing this, and said among themselves :
^ What can be the intention of the sultan in sending
^' for this man ? How many nakik^dus of great wealth
^^ and influence' have visited Bantam^ txiam. various parts
«of
* The taranslatOE has judged it proper, to abndge these messages aacl
replies, which in the original are given with tedious repetition ; but the
ceremonies of introduction that foQbw, although ridiculously eireum.
stantial, being characteristic of manners, he thinks it necessary to
preserve.
^^ of Javfi, and yet not one of them^ that ev^ we hay^
^^ known oi: heard of, has been s^nt tor by the sultan in
^< this manner, to ^ter hi» cattle»'" Such vere the
r^eetions. made by the^ guard, both nativea and Eutok
pe«in0,^ Tb^ p^ngeran then said to one of the persons
on 4M.ty : ^^ Go you to F(Mr jtahmyf aod acquaint
^' hun t|iat I am attending here» on the outside of the
iron gate, aeoompanied hj Nokhoda HSidaj.in ord&t
to his being introduced to the presence*"^ Ooq of the
guard thareupon went to find F^fMr AfiUmh «nd informed
htm that the pmgeran and NokMie^ MMa were in
waiting to be admitted. ^^ Bequest his Excellency,^'
said the FailTy <^ to "come hither to my apartment." The
guard, ou Ms return», acquainted the jmr^eran. that
Fakir Aiam requested him to eome to his apartment ;•
which he and the feaJF^ocia did accordingly. In tbi»
apartment or saloon, wh^e the Fuhir was stationed^
th^e was lui assemblage of about {prty perfK^s, some of
whom were sHiUed in performances (cqr exercises) after
the manner of the Arab%| and in playing on all kinda
of
* llus seema ti» bs a litUe indulgence of per9<»H4 vsnitj^ oa the pavl
of the auto-biogiapber.
f He appears t(^ have held an office in Uie sultan's household corres-
pon<Kng to that of our master of the ceremonies, or of the revels. His
nSipe i& singularly contrasted with his duties; but from tti sanctified
import, it is probable that he may have had the superintendence of the
hxranu
I The text says» ** skilled in pla^pig \nth, or performing the dahiUf**
after the Arabian manner. In the dictionaries we find the word U**yA
translated by * club or mace ;* but such weapons seem ill calculated for
amusement in the interior of a palace.
i^ ' MEH0IB8 OF A
of s^ikAoel instoiunentg» and oAers iii dancing acioorifing
to .jtb^ ( Jd^ranfte mode. These exhibitions) ofwhieh'
Fakif Jdam bad tbe direction^ vrete pro^videdfor ^*
amuscsnleiit of tbe aultan, who came to tbe saloon wfadft»
eter h^ waft-melined to esijoy any particular' £pottJ
Upon the paiigerari^s making his appearancey Pdkh^
Adam inquired his reason tac hmgkig the ^uMwda
with him* ' *^ I know not/' he replied, ^ any thing* mofre
^' of the circumstances leading to this intiodudtioo, dian
<^ that the sultan expressed to me faifl pleasure that I
^^ should this day conduct him to the presence.^ JViMr
Adam appeared to be mudi surprised^ and could not'foim
any conjecture respecting the sultan's further intention»*
^ CrO)" said the pmCgeranj '< and intimate to his ]ugb<>
^ ness that I am in your apartment, together with
^^Nakhoda Mudoy waiting to be admitted to di^ pre^
<^ sence.'' Fakir Adam then proceeded to amyey die
information to the sultan, as desired. Upon leacfakig
the apartment where the female attendants are statkmed,^
an eld^y woman who had the superintendence of the
others, as soon as she perceived him, said : ^^ What is
<* Fakhr Adam^s object in coming hither?'*—" My good
««
mother," he replied, ^^ my business is to give infer-
<< mation that pangeran KminM Ningraif together
^^ mih Nakhoda Mudoy are desirous of paying their
"respects
* In many courts of the further Eaat the interior guard of the palace
is composed of females, who in some instances (as at Achin) are regularly
trained to arms. They are probably thought to be less dangerous to their
masters than embodied slaves of the other sex, by whom dynasties have
been so often overturned.
M ALAYAK I'AHlLY. dt
^^reilpects to hk highnessy and that thMe p«hmM^^
^^.«ire^iiow in my apartment awaitiiig hk» «xnmnaiids.**
Harring! heard diis message^ 4fae old {ĕmAĕ witiidre^y
and >iipoii tiepairing to the prescnde wa» aiked hfiivi
sidtaii the ocoassDii of her oomiiig. ^ My rea^on,'^ said
she» ^< for appnmduBg the throne id to n^rt that
^^patigeran Kasuma Ningrat, together vn&k Nakhoda
^^ Mida^ are now hi the apartment of' Fakrr Adamy
^^ waiting for pemuBsion to pay their respect» to yoar
^^ majesty .''-^^^ Order them/' said the sultan, << to ap-
<^ proach.'* The oLd female bowed and retired, in order
to make known to Fakir Adam the siiltan's orders for
tbdr admission; upon which the ^itr returned to thein^
and signiiSed the sultanas pleasure that they should be
admitted to the presence-chamben* > Upon receiving
this intimation they imn»ediately proceeded thither, and
hftribg made the customary obeisance, sat down in the
presence.*)" The sultan then, addressing himsdf tothe
pm^ercm, said : <^ It is my pleasure this day to confer on
<< Nakhoda Muda the title of Kei Boming Periva^dana.
<< Be it your care to notify it to the nine officers of the
<< guard and to the Dutch captain^ who do duty at tiie
<* outer gate ci my fort, as well as to my subjects gene-
« ndly^ in the city of Bantam J" Upon hearing these
(gracious)
* It 18 not to be presumed that such formal delays attended the
minister's usual visits ; butit was consistent with the sultan's dignity that
eviiy ceremonial and etiquette should be observed on this oteasion.
t Sitting down in the presence of a superior is, in the East, a respectfitl
posture, as standing is in Europe.
38 M£Mt)IB$ OF 4
(gracious) words from th^ &ultmi, Nakhoda Muda
taiade his obeisance to the iUustrious throne», and then
said: " Pardon^ my liege, your servant, whaayowshis
^^ wish that he might not be distingtiished by any other
<^ appellation than that which he has hitherto, and for a
'^ long time borne ; but who is at the same time ai^aie
^^ that it is his duty to bow his head to thft csommaada of
^his sovere%n; and since the royal word cannot be
^ revoked^ in consequence of any thing that he can urge,
" the will of his matiter must be done.'"* When he had
thus spoken^ he asked permission to retire ; but the sultan
ordered the female attendants to present to him a change
of drees, consisttog of a eap^ a robe, and drawls of
scarlet cloth, together with a sabre, a knee, a krjs^ and
a large umbrella. As soon as th3 -nvestiture c^ these was
completed, they paid their compliments and departed ;
the pangeran taking care to anounoe to the offi^rs on
guard at the outer g&te, the new title oonTerjtml on the
mtikoda, and desiiing to have it properly signified to
.the inhabitants of the city ; which they cheerfully pro-
mised to execute. After some conversati<Hx together,
the pang&(m returned to his bouse, and JfiTei Damif^ to
his vessel.
On the following morning he paid his re&pects to the
Dutch gonremor, and after wishing him health, gave an
account of the sultan'*s having commanded his attendance,
and
* Theie i» some degree of obscurity in the htter part of this courtly
acquiescence, perhaps from the omission of a word; but the general
sense is given in the translation.
MALAY4N FAMILY. 99
and of hi^ highness being graeiously pleased to bestow
on him a title similar to those borne by the noUes of
the land of Java ; as also of his having requested to be
allowed the indulgence of retaining bid original appella-
tfon^ but in which he could not prevail. The govemcMr
was pleased to say, that if the sultan had not anticipated
faim by conferring a title, it was his intention to have
done ' it on the part erf the Dutch Ccnaapany ; but that
'his purpose was now equally answered. He then pro-
duced a double-barrel gun and a pair of double-barrel
pistols. ^^ How much. Sir," says Kei Damang^j ^^ may
^ be the price of these anns ?*' — " It is not my design,^
repfied the governor, '^ to sell them, but to present them
^ to you as a gift/' Kei Damastff made his acknow-
ledgments, took leave, and returned to his vessel. Along-
side of her he found two men, in a small boat, who had
' brought a barrel of gunpowder and a cask of bullets,
which, upon lAs inquiring from whence and on what
account they were sent, he learned to be a gift from the
captsdn of the guard. He gave directions for stowing
them away in the praw, and desired the men to carry
back to the captain his grateful thanks.
He then called together all the masters who had
accompanied him from Samangka^ and communicated to
them the informatkm of the sultan and the Company
having been {^sed to confer a title on Mm. ^^ It was
^ not,'* he added, ^' of my seekii^, not did it accord widi
" my wishes. The honour may perhaps be attended with
'* good, or, perhaps with bad consequences to me." The
nakhodas
.40 MEMOIRS OF A
nakhodak hereupon gave their several opinions, aotiie
«rguing fkvourably, and some unfavourably to the
measure. ^< Be it as it may,** continued Kei Dam&ng^
^ there is no help for it. The sultan and the Company
^ have laid the burthen on me. The matter canhdt tie
^ undone. Placed as I am, under their government, it
** is not my inclination, but their will, that must take
** effect. I commit myself to the care of the Almighty,
'* from whom both proi^rity and adversity proceed.**
The nabhodas then repaired to their respective vessels,
in order to equip them for sea, and to preparer cargoes of
merchandize for their returning voyage. K(d Damang
waited on the pangeran to take leave, nnd then paid the
same compliment to the governor, acquainting him that
-he, together with all the Malay traders, were making
ready to sail. ** 'Tis well,'' said the governor. '* Let
** it be your care, Kei Damang^ to prevent the chiefs of
<^ the Lampdng villages from quarrelling aihongst them-
** selves ; and when their pepper is sufficiently dried, do
^< not suffer them to keep it unnecessarily long in the
*^ country.** Soon after this conversation the fleet of
praws sailed, and effected the passage in a short time.
Thus did the traders of Samangka employ themselves
wnually*
About three years from the period of these trans-
actions had elapsed, when two soldiers (of the country-
guard) arrived from Oroee (an English setdienient inf the
south-western part of Sumatra), with a letter to Kei
Damang from Mr. Norris, the chief of that place, the
purport
MALAYAN JfAMlLY. 41
puiport of which, was to request that he would forwacd
tli^ ^esseng^rs» with their dispatches» to Bata¥ia9.
vrhcTie A([r^ Oardeui aa Englishman, was; at that time,
agent foi* all the gentlemen belcxiging to the estaUasb'
jc^ei^t of Bencoolea.^ They were accordingly furnished
with, a cpnveyajice to Batavia» In that same month:
^OQunts were received of Bencoolen being attacked by
the French ;-f* in consequence of which many of the
inhabitants of Croee removed (for safety) to Samamgkm^
and. presented themselves to Kei Dam&ngj who said to
tl^eiix; ^^ Dwell here, my brethren» along with me* Da
<' not feel any apprehension about the French, nor
uneasiness on account of this place being within the
jurisdiction of the Dutch Company, for as sooa a&
tranquillity shall be restored at Bencoolen» if it be
t^ ttien youc inclination to return to Croeey you may
tf fieely do it»'' Pive months after the departure of the
]|f ^ench from Bencoolen» according to the intdligence
received» a praw sent from Bantam by the sultan and
„■ • . the
=' * ^e o%j«ct of this dispatcli by die way of Batavia, was probably ta
oi^tan iosiiraoce to be effected in England on property at Fort Marl*
boiough ; which eventually gave occasion to a celebrated trial in the Court oC
^ng^s Bench, before Lord Mansfield ; payment, after the capture, being
TCsisted, on the ground of the indemnity afforded by the insurance hsving
weakened the exertions to defend the place ; for which there was but too
much colour. The decision, however, went against the Underwriters.
Tid. Otfter and Boehm, 3d Barrow, 1905, and 1st Biadcstone, 503.
«
. t Benoeokn (Fort MarfinNnough) was eaptnre^by a f^ncb.sqnadroii»
under the C!omte d'Estaing, in the month of April, 1760» and evacuated
in the course of the year. A due is thus afforded to all the dates of pre-»
ceding and aubsequent events.
42 Ii££MaiRiS; OF A
die governor^ tauiched at Smt^ungha^ ^ith orders to Kti
DiBBn&»ff to put on board at this pkc^^ a persfim well
acquainted with Crcw^ wMch b^ng djone acocudkigly^
^e sailed £c»r that settietnent, aiod having tak^iftthe
pq)f>er {bund there^ resumed with k to JSdn^iim.
Sh(»*tly aft^ thifi transiK5tton the news <tf the m^eata^
blishment c^ the English Company a<t Bemxsolen beoapie
known^ and the sidtan s^t xio mer^ ve^sds to Cro^
for pepper,*
About a year a£te^ these pro6ee^&igs it happaneid thtft
two nakbodas of Samangia, one of them tiamed N4^
khoda Sutkif and the other Nahhoda Ditjfem^ made a
trip to Bantam with pej^r, and having delivered their
cargoes, purchased merchandize suited to the ^tnark^ of
Bencoolen; with which they rettnrned (in the first in-
stance) to Samangka. IJere they rcfuured their praws,
gave them new masts, asid then reshipped the goods
they had brought Kei Dam&ng (observing this) asked
than to what place they were bound. They Tej^ded, to
Bencoolen. " You must not," said he, ** proceed to
" Bencoolen : it is contrary to the orders of the Dut^h
'^ Company ; and if you p^sist, you will certainly \mag
*^ mischief upon yourselves.** — " Do not,** they answered^
^^ be under alarm for any mischief that may happ(^
**to
• It is probable tliat this pepper (which must have been English, not
native property, because it was always paid for when warehoused) became
the plunder of individuals; and was not carried to the account of the
Dutch Company. An inveterate spirit of hostility and agj^ession, how-
evi»c, subsisted between the servants of these rival Companies, although
the nations were at peace.
C€
*^ to Its ; we have both c^ us wit enough for our mm
security.'^—" No matter for your wit," replied KA
Dem&ng ; ** be what it may, you are not to go to Ben-
^ oo(den.'^ 'The two nakkodas made no answer to this^
but were ifiot diverted ttcxa thdr pulrpose^ and wlien
flight came they set sail.
In the 'ft>lk>wing year a panchStang arrived from Ban^
tdm, the masrter of which, named Nakhoda JSmly had
6rders to apply to KA Dam&ng for the assistance of
thirty men, along with whom he was to proceed
to CtMe^ for die purpose of seeing tbe state of that
jdaoe.* " What end,'* said Km Bum&ng^ ** will your
" gcnng to Croee answer, since we have intelligence of
** the English being re-establisiied at Bencoolen ?"— *^ It
« is no matter," replied Jamil: " the governor's positive
" orders are that I should march tbither,"f He was
accordingly furnished witJi the thirty men, and after a
month had been employed on the expedition, be returned
to Samanghay in consequence of his learning that the
governor of Bencoden had dispatched on official person
to the place, whom he (Janul) had no desire to meet
Previously td his leaving Samangka, for Bantam^ he
dhaticed to fall in with Nakhoda Satia and Nakhoda
DugSm, who had returned from Bencoolen. Up<Hi his
«oTival -at Bantim he found that Mynheer Sambirik (?)
was
* The apparent intention of this expedition was to tidce possession of
the English settlement, if found unoccupied.
t The distance across the country, from Samangka to Croee, on the
western coast, is not considerable.
YH» ^ op, lone^r ^^ governor, < hnnuig bBfn ' fMiiiiiriid^t&
'S^9>#m^ iridi the Mnk. of Edele Hoes (ete of-di^^
(^p«9!i0il)^ a^iirthBt bis. sueeestor «t JSan^^ ^a^MjlAeet
Jtot^* . To tte latter, therofi»e^ he:made hbripok'!'
tlmt he was just arrived fipm Cioee^ whither^ be hiid
been a^t by the former goyeraor» t» inspeet 4ha. ^tatĕ
o£ die place ; but that at the time of his. anivalf th^re,'
anofficer deputed by the goyamorof BaaoocdcB, eame4(>
take charge of the settlera^it. '^ It caimot be hdped^''
said the new governor : <^> If those to whom the jooiqitvy
^^belongs return to it, we ean no longer hai^ any- wish'
<< respecting it/' After some further oonveraiulDiQm he
departed, and called at the house of £nsign Si-T&iib^st
half-easte native of Macaaaary who was made an; officer
at Baniam.* This person inquired of JSmU what^nows .
hf brought from Samangka. ^^ I bring nothing n^i^n
he replied» ^^ excepting that I saw two nflMo^.Oi^.;
^^were just arrived from Bencoolen, about .the liine.ofr:
** my departure/' The aisign ask^d him wh^jjli^. hf^-
had. given information of this circumstaoK^ tQ ,^b(9i
goyernor. He said he had not yet mentioned it tQji^o
one but himself. On the next momix^ th^y.^w^ll
toge&er to wait on Mynheer Foer, .when Si-TSlib ^^^
formed him that in a certain country called >$(a«i^(iWj|M^i^.
which lay within his. jurisdiction,, it. ]i¥as tjiecp^t^t^ 1
practice to slip out prftws every season, for the yoyaggj%
lo .Bencoolen. " Whilst this man Jimllj!* . ^dda4. J]^/^
: :/^wasv
* He may probably have commanded the country-guard, which gave
him consequence amongst the natives* '
MALATAW FAMItT. 49
'■',1
lym^r^m^Aewfa^ tkkm wei^ two' p»i#s jtMt ^-ĕtttniĕd
'^(Ma ihul plal^, iriiidi had knesA dinpMAi&t llfy tkft
^f )i0ad-biii& of Smmmgha; whose title is j&i Daming
^^ ^JPermadda^iia ; a titlo^ gi^ven to him by the sultan Btui
*f tbeMte goremor^ Mynhuer S^ os^a reward fat his oare
^^hedislEut^ and partioalarly for keeping a watchful
«ye < upon any intereourse .^by pi»ws with Benox^en*
^> iie is sow become a pefBom of conaidemble conse-
^' queiiGa and witolth,* iiisoniuc)» that no one there can
^VeOpe with hiBa.''-^*'Does he ever,'* said the governor,
^^.ebneto Batiiamf • If he comes, I shall lay a fine
^^'lipon hnn.^*-^<^ I kft him/^answered /aifu/, ^^ building
^^ a praw, ^ith tbe^intention of loading her with pepp^
^^ for this j^aca^ Having told this story, lliey both
retiped* The reason of the ensign's malevolence was thei
negieot with whidi he had found Mmself treated by all
the pec^le who came from Samcmgka during the govern-
ment of Mynheer S., frcMn whom he met with no
countenance; whereas, after the arrival of Mynheer
Poer,.'he was in pi^rticular favour, was treated as a .
cdofid<^tial person, and ccxisuhed upon every occasion.
Id shorty the governoi^s kindness -to him was^ unbounded.
About five months had elapsed when KBi Dam&n§
arrived at Ba/ntantj with a fieet of twelve praws, all
fiiUy laden with pepper; among which number were
thb^ commanded by his sons, ifakhoda Bujang and
NcS^iodA Leila. His younger sons, Si-Bantan and
^JjiMdctiny likewise accompanied him. The Fiscal, to
whom
£
4^ MfiMOtRS OV A
iAiotn he paid the etistointtry i^irii ajid-f^potted the
number aiwJ cargoes of flie vessels, reoommended the
masters^ going togeth» to wait on the governor, who,
he informed them, was a diflbrent person from him under
whose orders they fotmerfy acted : of which change Kel
Damang professed himself ignorant. Being arrived at
the castte where the governor resided, and the tisua
salutations upon entrance 'being' made, the Fiscal said :
" This is the person who bears the title of Xei DamAng
** Terwaaldana ; whose business it is to superintend the
** country of LampSng-Shmangka^ under the orders of
^ the Company and the sultan, and to take cogliiiiance
"of all disputes amongst the inhabitaints.**-^" i am
** come,** added Kd Dam&ngy * with a 6eet of »twdve
** praws all foHy laden with pepper ? }mi it is in<^ii»ibent
^^ on me to mention to your honour a circusMtaiee llitft
^ has occurred, of two praws having sail^ t<y Bĕncoblĕn
•f without my knowledge ; which have since retixraed)
^ and are now at Samangka^ -^^^ Do Biot suj^ube^**
replied the governor, * that you are th^ first t» give me
^ information of this proceed&ig. I am afaready "well
^* acquainted with it.** They then took their teave^
kid KA Dmn&ng waited on the pa^eram (sultan's
mmister), who expressed much sa1ii9lkct!oii to* hear* itf
the arrival of so many cargoes of peppw.*
After an interval t^i aboilt a month fiom that tinK,
the governor (ordered Kei Damang to appear before him;
and
* In the profit on which he probably participated with his master.
and he fmwpdy obeyed th^ svipmons^ As boom as JUa
•
eHimoce waa observed, the gotempr siad to Um : << The
^^ 4»ecadon on which I have aent fcxr you i^ th^ affair
<^ of the two prawB that went to Sencoolen, Of the
^^ parties thempdves I know nothingi but must look to
^< you a9 the responsible person* YouPs rath^ than
'^ their 'a is the blam^» inasmuch as it i^aa your duty to
(«have prevented them; and I hare no doubt in my
*« own mind but that you yourself di^tcbed them to
^f that .place. On these charges I ccxidemn you» Kei
^ Damdng, to pay a fine of two hundred Spanish
^« dcdbtrs." Upon hearing this speech &om the governor
ike said» << Sir, I positively deny the charge of hayi^
<^ been in any way concamed in the di^>atch of those
^ tBmS»4 If Han^ oonCrary can be proved against me^
^t am Miady to sulnnit to any penalty that you may
f^lliink. proper to in4i<^*' — ^^ My sentence," said the
^iietnor, ^must not* be diluted. Let the two hun^
^ dzod dollars be Inrou^t to me to-morrow morning."*
Mei Dawĕ&ng\i upon this^ returned to his praw, and s^t
;to.ca]L toge^thear the noMocto who had accompanied him
finm SofloM/ngkih When assonUed» he stated to them
*-iha cjreumstoace of bis bemg sumnumed before the
govemior on account of the two piaw9 having timlt» a
voyage to Boocool^, and accused of having a concern
i* thar dispatch; ctf his being Wiight to disgrace, and
i: S coodemoed
* There is much reason to suspect that this fine went into the pocket
of the judge.
bSiiA^i^hd^W^y^Wpi^ of 't^ 'hktil!fid*^6B»rs:
««•^ha^^ a*¥itiĕ,'';te *§kĕd, « do you, my MĕndSi'^^
««^iAe ii>tt the' «iitjgect of fltf* turihess ?*'^'* Itt^^'oi^^
««opifiiofl/^ r^Mĕd the mkhtOas^^'ybiitmikt di^Bte
" proceeding will be to represent your har^Hp'tiyWe
« «ukto*8 itiitofeter ; for all of us know WeD (and fcato fear
^ testimony to him), that you neither ordered ncw^pfe^
** thitted Nakhoda Saita and Nhkhoda DUgt^ W go td
**'Bencoolen. If the governor should thenstill petiiaft
^* in «Ifevying a penalty, we have spiirit efiough, ivftlfcCL
** eveir it may be, to raise it among us.*'^-** It doeu^ not
*' appear to me," said Kei Damdng^ *^ that such appes^
" to the pemgeran can produce any good effect^ but
" will rather have the appearance of opposition .to* the
f* authority of the Company. It Will be bettertfeia* I
" piay the fine at once. My chief object in ^tatih^'^fe
*^ liiatter to you, was to shew you the injustice 'ifittA
"oppression I experience from persons in power; fcr^ii
'^ my own conscience I am free from all oiBfence^ rith^
" to the Company, the sultan, or the chiefs ctf the
** Samangka country. But there is no help for !t,'aiid
^ I resign myself to the protection of Grod. The «on-
•* duct of the two ndkhodaa has brought me iiito thra*
" trouble ; but ieven if my life be made answerable ifeir
^ the acts of those with whom I am connected-, I ' c*li
<< only recommend myself to the Almighty (and hem to
«his decree)."—" If," said the««*Aorfcw, «you t!i5iik
"it best to submit to the fine (without further remon-
•** strance), we will assist you to make up the sum of
" two
^B hwdin^ mul .fifty. doUars amopig tit|^a(iH< i^u4 /^<n
J^^<t^4Z9 paid the. remmnipg fifty. 3ucb wa3 th^ conq^ot
QQ' tbia occasion of the traders who came together fpt^ta
;, .,^b|& fipe.hayiiig been paid, the govempr ordered. ȣm
J)gmmg to return to Sama/ngka with the fleet of pcawis
^, lyH&rd cS. wbidi he put four Dutch soldiers» w^b a
fx)l^ral^ whose name was Rails,* and his wife, yhe
zt^^sqn ^ssjigjaed by Mynheer Poer, to the sultan, for jdiis
measmi^ was, that they might serve as a guard to> the
iPutoh colours ; ^^ for," said he, " if the Company have
*^not some establishment of its own at Sarmngkuj the
^'plape^will certainly be taken possession of by the
f * JBpgUsh." Kei, Dam&ng accordingly sailed with these
4l^ ix^em.and one woman, for whom, upon his arrival^ he
|t;milt a ^ouse ; towards the expense of which the Com-
ffaiiy difi not contribute one copper cash. It was all
j^v^y^ by Kei Damdng and the other Malays of the
^ffce^ whq lent their assistance to erect the building and
f^.make; a ,pi:aper fence round it. Besides this bur^ien
tb^y were obliged to put up with very harsh language
*^paa[>^(b<^ qorppral, whenever there was any delay in per-
^^Q^^j^ what he, ordered to be done. Nay, he even went
ii^isf ^..tp ^Hq. them. Four difierent' Malays, were
<^i5^^ by bi«n, bec^ause they were not sufliciently expe-
jI^u^, in completing his hen-house. Three moiiths
-no'T'f 't •'*'?• * .'! : •,.'■'..' '• '. • '' - "• alter
1o m.w ;hU n. ,.,r.?*''^?P'^"'«'>'%""'r.
m-Ati o^i '\M
I " , i . .' ■ < k» t
owj **
aiti^ thlbj eight more Butch sddierd ajhiv^d, 6ne of
whom tras' a iterjeant, together with hid wife; limkihg in
all, thhrteen ihen and two women, in the c^nti^y of
Ldmpong-S^mikmgka. ^
'Eighteen months subsequently to the comkig of 'thele
toldters, an English two-masted vessel, from Senebolcsi,
made her appearance- (in the bay). As soon al^ iAt& M^
perceived by the serjeant, he caUed to Jf^ DamiSfii^ a^d
acquainted him of tlie approach c^ all Engliisdi ieM^.
« Her colours," said he, " I em diaitingufah witJi kiy
^ spying^glasd.*'— .<< And may I ask,'' said Kd Di^Mf^^
** wh^ ate the governor's instructiotis to you, in ^6ajg^ of
♦^ the arrival of any ship, whether Duteh op ESnglfeh?^*^—
^ His instructions,*' answered the seij^eaat, " lore' to
" hoist our colours: further than this I have HohWJ"—
** The orders,^» said Kei Dama/ng^ *^ Afet I refceif etf ^fitkn
«the ibrmer governor were, when a ship, from whkt.
<^ever country, should appear, to send ottt a b6^t'*to
** j»lot her to the proper anchorage ; and if she should
« fire a salute, to retum it from the shore." The
Serjeant and the corporal approved of diis, and pro»
posed that one oif them, together with Nakhoda BHqo^^
i^ouM go off in a boat to yisit the ship. Cofp^ral
Rails and the nakheda accordingly went off in a sampan
(canoe) with four paddles. When they seadbed die
vessel, the captain, whose name was P<MTest,* as'ked
Ra&s,
* Tbu was the Captain Thomas Forrest, afterwaids so well known in
the history of oriental navigation, by his ' Voyage to New Guinea* in the
year 1774, performed in a vessel of ten tons burtlien ; aiHl ^ ocber
c J
MALAYAN FAMILY. .jBl
Jfi^QJjAi wtii^ WAS tib^e Ibest apot £>r mchoring./ >< I
;^^ iMifXDoL uiform you^^' said he, ^^ ypu. xjou^t ij^^ip'^of
/^ tb? «Ki^Aoda, who is aisqu»inted with t;l;ie h^bour/'
The latter having pointed it out» the ship, was hrou|(ht
,tO. ai)L andbic»: tb^e,; after whi<^ the captain went on
.^li^a .al^ng with tl^m, and prooeeded tQ the Dutch
i^(P«mrten^ ^ soon as this was known to Kel JJlamdn^^
b^ waited tipoa him there, and paid the Usual., comipli-
va^U ot ciinlity ; :whidh the captain return^ inquiring
r^ |i^ same time o£ the corporal, who the person that
JiddresQied him was. Ram in&pned hin^ that he was
^e ichipf n^an of the place, appointed by the governor
saA. 4be sultan tO; manage aU their affairs at Sqmafkgka,
A£t9t this, had passed Captain Forrest returned to his
jhip^ but ^X d^t a'clock the next morning relanded^ and
jf^p^^^ded.iui befpte to the quarters of Corporal Baus.
He; no^ desieed that he might be supplied with fowls,
td||c]^p, ^ goats, aod other articles of which he stpod in
need.
• I i * fk
'^ nautical pil6lle&ti6tt«. fie ufas a mdii «f ente^i^nize in hh pittfessbft, and
^^%|eafty,d gan ^h temiwi | but not always ^uHe careful en^figli te distiqc^ish
(as Alexander Dalrymple the great hydrographer used to observe)
'^ between ^hatr he actually sat*- and what he iiiiaglfied io cxfst. His
. nm»mt9 weso «ooeBtric m a bigh depee» and Bwny enteaEtai^iog stories
of his adventures amongst the natives were current in India ; such, for
instance, as the following : Having advanced some way from the shore,
iki itiUSuii, where he toudied, snditMiteg the peofjie 4lifl|io6cd to be
tioublesome or hostile, he quietly took out his german flute, and having
adjusted it, began to play an air of Correlli, which surprised, amused, and
^eatused them to Husp^ad their designs, whilst he, keeping his fiice towards
tiiew^giackMMIy yetvesM to tile plaee mheteh^ jb«d left Im hO0lC*8 erew.
.J0 tiii»«»Ogii)^ P«C80Q tha^niBfliator is Indiebteid for h» flratiki«»)te^^ion
i»^ Sir .iQMph (ikmJNUt*) Banks, in Janiuiiy of the ytsr ITMB*
% ^'^'W^Ĕi^otits^b9^'-M^
nbicuH wh^ he dĕcS»^ Mnldelf Mc^dUe df fiM^d^^
#tiat hef i^eqbired,^ iicqufdlitisg Ulii 'th^ he hiid^"iidt
bdl^ioiigt at «Ite place/ aend ifaat he 'mahltD^^sMe^
^e fiebesnty <^ applying fcnr i^tet he^ i^iilsĕd ^tidP^ iS^
IKiMni^, i/v'ho pott$esded the ivMle' hittteti^. ^ ti^
bUdness^ he'isadd, was m^ly to gUtt^d tlif^ O^mfjktiy^
i?6|oiiM3, under the orders of Mjmheer Pobr, the'gtȴ@ltidt*
of JStm^om. The captain, upon thi&r ndaftw^ati, tent
a message, in hii^r own name and that of the seijeodty^
KĕiDamdng, requesting him to come to die giutfd4ioiiil9*
Re came aocordinglj, and after the ustual compll^^kifl^
paid and returned, Corporal Raud said to him :*'*^ Out*
^reason for wishing to see you is, that die' ca^tldn^hos
made application to be supplied with li^ stbĕk^-^
And what,'/ replied Kei DemAnff, '* do yfaU^ Jfl*^
eorpcH'al and serjeant, say to tMs application P*'*^-^*^ It
** is not,'* they answered, *^ any concern of oars f btit
^ if you can be of any service to the captain, asfiist
** him as far as you have the means/'—" You willd6
** me a fiivour,** said the captain, **by procuring nlfe
^ stock fcfl" my sea store* In consequence of what was
said to him by the Dutchmen, as well as by the Eii^ish
captain, Kei Damang replied : " It is well. Captain ; I
^* shall endeavour to assist you with what you iieqiare^
«birt
* There is some coniiision in the narrative between the persons and
tMk of the serjeunt and corporal ; but the latter may probably have been
the mora hitelligMitof the two, or more «versed in the language^' the
country, which occasioned him to be the spokesHum;
u
((
M
HAh^YA^ IMvlilL Y. #S
jf 4^]|m^r,,tt #9 a jbnrourt • i»id. if I ftdl, daaot |)Q.4i«-
1\)iA¥ltiied'^Wkh'ii»e.'' AStet this ^oonY^srsation C^pt«40
;|fifir]^tf^i|^.r^^ te hisshdp, and JSdlkme^
^ed tin^ Qfi^etint 'hli deliberate opiiuoii ite to ^/p/^
cpfkl^jr of> hi$: lupplyiag the fresh provisions. *^li
^^ .ef^ioot^*' B$id he» ^^ be of any cons^uence : mffiy
fftthem^M^^ywM easx*'* Upon returning home he ^Y<(
«<Sre^tk9|s*to hi« people to go (inta the country) and
csoHsdt «poultry, which was done, and by the time tbe
jQ^Uin aamef on shore in the morning, he found a suA-
oicftt proviskfn of all that he wanted. Captain Forrest's
stay at Sl^anangka was ten days in the whole, and he
then> took' his departure; but the course of his navi-
^gtition was iK>t ceirtaidiy known. ^
f i'aur days after the sailing of this vessel^ Ensign
'^TetSh atsrived isosn Bcmtam. He was bound to Bei».
coolen, biU prevented from reaching it by a contirary
Urind.* Calling upon Kei Damang^ he said: " I was
>^ dispatched to Bencoolen by GovOTUor Poer, with a
'^^ cargo of rice. My instructions were, in case I could
^^ not get so far as that place, to stop at Croeei and
** dispose of my cargo there, or, if I could riot reach
*< Croae^ to put into Sanumgka, I shall now deliver
"the rice into your hands, for my orders were, on no
** account to carry it back to Bantam.^' Upon receiving
this
• '* • f^tma whence it may be inferred that this was about the setting ia qC
the north-west monsoon^ in tlie month of November»
£4 . Id^SlEOIIUI OS" A
Hm fMAee^ Kd Dom&nff called a meetsng <^ a£ the
nakh^daa oi Samdngkai to whom he stated the dkcum-
stanees that had just been coimniinieatfyl to Yam^ and
asked their (^pinicm as to 'what was t9 be done mth the
rice. They w^e at a loss what to advise; jbt '&e
<;arg09 which ampimted to ten hoytm (or ei^t thduaand
gallons), was Java rice, and much damaged by weeinls.*
Si-Talib urged them to a determination, ^i What I
^ should recommend,^' said a man named N^kboia Sem-
poma, '^ would be, in the first instance, to dispose of a
^^ part at the different rivers in Samcmgka bay, and by
^^ that means ascertain the prioe that the remahaobr
*' ought to fetch."—" As to the price," said the enrign,
intarupting him, " tfie governor has fixed that at
*« twelve bamboos (gallons) the Spanisfar dollar.'V-'^^JLBut
" if^it will not go off at that rate,^ said Semfrnm,
^ wiiat is to be done?'' Here due oonversatioB eilded,
and KA Daim&ng directed one oC*hi8 sqbs^ NaiAada
L&B«»9 to load a boat widi two Joo^om^oi the rbf^qand
^i£katour to dispose cf it; which oectipied himiitwo
mondis. In the coarse of three numths, hoiwevca?, jthat
the ensign reinained at Samang/ca^ the whole wa& sold.
During this period SuTallb concerted a. {dot with
Raus, the serjeaat of the Dutch guard,f for the rum
of
* The rica exported from Jftva and Balli is gepecally of inferior
quality, imperfectly cleared of the inner husk, and has the grains much
broken. It is consequently not in demand, iml^ds in times of -scait^ity,
among people who cultivate the article for themselves.
f Heie I2ie QooSmixm of persons. is palpable^ excepting on $he ^uppo-
sition that Raus had been pcomoted» and appointed to the command of
the guard.
MALAYAN} ffAMILY. HB
of Kin Dtmimg. ^ I should fihe/'; said tbe .md^ to
the «eij0«kit, ^^ to Teaide «t thk pkoe*"-^^^ Bui IvlMt
*^ otyict/* replied the other, ^^ could it be to you to
^ nitide beie, 'seeing liiat all the power is in tbe hatids
^ of fig» Damang f How could you expect to have an
^< Hifluenoe supeiior to that of a aian who baa been 90
*^.loBg connected in tbe country ?'*— « If you will ei^r
"into my views/* isaid Sir^Taiiby " we could oontiive
^ a plan» 'that is, if you aie well indinedp"— *^ Wbafc-
*^ever yvai have to say,*' replied the Serjeant, ^^ apeiJc
^ out, that I may understand you/' Upon which the
eKudgn proceeded thus: ^^ Do you, aeijeant, write a
^ letter^ And send it to the governor of Bmi^tam. In
^^ tlttS' letter, state that Kd Damang sold pef^ier to tiiie
i ^^^ iEngfidi fibip'that touched here latdy, and never paid
/^f^regafd' taany remonstrances that you niadie to kiJH on
,,H^.}the subject Make use of my nam^ and say that I
^'^'toiif(«ll acquainted with his proceedings. Ilioiioid^
^•^^pateh the letter till I am gone; but in such tinie timt
r^^rit shall arrive at JffmUam soon sA&: me ; when the
y*^ go^eimor trill naturally make inquiry of me reqfiecting
'^ the truth of the charges. K we oan succeed in gettmg
f^ Kei Dcandnff removed from Samangka^ and you and
-^^ I should have the future management of tbe country,
'^ we could certainly make it turn to good account."
The Serjeant having listened to all tihds, and approved
of the scheme, recommended that the other should lose
no time in r^uming to Bantam. ^^ 1 hear,*' said he,
" there is a praw nearly ready to sail for that place,
«with
^r:i«itli. p^^pper, wd by Aiaamvc^mee I! o^n seod thfQ
<f Jitter, which I shall giv« in eh^ege tp my wi£^?;
Thi» matter bdng arranged^ SuTaiib set out» aD^ «ten
days after bi& departure» Nakhoda Inehi Lwty m wboap.
Teasel aerjewit Raus sent his wife, with the letter fox the
fpyemot^ sailed also* Thirteen days after SinTaUbHu
amval, the letter fdilowed, and was deUrered % the
woman to Mynheer Peer : who read the oantents, which
were such has had been concerted-' It conciUid^ hy
desiring, that if the writer was not to be cvedited lOn
his word, inquiry should be made of Si^TaJ^by who waa
at Suma/ngka about the time it happened. When the
fpvemcx had perused it, he sent for the ensign and
asked him what news there was when he visited the
place* ^^ The news I heard," said Sir-TfiSby ^^ ,w^
^* that an English ship from Bencool^, oommaaded«.by
^^a* Captain' Forrest, had touched there. That .^^
^'Jlamang had sold pepper to this captain, and wi^s
1^ subservient to his will in every circumstance;, poi
^^ paying regard to any advice giv^n to him by.thie
*/ ^seqeant/* — ^" And what is the reason," said tl^
gbvi^lTior, ^^ that I have been kept so long in ig|[ioran<Ke
" of this transaction?*' — " The reason of my .mlenc^ on
the sul^ecty" replied Si-Tallb^ ^^ was my fear th^t, I
flbould be considered in the light of a calun^^^*'/
Th^ .governor said nothing further, and the ensign
returned to his own house. , ^
,^ JiMiiĔdai^ tqgelh^ with tbemaitefsipfiihe
other praws of'the seas»ri, sailed 6n their returning
voyage»
MALAf Al^ l^ktntY. St
Wj^ag^, atid' 6n board of his yes^l iMe gttfNmoi^^MOit
baek the^sc^ijesHtV wifo, and at the saihe time ti^ei^
Dut^h sokUers. About a numtib alter theii* aiyivat-i^
iStentdT^X^cr, a two-tnasted vessel called a ketch, «uidehisi*
appeamhce. As sooti as fdie was pen;eiyed by Kei
Dmndfiffy he went to the seijeant and asked him what
k>rt of vessel he supposed that to be ; observing thai
it looked sometlihig like a ship.* The seijeant said he
kiiew Tiolihing about her : it might be a ship ot it might
not. " What are the orders,*' said the former, *^ in
^ ^ase she shonld anchor here and fire a salute ? Am 1
^to return the salute, or not ?" — ^* Do not return it ;
'* as if we aflfected* to make ourselves of equal conse-
***qu«ice with these people (European captains). Who
^ kiiows where die may come from ? We know nothii^
^* about her.*' As she approached, the Dutch cdours
were distinguished, and the Serjeant called Nakhdda
''BSjang to accompany him to the vessel. When they
reached her, they paid their compliments to the captain.
Upon the ketch's coming to an anchor, a saldte wais
fired by her gunner, and the, captain went on shore.
Ret Damdng waited his landing at the mouth of the
river. When they met, the captain addressed hini in an
ungry tone, saying : ^^ What is the reason that you did
not return my salute ? Do you imagine yourself a
<c
J . ** person
* A ketch has a main-mast and a SBoall mizen-raast, as a br^ has a
main and fitfcuHiaBt The Wb^ woid iba/M4 wUch we tmaslagle' ship,
jisjtipt confined to gne with three masts^ but applied to any square-rigged
vessel, with top and top-gallant masts.
^^tWs «if iftote€oiMie<|«ience ikan me, that you,4o bqV
^^ 0cnidid^6end ta i«tum my ©viHty ?"*-*>^ The r^asoi^/'
Msw^^idd Km DamA^ ^^ that your salute was jopt
^^BXiMf&f^ WAS, my beii^ guided by tbe advice of
^seijeant Ba&i, vtiio gave it as hie apiaion that in <?ase
^ c^ a salute bring fired from the ship, it ought not ta
^ be returned.^ The captain was 9ttU dissatisfiedy and
adced why any weight Bbould be allowed to what the
sejeant advised f Kd Damang did not xnake any
replyy judging that it would answer no good purpose
to get into an altercation^ They separated, and. die
captata welit back to his vessd.
On the fdlowing morning he landed agai% and gave
directions for calling together all the inhaUtants of the
Malay town ; on which occasion he took ^wn ^vt*
nunes in writing; and this being done» he laidr tQ lITet
Damdmff: << Ord^ all these pec^e. to set 4>Qut. i^etn^
^ structing a stodcade."^* He bii09^ measm^ pi^
thegroiind and formed the plan; the dimenskois b^ng
tarty fftthonis on every side; Kei Damang inqujlir^d
whether for the erection of the fort, those pereon^^oiply
wko inhabited the Malay town were to be piit in f^
^pintion, or whether the coulitry (native) dbiefs were
to be called upon to laid their assiistance; as, in tbe^
fonner cafiCy he thoii|^t it wQuld be a long, time before
Ae work coidd be completed. The captain desired him
to suggest that mode which he thought wpuld tend r to
its
^ This measure of fortifying the place we may presume to have been
the consequence of Captain Forrest^s visit. •■u^--'*^
MALATAH VAMILT. 99
iti^ more efFeelultl execution, and he wcriU tid^r il initio
contiideration. ^ In my opiixbn>'' said Km JjMaAag^
^^ the proaihiĕ should be required to eontdbute thek
^* share (of the labour and xnsterials). In this wvmEry ci
'^ LampSfiff'SSmangka th«% is a chief caUcd pmgerun
^ Wei Ratna^ who is the first person in rank and oon-
^< sequence, and to him the captain will do well to make
'* application." They accordingly proceeded togethi^
to the village wh^re this chief resided, when the eaptaiii
addressed him *in the following words: ^< I am eomie tor
*♦ wait on the partgerem^* said he, " in pursuance c«f
^* directions from the goremor of BoMtam^ to examine
<^ into the staite of this district, wMch it is his intention
^^ to put <m a footing similar to that of the seapcoast of
<^ Jkva. In the part (of the bay) occupied by the
^ ]ICalayj$ I observe a situatioa proper for the ereetioQ
^-dl a fdrl, and the padjgeran and Kei Bamangtmonk
^iMnjdoy a sufficient number oi people to execute
^ the woric in a satisfactory manner. *'-p*-^' It is well^
^ captain," replied the pmgeran; ^ but you mnst
^ allow me a Mttk time for prepaxotian. In five dmyn
^ I shall be ready to go down, and pay attentioDitotthe
^' business." The captain returned with Kei Damdng
to the Malay town^ and on the next day he proposed
tlitat tbey shotdd go together to examine the boundary
teark that* separated the territory of the English from*
thai of the Dutch Company ; aV a place that bore the
name oiMiMra Tanda (demarcationr-river-mouth). They
accordingly proceeded thither ; the captain being in one
sailing-
§9 .MBIfOtES OP A
mĔiogiimt, mad Kek Damim§^ ^vkh two of YAs^ «mm,
Nwkk ĕĕa Biijmug «ad j^iSuni^n, in afleoood; tliAiod|ei^
dans, NĕUMk Ldh» and "Lo-fMMm, remaining belaud' l»«
take tBxe of die kouse. Upon their -arrival at tbe ^pol»'
the eaptom gave ofders for removing the nuufk, and took-
away widi him the Enf^ish notice of the limits {insciip*.
tion ?)* After passing three nights there^ they returned
toiv^ds Samanffka^ the captain taking a seat in KH-
Dmndwg^s boat When they dre# near to the keteh,
Iheformer sidd : << Let us step on board of my vessel
^^befove we go any further, and amuse oursdve&for an
<^ hoiuf or two."—" With much pleasure,** answered
Kei Damdng, *^ I shall be gratified to see how things
*^ are arranged in your diips." Kei Damang thereupon
wient on board. '''■•
At this moment Serjeant Raus (who obsa^ed ivhiit
was passing afloat) called on Nakboda Lelkt and *£a-
nddin^ and said to them : <^ Ccone along; let us also go
*.^ on board of the keldi, and bring your father and the *
C* captain,- as well as your' younger brothers, on shore/*
They did not hesitate to accompany him, and went dff *"
in a sampan, which was rowed by those three persons;
Upon Nakhoda LeUa*8 stepping into the' vessel, die
seijeaint and the captain required him to lay aside his
kris (loosen his kris-bdt); to whidi he answered <Iiai *
his
* Tliis «M inobaUj^a plsteTof met^ and periiaps Islald ia^^lMksl »
fitone;. which may «ccount lor its beiqg spoken of as eofiel^g pM^ \
firom the land-mark itself, which must have been common to both
nadoiis. The terms by which the fonner is ezprened In ttie orH^hial ait '
twij^ tanah, ' what points out the land.*
MALAYAN WA»i%Y. fit
fff^Uenee; tm ey^ia m the fort of *Banium it wnĕ^sM
nrfilwd. td:JMin« < Aa aoon as Kei DamAng h^rd the»
X0J008 ip thfi» alteceatwi; lie desired hk son to make fito
irofds about it, but to do as the captain desired faim^
bsbA Io g£9^ iQ) his kris» Upon receiving his £ather*s
o»eksB he loosed it fioni his girdle and gave it to one of
tb& people^ *La^u4dm doing the same. They thw
veiii into the cabio, and sat down near their father ai¥l
1ski$ix two bcofliers. . When they were ail thus seated
together» (iie captain addressed Kei Damang in these
WOids.: ^^ You and your four sons are no longer, at
'^ liberty to quit this vessel. I have the governor's
/^ cMtiers lor cartying you away from hence, and for this
** purpose it was that I came to Sanukngjka^^r--^^ It is
^\ tfell, Sii^^ lepUed he ; ^^ but you took unnecessary
*^.tnouble.in,pomil^ here for the purpose; because a
^Smere slip of pi^ar transniitted to me, would have met
^Jffi^ jmplipit obedience from one who has ever pon-
^^'^^(fced ]iii|i9ae|;f as Uvifig uim^ th^ control „of.. the
^^Co9)|paiXy>^ After this the captain w^t cm shore
aiid.FK)<^eed^ to the house of Kfii Damingy which he
oii^lf^re^lihe nulit^ry under arms to. surroupd^ wbil|»t be
aacb t|^ serjeaoijt £fli;tered.it All the propa*ty . was seized
upofi^ anfi.fc^ day» iBvere employed in transpprtixfgit
tQ.^e ketch; the captain and his people remaining in
jiWiMHHiinn of the. house day and ni^ht Ev^y day a
btiffidoe was killed fdr thefr provision, and they passed
tbi^^tiiiie in.^Uog» drinking,, a^d makipg^ m^ryy. .
r ' In-
6S il'EMOIRS OF A
In i}ie ttieah time Kei Ddfniinjg ^M tes folir sons were
guarded on board by a Dutch coiporal anfl h, psifi^ of
ilien. Their food, both ineait and dritik, Mnak ^il|iiflidi
to them from the houses of his brothers, nain^ HTcMm
• * ■
Darman and Nakhoda Sempdrnd, v^o ttleinselves catiiĕ
btf ev^ry day, bringinfg with them such krtidles' as thefr
occasions might require; but whatever they brought on
b6ard was first sheWn to the guard for examination,
and afterwards delivered to the prisoners. *lTus was the
regular practice. On a certain day ^dMhMa Sem/p(yirna
visited the captain (oh shore), carrying a' present
(according to the eastern usage) of soine of the' nests
of the bird called /(5yawgr4oya7igr (edible bii^d^s nest), and
' ! X.
said to him: '^* I am come, captsdn, to inquire of y oil
** yoUr opinion whether Kei Damarig and fc^ four sons
** win be permitted to T^iMxn ijQ SamangMj 6t not''—
"What," said he, «is yotir motive for tffefeih^**\he
"question?" — " It is this: I km myself hot prdperiy
** an inhabitant of Swmcmgka^ but of the Slalay qtiarter
'**at Batavia, and am herie only oh K^Dd^ng'a
*^ account, in consequence of his having she^vh lii^ £ihd-
" nfess.* If he is not^to return to this place, 1 sliajf go
<* back to Batavia.'*—^" I know not how that inaiter
^* may be," replied the Captain. " Possibly he may ndt
"b(B allowed to return; for it Is re^rted that 'his
^« ofPences against the Cbmpany are of a serious nature.
«I
* .The trouble experienced hyKet DanH&ng in the affair of the two praws
that went to Bencooolen, and his being fined in.consequencei ihu'st haVe
been the occasion of this friendly visit frOm his brothers^ " '* ' ' '•• - »
>[AX.AYA^ FAMILY. j^
** J[ hjiye.beajBd it m^iitioned t}ia,| he lia^ ]been g^ultj of
r* ^Vfef i^Pi?F^ ^^ % EngU^lji/'» Nokhoda Smgofna
fi^i4 nothii^, further, but took his kave, aixd, as he was
^^^QQL^ tp do^ cfixried victua],s on board; which
j^orded biia fiu opportunity qf conimunicating to Kei
f^qn^dng, ^ Jej^n its^goed by .the ^captain fpi hi*
^etpisipiy " ipo nptji'' he replied^ " feel any upeasifl^
^^^fgr p^e 911 that score. I have co^^nitted no offenoe
>' (either «gainst the Company o^r the sultan, and I trust
^^* to the protection p{ the Ahnigl>ty. If I am ,t9 be
<^ ruined (iii thj^s ^orld), I shall still be found innocent
"in th^ sight of God.'*
^ ^, After Nakhoda Semporno^s return on shore, Nakfyoda
JSyjo^ ^d Nakhoda LeUa thus addressed their father :
" pQ^not, qur respected father, cpnsume more .time in
*^ {u^egsly) ^reflecting ,on our misfbrtivEies, but revive
^" jto indul^.us in our .wishes. We four brokers can no
" iQl^r ^e^di^^e this treatment ; our hearl;s can no
*^ longer brook .the conduct of these people. Peath,
J^ im4er si^cd^ circumstances, is preferable to life. In
1*^joi^^ \\ i? ouj» intffl^tion to attack tljxese Hollanders?
" and we now make the earnest request that our father
*^^yrill sanction the attempt by his approbation.""—" My
^^^^mi*\s^^JS^eiIfa^ng, ^« do Apt aUow yoursdyes to
-A^take this our situation too much to heart. If we
<* should be carried to Bantg^m^ the.sxdtan .will prQte<;j;
J .. F^ "us;
*,Theie jrassome indiscretion, -on the part of the.captain, in aUoidng
himself to be dra^ into,^ CQnversatiop, but the weU-tim^ prcM^t of
a delicacy may h^ye thrqwn.hipd. pff his ^ard.
fU9 ; f{. to Pf tavia^ we shall have the aasUtanceof tb^
]\Ialays.;* or if to Samdrang, I shall experien<jeTtiie
good offices^ of the Edele heer (]VI, S^uMbirik).?* Jt ia
** all true as our father says," replied thcj sobs, ** pro»
** vided they carry us to Ba<ntamp ftq Bat^vj^or .to
** Sctmarang; but if they should transport us to, PiJ/o
" JDamar^-f who will there afford us protevction ?. The
" employment of us four brothers will there be t<>. twi^
^^ cordage for the Dutch ; and God knows what sort o£
^* burthen they may think proper to lay upqi.om: falha:'»
^^ shoulders. Of the remainder of our bTPtheis and
sisters they may perhaps mak^ slaves,. .At ftll,,ey^ta
the property of which you have been plund^ed will
** never be restored to you. Even with respect, to yout.
<< life, there is no saying how long you shall b^ penpiAted
<* to enjoy it, and we may be doomed to lan^ent yous
** death. But we entreat of our father. to give, us tbfi
pennission we have required- If we rauat be icic^ric^
off by these Hollanders;, it is betto: it shoiildrb^.j^fli
^ dead corpses, than to drag out in misery the Tisx^Efindaf
^< of our existence in this world." Kei Z)(7i9i4^,.altep
listening a,ttentively to this speech, rexoain^ ti)X ^tshc^
* It is ciistoauiiy in the Eoropean settlements to ttppoint'DB^vip cl|i^9
to regulate the internal police of each class of people under their gpvenw
nent, who are styled captains. The Cbmese, Malays, JBOg^^ afidotbcM,
iiave each their retpondble chief under this title. ' > . ^,
t An island lying off Batavia roads, called Edam by the Dutclu
** The chief use they make of it,** says Stavorinus, " is as a place of
cadle for erittiinals, Miio tm emfloyed in maldng of -cordage ; ttid '^y^
whom a tl^p*s captain is plac^^ coiQfiW!^t>*' . , V - . . . -^
MALAYAN FAMILY. dli
time irilent, being absorbed in thought, ite then said ':
** *Ti8 well, my children: since such is your resolution,
^^ I recommend you to the protection of God and* his
** prophet. But do not, my sons, place any reliance on
** my efforts; iot I no longer possess vigour of body to
** grapple with an enemy." — " Were it even your wish,"
said Nakhoda IsUa^ ^ to join in the attack, we should
^ not consent to it. You are now advanced in years, and
^ were you to fall in the contest, it is not to be presumed '
** that we could survive you ; but should it be God^s will,
^ on the other band, that we four brothers perish, it is
"the more necessary that our father shoidd live, in order
^ to rembve our sisters to whatever spot it may be his
"fate fo inhabit. And although you shoidd be the
•^ only stitvivor, still there are many friends who will be
^ ready tb assist pur father." These words drew tears
fiWn the old 'man^s eyes, which he could not restrain^
He refle<ited on the probability that some of his sons
must biel killed, or wounded at least, in the assault ; for
fhe Dutdi were strong and vigilant in their guard.
There were eight men in each relief: on the forecastle
iifetk two men ; on each side of the after deck, near the
helm, two men; and upon the poop, two men; all
armed with musquets. In this manner were Kei Damang
^q4 J^^ ^Qft guarded* On shore, within the enclosure
of the house, there were, the captain of the vessel, a
i^letot^'ahd twelve men, and in the Dutch guard-room^
^,(^cs::por^., ^d five men. All this force was to be
encountered by Ksi Damdng^hk sons, and his brothers.
Having
^ MEMOIRS OF A
Having made up his mind to flie enterprise, he re*
commended to his sons by all means to communicate
. . • •'. I . '
their intentions to Ndkhoda Sempwna (their uncle);
and jEUJCordihgly when next he came on board with p>n>-
visions, Nakhoda Bujang said to him : " What Ibusiness,
t .' ' . " *
uncle, have you on your hands at present? — ** No
particular business," he replied ; ** excepting that I
have given instructions to (my brother) Ndkhoda
** Darman, to fit up a small vessel, to be in readiness
** to follow you with a stbjre of provisions and othet
^* necessaries, to whatever place you may be conveyed." —
,1 • • ■•'"'»
** Do not," said Nakhoda Leila, " give yourself any
• . ■• ^.
*^ further trouble on this score, but exert your ingenuity
** to furnish us with some weapons that will answer our
** purpose, for we are determined to rtm a-muck (malce
*> a desperate attack, at the imminent risk of our own
** lives),* rather than suffer ourselves to be forced iway
" by these Hollanders. But even if we cannot procure
" suitable weapons, we are still resolved at all liazards
** to make the attempt with the best means in our power."
, ,•''•'"-' -it
Nakhoda Semporna having heard this resolution, re-
' ' J, ' ' ' >~ '
turned on shore, and communicated the matter to
■ ■ - . • \
Nakhoda Darman. " These four young men of ours,"
said he^ ** are determined to run a-muck, and theilr
"father has consented and gives encouragement to it.
* See the Malayan dictionary under the word /JUi ^mtiA. The Word
racely occurs in any other than the verbal fonn, /juU^ meng^wtuk * to
make a furious attack. '
.■f
i :
MALAYAN FAMILY. ^7
■'-'•'■': ''.
^ By, what method shall we contrive tp furnish them,
** with weapons for their purppse ?" ffakhodd Darma/iv
- - * , • • *
i^QQ^iediately went to make a search an4 found four
siwara* ^t for service. They then, had a meeting of
the near cojipexions of £i^ Damdng and themselves, in
i^jl^der to settle a pla^ of attack on shore, as soon as
> ' ' • , ■_ '
they could be assured, by the landing of the former, of
the suqces^ful issue of the operations on board. The
nujpi^be]: of persons, to whose knowledge this design was
ii^tru^ted was twelve..
. ■ 1^ ■ . . , .
^bout four o'clock in the afternoon Nakhoda Darman
camlet on board with a quantity of boiled rice, in a sort
of basket, and underneath this rice he had concealed the
four siwar^ As soon as he appeared on deck, Nakhoda
f.ella stepped forward to receive the basket from him,
when the former intimated to him that there were weapons
in it. He.ha&tily carried it down to his brothers, and they
immediately begaA to eat the rice out of the basket.
The jPutchm^n did not say any thing, but seemed tp
look with surprise at the mani^er in which they devoured
their food, like persons who had fasted for several days.
Having finished the rice they put the basket aside, and
, Nakhoda Darman returned to the shore. At night he
stationed a. sampan, with two men in it, for the purpose
of keeping a look-out. The signals agreed upon between
ih^ different parties were, that if a light should be seen
from the \(essel, it was to be considered as a token that
all
* A weapon of the hrU or diig]g[er kind» having a small^ one-edjjf^ed
blade.
dflVas mHoti board. If er fiHn^ of imn^foet^ sbcidld
be he&ffStj the party on shore were iiislafttly't€»'etli»lfi^ibb
i^eir attack on the Dutch who were there, to previ^tilr
them from lending assistance to those in the ketch. '
itei Darning and his sons had beeit Confined tm board
ti% days and six nights, and on the sevi^th night it was
that they rose upon the guard, about flie third houf
after midnight. The motive for deferring it till this^ late
hour was, that the moon had shone Inight, and the wind
blew from an unfavourable quarter (set on shore). Thejr
were apprehensive that should any alarm be given to the
Europeans in the town, it might preclude the possibHfty
rf their friends entering Kei Damang*8 house^ and
occasion the destruction of that part of the fkmily that
still remained in it. When the third hour arrived^ th^
moon had disappeared, and the (land) wind began tcj
How, (which prevented any noise in the vessel from b^irigf
heard on shore). Each of the four brothers provide
himself with a shear. On that flight dieir father w^ {fl
a different part from them j for which purpose apjjica;
tion had been made to the corporal. Hid place, which
^as tolerable roomy, was on one side of the principaf
cabin (on deck), and in it were ranged Up iS^Verili
spears, to the number of twenty, that were in fact hiif
own property and had been taken out of his own houi^
Two Dutchmen stood sentinels over him in this situatioti*
Ndkkoda Leila said to his youngest brother, *La!-t$ddhii
^* Go you to the assistance of your father, and dispatch
** those two sentinels." — " It shall be done/* said the
other
jotheiV ** t^ t will first.acooi^e ^can under swie pret^ince"
Sje4iec<H'dkgly weot towiurds the place where hift. lather
iay^ when one of the men called out to him,^^ Wb^
^^ business have you hereF^ — ^^ I am cGme^"^ said be
f*'- to. look after my fathcsr^ and to inquire whether he is
>< in want of betel, as he complained of being ai little
<< indisposed to night." The sentinel said nothii^
further, and '^Let^iddin, after speaking a few words (to
his fathei^ wen.^ bdow again to where his brothers were,
and haTing taken up^ his ^itoar and provided some betel,
tetumed to his falher^s cabin, ifakhoda Leila went
fbrwttxky.ancl Nalthoda BSjang^ along with Si-Bdntan^
lo the wai^ of the vessel, where the greatest number of
the IXitcbmen^ were collected* When Nakhoda Leila
had bean^a the ibrecastle about half an hour, he stabbed
those whom, he found there. Nakhoda Bujang and SU
Banian feUowed the example, and ^Loruddm^ with his
father, ^iyispatehed the two mea that guardeld them. Th^
Inreapon employed by Kei Damdng was a large Com«
pany's pistoly with which he struck one of the guards,
imd' killed him. Fmtn this moment the brothers could
to longer act upcm any combined plan, but each indivi^
dually waf^ occupied in killing, wherever he could find
yiethn^ Kei Dam&ng took down the lances that were
ranged in the cabin. Observing some Javans, of whoni
theie were seven on board in the capacity of seamen, be
called out to them : '' If you chuse to take {>art with
f ^ the Dutchmen, attack my sons : or, if not, seek for
<* yourselves a place of security/* They immediately
- > ran
iiwi up t0 tte maieMop ; oat being uicljnet} t^ tok^j^art^
^mtix ifae Dutch, but de$irou8^ of reoiwibg n^i^^al;, ^^
. Aboiitciaa hpur had been c^opisui^d in iHm wx^J^^f
aaad: ^^ Cowie. hither, my chilidreii.all,.: jf^ij^ JWW^ »
f ^ aiudi9u$ to see ywjr fa(Ces. Hejce, t^^ ^Ji ,^ ypjf in
w Hi^ hfind ODe of t^«fe »p^iirs.'' Pr^^nitjy thro^ .^/^
COBS QWie *bput him, and twk ea^jl^ of th^pi, a , q^
"B^»t^*' said he, « wi^ere i& 'Z^i^m^f'.V'^S ?eat
>vhd«»/' ausjitrered N^akhoda LeHa, ^^ tq.,th9, as^i^rtaJ^^
^*of my fothiBF; siace which tinie yfe hav^ not frflen
f^in :with him." Upon h^ng tW» -RSpi vPai^^?«aBf
shed t^re; lupposiog Im s»q had l>e^u Jp}]^ i'^ fikfi
«tru^kt Bu.t/Xfa-t4ic^l9%.wa,s ft thjs timi^ at the he^
^ the vessel, epg^^d in lookiiig at fpv^ of t^. .^^eir,
who were i^uapended by rop.es :^oin^ the bowsprit; sjfph
was tb^ object th^t ^ttra^t^d 1^ att^tipP ; i^r he -i^fis
^ thia period but a lad, aad had npit ,b^9,^u[^stoi»^di ^o
think seriously.^ Upon h^firing him^lf 99}}ed, be i:;^n
with speed to his father ; and all b^i^g |K>w armed with
spears, they went to seareh for any of the iEurop^ui^s
that remained alive, and ^ui^h as |hey foimd tbf^y p|it
to d^^; not suffering one to escape; all peris{]ffd
tiiFQugh the providence of Alpiighty God, who in his
divine dispensation, did not, tm this ocoasioai,^ allow
his faithful servants to experience any kind of injury
It
whatever.
NakMa
^ This person, it will appear, was the ultimate writer of tlie memoirs.
MALA YAK FAMflY. H
Ntdchodk LMa lioir shewed A light,* and a 'sampim
soon came albti^ide to tdce them cm share. Nakhĕda
B^fang ^aii stepping itito her for the purpose) but vaa
'kept 'Back by his father. «* You had better,^ said he
* r^aiA hi the vessel. I and Nakhoda Leifkt ndll land,
** but do ythi three guard our property <«i board the
^^•kkc&:*f atid' let me recommend to you not' to place
** any 'trust* 111 the seven Javans who are urith ytwi.
"Until ve have eranpletely effected the businesn on
*^ «hore, do Hdt you think of landing/' He then took
ifhJkhddA Lelbi with him, and they proceeded to the
house of Nhkhoda Sempoma, where they found No-
khoda Darmthi and other persons, to the number of
dght. <^ Come,"^ said Kei Damdngy ^^ let us attack the
** Hollahd^s who are now in my house." Upon hearing
'his voice and that of his son (it was still nearly dark),
'they immediately descended and set out together.
' Having entered the kampong (inclosed space) unp^-
ceived, Nakhoda Sempoma, Nakhoda Ikmnauj and
Serif'ttd^ny went up into the house, where the captam,
'the Serjeant, and one tbldier then were; whom they
Ihstantly dispatched. As soon as the soldiers belonging
' to the guard who were below, heard die noise of a '
scuffle
' ^ In low ]ctitttde»theday does not break earlier than fiire o'clo<dg and
this, aeems to hare been about four.
•f- The reason for this distinction amongst the sons is not obvious.
Nakhoda Bujccng might have been better qualified for cairytng off the
^Ftsael» fk the event of a fiulnre on shore ; or, being the eldest son, the
fiither did not ehuse to expose to further risk the life of one who would
become the protector of the family.
72 -ME^ttOtB» or A
i a«
souffle in th^ uppei" part of the hoii^ ' thef imikd
\mtSty from tiie place appn^riated to<tfaei;M^ Vhti'tlidr
nkcusquetsf drew up on the ground iii Croat, aind fired'
into the houses As soon as they had given -^k* ftfe/
fhe party with Ktd Datndng kdA JfaModa LeUarM'^S
in upon them. Of these latt^, one mhti was kSled ahd
two wounded, but fdl the Dutch soldiers wet^ put to
death. JTei Damdng then gave dil^eciimis that the'
whoie oi the Malays belonging to the pktoe ishdtild
nudce a» attack upon the guard-^room, whieh Wai^ done ;
but upon entering it^ no person wai^ found th^i«e. Five
men had made thdr escape. With the esrei^tion <^
dies^ all. the Europeans were killed ; by the ' bluing
and through the assistance of God. ' ' . '
It was by this time brood day. Km, DamSr^ gave
orders that all his property on bo^d the ket<i!b'kho<fldf
be bhiught on shore, but the aim» hediire^itedto^beputr
VBko a small praw, along with some artkle» beldngliig to
Ihe Malays: the quantity^ however, that (fee could stdw'
was trifling. All the merchandise belonging to^ himself
loid to the other traders, was left behind (at S^mdn^tiiji
tpgetber with all their trading praws, tothe i^i^bes^'of
fifty^* which at this season were ladd upon ^tkav^,' 'He
reBBonstrated with the Malays on their intentitM «of
^Gompanying him (in his flight)^ '* in 'my 'io)^<^ti,^
he said) ^' it would be more advisalJe fofr ftiy fifiehiytdl
^remain where they are, and not think it ne^eesMry 't(>
*«v&ilow my fortunes: uncertain ad I iuMf at ^^rif
?f where r and myt children may ;filnkl an a:6ylum. 'Pfer-
" haps
%^l^s we fliiay be allowed to Uyq ^bin tbe Juidsditflicm
^<^id\\^ English Coix^any, and perhaps not* Why,'
^^ ifrien^s» should you involve yoursdves in these
^ diffi^uiAmi**^—*^ We shall never/' they Answered^
^ soffer you. to go without us, satisfied as we are of
^yoQr int^pdty respecting the affairs of the CoBupeny
<<tor of the sultadu We consider you as an injured and
" m Ki»pprewed xam, who, whUst you weie xenckring
^.them every sendee in your power, have been treated
^^in suejbi' aa unworthy manner by the Conqpany.^'
When this joonveraation was at an end he wrote «letted
c
to tb0 govemoTy Mynheer Foer, and another to ihe
OLiltan^ the vsubsftance of whidi was as follows : " FfchU
*' Kei Damang Perwaaidanay in the country of L(an^
^^, ff&ng^Samafigkcu, to his honour the Governor and to
^ .bi^ ' highness the Sultan :«^Ilespectmg the circUm*
<f . stance of my quitting this place, together with all the
f^ Malays who have been setded hare, the occasion is^
ff our being no long^ able to endure the conduct of
^: the HoUaaders towards us* Whcither it was or was
^^ net by tiie orders of their superiors, I cannot tett^
^/il^tlbave beentxeated b]^ them like a -dog; all m^
<^.^^ec^ baveb^en pillaged, my house has been taken
*f possession aS^ ^nd I have myself bem confined aa n
*^priaC0pier« .1 apn not conscious of having incurred any
^^d^bt eitbec to the sultan or to the Company, even
to the amount of the smallest coin ; and during the
V .wJ^d/e time that I have been a sojourner in this land,
<^;i.haye^;^ver in any instance defrauded or injured
;(}.. "them.
4<
« nev^ Qg^a h»9re ^e <^pprtwi^ .pf , ^9«yi^ my <}u^|f
** to the sMltan qt 0{ af^^mrvs^S ui tlie ^pfe^i^i^c^ )P^,#^^^
«
<^ 4oullleJb^I??el gun and 4 p^ of ^W^^^l^l?^ P^^j?''»-
*« kpth of wbi<;h I now .d^Uv«- iutp tjjie ^and^ of,^:/f^,
^^ Jumali^ tcgetbw 'with the Cooigiwiy^^ Jf^hflj fW^^^fH^
«< the prawe bf^Wnglng to tbe l\I«l|ty tr^ep? i^^.^Jip^y«
<^%eUnd us; takiis^ with m only $^cj]^..art^lQ^,,^ $^y
*^ be . Q^aveyied by tpavjellei?» on /oqt. I .^w j^et u^^tj^".
" inined wilt res3)ect to ,the route we jx^y ^pufsjjp ^^ b^t.
« I flhall r^gn n^yself with /ponfid^npe to.,^e .cjii^tjyfli,
** q{ Gfod> who kpows the .fiit^^ dertiny .9^ .hi^ ^^primj^^^
The tetter» being prepf^Tjed,. V p^t ^tl>^m.*ls9,ijtf9j^^^
bands «f J(|K3» JamaU^ the «uUa^iV agentt . , . . ^ r, „ | r,v^
Three days imd tbre^ xvi^ts bi^ .^lajiqed.fr^p^ j^^e^
tikne of the mtl«8a<n:e, whi^^(riy{i^a||%^^
journey for (the EttgUsh . s^fjtlon^^ ,Qf ) Cro^p !?1^% ,^
liie Malayfi, men, wpmen, wd c^bildren, gr^t^a^td W?^ft
U> the number of about four bnndi:ed ^soyl^'^ «^t'^j
trsveUing tikiree daya tb^y rem^b^.a pl^e /ct^l^^^.
kSnati* fixHin whc^ace he wyote a letter, wd s^fttjtvv*^.
I>ootor Blawkin^ who at that .p^ipd liad !itmSf^9?jj)y
■'^ A small foctory Hfubordinate 'to 'Ooee, near the «ettth^wtalfni/'caf [
tremity of the illi^i^, a^d not |»r across the istt^n^us, from the u|i|per ^^
Qt S«mangka hay. The progress 9f such an assemblage of peo{)le,
carrying with them whatever Could' be rbnotedy'ttiiidt^'^cMnni^lUIIre"
MALATAK PAMILY. 70
cHarge if ihe^residelicy of <Jrde». Itiiras t(> diefolldwitig
^bct^: '^ £^"JE>aiiMi72gr'from Saman^kĕ^; pteĕ&At^ his
<* il^sptetS' tb ttte ehitf rf C^<w ; being deiiotis of
<^ p^ssili^ 6n\^ktd^to iiiftt :place, lie eameBi&y «dicks bis
** jrf6t^tfon. '' The occasioii of his mafing this request
<* kiis^ fitim a aiffej-ehce he has had with the Dixttoh
^* 'ti^mpkiy. It is his wish to live under the flag of t^
^* "fii'glish ; But if that cadnot be allowed Wm, he begs
^^ peiWdsion at least to pass through their districts, in
"hib Way to 'any country where he may afterwards
«•settte'/* Hatving dispatched this letter, he e^ered
one' day to leliqise Tiefore he pursued his journey; In
threte' days he received an answer from the chief of
Croĕkj acquainting him that he mi^t come on to that
j»ĕttl^menir; and remain there till the busiiiess could be
submitted to the consideration of the Gk>iremor and
CbUricSl of Bintoolen. The e£fect produced by this
lettei'''6n'tfae «hind of Kei Damang was like that which
thfa*s1liy' plants experience from the fsll of rain. He con*
tiimed fais (slow) journey, and in seven days from' tiie
tiiUe' of ills leaving fieTzA^fina/, reached Crcee. Upoa
hi^ Arrival he waited on Mr.^Blonkin, accompanied \xjf
JS^a&hcfda Sembaway who -was ensign (officer of tlle^
(ioirtitry^guard) dt the place, and having paid the usual
Compliments, asked him his opinion whether he should
hare^rparmisaon to remain under the protection of the
ilngii^ flag, or not. ** The matte*,*' said the chief,
'Ssb^U.be.l»:<9^ht to a determination in this way: 1
<< will write on the subject to the governor and: council»
" and
^^ and you shall also address a letter jto tb^a^^ .Ai/
this period Mr, ■ Carter ^wa;s governor^ aod.tl^ opwioii^
coKisisted of Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Baikal,. M?^ Hay^ Mti
^|[airQe^flnd Mr. Steuart»* who .wa:«<than/fM»e^inbledal»>
Bttipoolen. The chief. of Croee'^ letter to. the Bmrd
advised it of the circumstance of Kei T^^m^n^a urtixal,
with four hundred persons in company, and of his
clidniing the protection of the Cipglish flag, in oonse*
quence of his having cut off the Hollanders at So*
mtmgkcL^ from whom he had received iU-treatment ;. afid '
desired to be furnished with instruictions for his coiidiitt
on the occasion. The letter from Km pqmanff wiis.tp
-the same effect ; representing the oppression . undbr
whidi he had laboured, his own and his 'cU14re9's }n^^
prisonment, and the plunder- of his property ; tl^iat h|8
spirit could not endure this ignomkiious treatment,
which on his part was wholly unmerited ; that with tl^
assistance of God he had effectually resisted them ; J9f^,i
that he now craved protection from the governor, aud ^
council, with permission to live under the i^nglj^ f^^r
, £ight days after the di^atch of ^e^e l^ttei^, bis ^^j
Nakhoda Leila, was ordered to proceed to Bencoolen, i^
the small psaw that had ccHne lou^d ifoui-i^liim^fifiglniifp»
Bmkunaty where he embarked^ and' his Tojrage^'wAs
«completed two days after the delivery of the letters (for-
, wawfcd^
* In the original these names are si:^detoCl7 eoniK^imttbillr oi4i)r«''
is transposed. The members, reyp^tivelgr are- here xesto^Bdi,^ .their
proper rank. The fiict of their being collected at the presidency. lipo|f:
place shortly before the en>iration of Mr. Carter's government, in 1706«.
liMQ'ded &feii^d}. He timm Ud t^ssd iiit<^ tife ^t
ef MiMkif, wkĕt^ Ite ^Mfclbsed hiniMtf to i!he peo{^ dT
^th^ Tfllag» of) Xkmi»ng, f^qtiestiAg that soAe^tir ^i^
iMidd iU«Mi^My bltti to Bĕiidooleti,* as he'Ssd ttistttei^
to odi&ininldeite tb the ''^^rndr aM coiincil, as wĕH
a» to 19ttloi)t9r fSfarSp^), to tlifr twd paiigetam^ and the
£g^ eftif Arif b«if% stem hyU^ Mhsr tct WScH protection
taoA tiga^gAMt frckk ffiose persJ6^[iages, !n coitse^^uience of
the failBBly httVhig been engaged in k quarrel with the
Dnteh Ornipaiiy. « Snch,^ said he, ^* are rSy ^eaisotis
for tfOtilAhfg yoift. I know riot but it ihay be my ftte
to be put 16 deiatA Hy order of the government, and
in this case I wish that ydu should be spectatoi's of
ttiy executioh. My Tessel, which 1 leave here, I beg
that you, niy friends, will take care of f6r me ; but
ill ckse of my death, you will d6 with her what you
**1tlnrifc ]f)r6per.** The Kadang people having listened
to^s address from IVdkkoda LeUOy consented to escort
hhn, aiid iseveli persons addordingly set out in his train.^
Whiĕn they i^sacbed Fort Marlborough he went to the
house ot Radtn Si Naka^f who was governor Carter's
orderly
•* We Mifit df Bencbolen is here, « elsewhere, used for the seCtle-
imf^fd Fort Iffadhorongbi dt^taot fiFem it about two miles. From
Kandangi Dear the river of SiBehar, to Uie hitter, is seven or eight miles*
t The first of these was captain or heed man of the Bugu people from
C^Mtiet; ttie ethers, native chiefe and magistrates, composing what is
ttiMiMd tiw e mmflry gwenwpent»
) fhe Halves afways waHc hi single flies.
I This person was the son of a king of MadUrOf whose tnigical imd
aflbcting history (casting a stain on the English chamcter) ii^ well related
G
<4
vonierly fl^rjeanty and aGquamtedh'im tifaG&t ft' ^d^^Kis
•jd^iire to. be iD£i»daced to the gdr^nior^ liairitig *a
jijiesst^ to deliver to him &om faisifalktr JSM B^fikkng
^ Smamg^ Theefficer toidit\miw^yidn^^^(ii^tly
proceeded to make his arrival kn<i^ anfl ^ lisft-j^p-
.missioii for him to pay his respecfis. The govenM>r ilent
back the sei^eant with a message to Ndliih^iM tMa^
desiring that he would come to him at fcmr o^dldĕk t^at
aftenioon, when he should have an aucfiende ; it b^ng
then but a little, past noon, and neear his hour of' dming.
Upon receiving this message he retifed to A house' ih
the bazir of Marlborough, and at the tiMe t^|Mnted,
repaired to the government-house. Pr^para^yry tb his
approach the governor had sent an. order into the fort,
to furnish a corporaFs guard of ei^t men^ and as ^^xi
as these were drawn up in rank^befaind h!Em> he gave
directions that Ndkhada LeUa should ^be admitted- to
the council-room. After the usual eonf{diin<S!|tSj the
governor inquired of him from whence he came* **1[.
am coi^e," said he, '^ ixoxa Samungka^ and wait upoti
you by desire of my father." — " What is tlwe nattife
of your business? Let me underetand it."— "^'-Tftfe
■ ' "** oceasKJft,
in a work entitled ' A Voyage to the £a$t-IiiiKea in 1747 ^and. jt5I|ft*
published in 1762. ** The old king," it says, " loved the English, and
" had his youngest son, at that very time at Bencoolen, for his educa-
<' tion ; and as he wanted to cultivate a good undct»tandilig'#iCli OMi^
" he ordered his son to dress and to live after their manner" Tl^s fK»^
when an elderly man, was well known to the translator, between the
yaar» 1771 and 1779. He was no longer employed in a military capacftfi
and had wiĕely relinquished the European dress. His jtnanivers Yff^
polished, and his mind well-informed.
€<
((
((
MALAYAN FAMltY* 1^9
>
oceaBion, Sir, of our intruding upon you is, that
having suffered oppression from the Dutch at that
|daoe^ we ware driven to rise against them. In the
contest they were all killed, and of the Malays on
/four side, two abo felL In consequence of this uh-
^^. happy affair, all the Malays who were settled at
'^ Sammgka have removed to Croee^ where they wish to
i^< be indulged with permission to dwell under the pro*
teetion of Ae flag of the English Ck>mpany ; humbly
craving their lives at your hands." — " What,** said
(he governor, ^* was the foundation of yoiu* quarrel ? I
*f^ am persuaded there must have been, on your parts,
some cause (for strong measures), which it will be
right in you to make me acquainted with, truly and
.** without reserve."—** Sir,*' answered Nakhoda LeUa,
^* I can inferm you of every circumstance leading to it,
^* from the beginning to the eiid, but the relation, I fear,
*' will pixive tedious to you.**—-** No matter,** replied the
govem<»v ^^ f^^ i^ prolixity. Begin and narrate your
^* story at length, that I .may be fully acquainted
** with it.** Nakhoda Leila dien proceeded to furnish
governor Carter with a complete detail of all the cir-
cumstances that occurred, from the period of Kei
Daminjfs first settling at Samangka and being invested
with authority there by the sultan and the governor of
iBan^am, to that of Nakhoda Satta and Nakhoda
Ddgam going to Bencoolen during the French warfare,
for which he incurred a fine, and of Captain Forrest's
Katlching at Samangka: in short, he apprised him of
G 2 everv
(6
§0 IfSMOIRS OF A .
every eveat that had t^Ken places Wh^ th& mumliye
was ooncludcd the governor sent fov Captaia JSjormst»
and asked him whether it waa true thai he htd.been
there some time smoe. *^ Cerlfdoly^f anaimndt.the
captain, ^^ I did put in there.'^-- >^ And what^'^aaid the
governor,." was your motive far aodoii^ ?/*—?" B^«»ttae/'
said he, " I was in want of water and live sto^k.''-r*«^^ And
who supplied you with them?^'— «-" A MaJa^ eWef,
who was named Kei Damdng, assisted me in proowing
whatever I stood in need of.'*—" Did you. sell jeMh
" or opium, or did you purchase pepper tli^j^i?''-—
" Whilst I was at Samangka I n^illier 9old aip^ 09pd(»
" whatever, nor did I purchase pepper.**— ♦^ Wfe> b
" that person P" said the governor» p^^iig to iVflftjMa
Leila. When Captain Forrest had lop)^ at )m^ he
said : " I know this man : he is the ai^ of JK^,J?amĕ^
« of Samangia. What can have Iniought hira.hei» ?!' •—
" He is oome,^' said the governor, " tg olapn i^t^l^ioii
" from us ; having killed the Dutch irhp wf^. fi|j:ljbat
place/* — ^' The gpvemor,'" said Captain Forrest, " will
do a just ajct in protecting them^ fo)r j( am p^rsfi^aded
^^ they have not been to blame in the matter^ bu^ wmat
*' have been forced to it by the insufferable proceedings
" of the Dutch. As to the idea that their debta migbt
" have been a motive, it is by no means probable, no^
<^ would thousands of dpllars be an equivalent to thei^
'* for leaving their establidiment at Sftmangka.** ' *
Nakhoda Ldla was then desired to return to thj^
hasLiXy to tiiie house of sarjeant JMty6#% After an ii^wrval
of
(4
MALAYAN F^AWILT. 81
m^tk'eayn'ihB gotemor again sent for hini^ to fltteiidin4die
iKNincil-^Miiffltti, where the council was adsemUed, toge&er
. with the two parCgenranB^ and tiie diiMs of the town of
Bencx)oien) when he spoke to him to the following effect:
^ Return,** said he, ** to Croee^ and convey to Kn Da-
^-nUmg the letter diat I shaB deliver to yon. With
** respect to the future residence of you Samanffka
^people, you may settle wherever your inclinaticm leads
^ you. l%e place i» to me indifferent If at Croee I
*< kave n^ objection; or if you prefeih coming on to
^ Betieddefif, ydu aire welcome so to da Should any
^ persoMf sent by tiie Dutch government inquire about
^ you', fliey shall be t^d it is no concern of ours, nor
^'dhrii ariy inftinMtion be givMi to them: but even
*"if' tiby ^uld be acqnainted to sl c^i;aiinty with
^iSm^tiM df ybtur aqi'lum^ you need not be under
^apprehension «f oiir giving you up to them. The
*»<SngilA €<Aspany is not aocustomed to act in that
«^'Mattii^, ttoA yt>vi may rdiy updm their pcoteetion»*'*
Upon
' ^ 'it'is not fncjiinibent on the translator to discliBs the question of the
jfMtumt ^d^ti aflbr^g pKMmtion to the leaden of this lUifortanate
eoloBf » under the circumstances stated ; but it may be observed that at
this period, and ever since the formation of establishments by the English,
itk fbaitb inHsj an ttfldirhiaid hosdlity had prevailed betwemi the servants
qf ^the Pvjt^ and K^^iJUsh Companies, which manifested itself in constant
reciprocity of ill offices. Our records in Sumatra were loaded with com-
plkints of the Dutch andermining our trade$ protecting our runaways,
assisting otnr public enemies, oocupying the settlements which these had
taken from us and abandoned, and encouraging the natives to intercept and
destroy our small trading craft-^and there can be little doubt but that the
aioocd0'«f Bitef «ad BitKfia^eniwidi lemonstnniees and protests on
tkm kk^miietitlmg tix, lads reUuna U>, Gro^ i wJiw^ lipoiN
1^ ipmval^ bie wa6 made aoquaipted wit^ ,$he j^atte i^
hi9:,&th^ KHSamcmsh ^^^ #i uot Uy» ,to hffit.ftillQ
fovQiUiable eontoits of governor Caxtefs ^tar^ «to J^piit
lie ddUvered it into the hands, of U9 ^d^ . l>ixilMt
N^Mioda B^fang. . > . / «{
From the fatal hour in which jhey lost thdrr Yf^i^ffd
father, it is not to be imagined what cares and troubles
have beea expmeneed by each individual. o£ >t]i« dMl-
dfsm of KH Ikmdng ; the consequence of baving <|VPitt(|d
their native limdf The sons were s^erated and 9)»»ttei:0d
q^er different countries, to which Aeir.fortwpes happened
to lead them. Some remained in the idapd^ p£ Pfg^i^k^
(Sumatra), some went to the island of BMi^ and scnne
to those parts of Java that lie beyond the jurisdiction of
the Dutch Company. These were their resting places.
JLiike birds they directed their flight to wherever tl^e
trees of the forest {Mreaaaled them withvediblefiwlvaad
there they alighted. They warlike chickens that had
lo$t their tender and careful mother, who used, to |(2ster
than. When it was their chance to meet with '^peiif^
who were inclined to shew them compassion, to tRose
they devoted their services. Such has been the condition
of Kei Damdng's children since their parent's death.*
•' — ■ - -'^Por
^oiilaf aobjects: eadi of the parties supposing themselvtes to be in t&e
right; whilst both were wrong. .■ . ■
'• * It would seem from these expressions that secufttf for their fives»
not countenance or encouragementr was the boon receitwl ftats Che
MALAYAN I^AlillLY. 88'
Fdr^fiie iafiMJtauAio^ of ail respectable persons who ^y
bfr d^ahouft of knowing thdr (eventful) story, thlil nat^-^
iftttive has been committed to writing, in a style ol
fidfhfol simplicity, so that those who read it may think
themsdve^ eye-witnesses a£ die adventures <^ the ftunily
hotii Sumanffka to whom it relates. But God Almi^ty
it is who alone knows what is good and what is evil Ibr
his serrants in this world. Finis.
Transcribed on the dghth day of the twelfth month
of the Mahometan year :* even at that time hath
JiMmiuUsf Inchi ^La-uddinl made a transcript of the
account of Ms own adventures and those of his family,
at die s^tdement of PaULi
w
Thus the poets say :—
[The poetry, however, is too rhapsodical, or sublime,
to
English governor/ whose answer may probably have amounted only to
'this: that their aanguinaty qutnel witii the Dutch authorities was no
concern of his» and that the place when they should establish them-
selves was matter of indifference to him ; with the important addition,
however, that tliey should not, in any case, be given up by him to their
4iiemi98. '
^ The year itaelf is omitted» hut being at the time of Mr. Hunping's
residence, it was probably in 1788, or 1202 of the h^i.
f Munshi, amanuensis, native writer.
I This name of ^Za-uddm is in the original ^^^^» which may be
presumeda Malayan corruption of the common Arabic name of ^JiS\ )L^
' over or protecting the Faith.*
f A amaU j^ace about twenty miles north-west of the presidency, and
ttihevdinate to the lesidency (dlsje*
84 MEMQISS eF A liCAlArAK FAMILY.
t^ 'tufyak iX m intdligibte prose ti«tlfllaei(Mi ; but the
•pnfpott of the first stanafa is to ingmuate, figuratively,
that although the copy was recently made, at the deare
of the gendeman who wad then chief of the place (Mr.
B. Humdngs), the work itself had been written long
befere. The remaimng stanzas contam pious reflections
and exhortations, mixed, in alternate eou^ets, with
allusions to common objects, for the most part irrelevant
to the matter.*]
* For an account of the jMmiun or prorerbial sonnet, see the Malajnn
Crnunmar, p. 128 and 208.
TH« *ND.
J
■■1
