Malay Annals/Chapter 20

THE Sultan of Pasei, named Zein al Abe-din, had a younger brother, who wished to supplant his elder brother in his authority, and all the people of Pasei joined and supported the rebellion of the younger.

Sultan Zein al Abedin fled in a baluk boat to Malaca, and the young raja became raja of Pasei. Zein al Abedin was graciously received by the raja of Malaca. How many honorary dresses did he receive from the Prince! A fleet was quickly ordered to be prepared to attend Sultan Zein al Abedin to Pasei, and the raja ordered the bandahara, Sri Bija di Raja, and the laksamana with all the champions, to conduct him back to Pasei. They arrived at Pasei, and the Malaca men landed.

As soon as the Pasei men observed them, they immediately advanced to the fight, and every attack of the Malaca men failed to break them, for the Malaca men were only two lacsas, or still less, (probably the bugis lacsa of a thousand men,) and the Pasei men of twelve lacsas. Then the courage of the Malaca men waxed faint, and the champions crowded to the bandahara, who said to them, "what is now to be done, chieftains, for we have been a long time here, and done nothing at all ?" Then said Sri Bija di Raja and the laksamana, "our men are very few, and it will be very difficult to gain Pasei with this number; we therefore advise to return to Malaca, that we may not by our stay excite false hopes in the Prince."

The bandahara replied, "what you nobles say is very true." Tun Mat, surnamed Tun Vicrama Vira, the bandahara's son, replied stoutly, " why does Your Honour talk of return, have we fought a single great battle yet ? In my opinion it is better to land once more; and, gain or lose, we may still return. Let me, therefore land, and try my fortune with the laksamana, Sri Bija di Raja, and the champions." The laksamana and Sri Bija di Raja highly approved of this advice.

Next morning early the bandahara ordered rice to be dressed for the whole army, and the champions came and attended him. Then the cooks said that there were not platters and cups for such a multitude. Then said the bandahara Paduca Raja, "we are all going to battle, let us, therefore, all eat off one leaf, for we are going to fight for death or life." He therefore ordered the ship mats to be opened and spread upon the ground, and having placed leaves over them, they put down the rice, and the bandahara sat down and eat with the rest.

When they had eaten, the bandahara Paduca Raja, and Tun Vicrama, and the laksamana, and Sri Bija di Raja, and Tun Talani, Sri Agara Raja, Tun Vijaya Maha Mantri, Sang Naya, Sang Satia, Sang Guna, Tun Vija Sura, Sang Jaya Vicrama, Aria di Raja, Sang Sura Pahlawan, Sang Satia Pahlawan, Raja Indra Pahlawan, Sri Raja Pahlawan, Raja Dewa Pahlawan, with all the rest of the champions and soldiers, went up and attacked the enemy. The sound of the weapons resounded like the rending of the thunder-bolt, as if the day of the destruction of Pasei had been come; but immediately came on the warriors of Pasei, like an overflowing flood, and with their rapid onset the array of the Malaca men was entirely broken, and every one fled without regarding any thing but his own person, till they reached the shore, and even entered the sea, excepting the bandahara alone, who stood on an eminence looking behind him.

Then said the bandahara to his boy Gurunggung, "hand me my spear to help me in my need." He grasped his spear, and being observed by Tun Vicrama, Tun Isap, and Nena Is'hak, they immediately joined. Tun Nena Is'hak was a very skilful archer with the bow, and these four halting, kneeled down on the ground to shoot, and by the power of God it fell out that the mass of the assailants stopped for fear of Nena Is'hak's arrows, for not one of his shafts refused its mark; and if he aimed at the eye, out went the eye. Then said he to Tun Vicrama, "Lordinge, why do we four stop here alone, when all the mass have fled? Let us give them notice that they may return and again make head." "Very well, Nena Is'hak, go you and rally the fugitives." Nena Is'hak accordingly went and stopt all whom he met, and turned them back to join Tun Vicrama.

At last he saw Tun Hamzah, the son-in-law of Tun Vicrama, flying with the utmost speed into the wood, without looking behind him. Nena Is'hak shouted to him, "Ho, Tun Hamzah, why do you fly? Black be your front, is not Tun Vi-crama still maintaining his ground? Hah! Tun Hamzah, you are a fine son-in-law. He did not give you his daughter for your fine shape or your frizzled hair, but because he thought you a man of courage." Tun Hamzah, filled with rage and shame, said, "does any one still maintain his ground ?" "Yes," said the other, "your father-in-law does."

Then Tun Hamzah, in shame and rage, began to brandish his spear, and clashed his shield, and rang its bells, and said, "stop a little, and Hamzah will amok it for the future." Back he turned and plunged amid the host of Pasei, numerous as a sea of waves. Dead was the man who faced him. Many there were of the Malaca men who followed him up, and the array of the Pasei men was broken, and they took to flight in complete disorder; and Tun Hamzah entered the fortress, which was quickly evacuated.

In short the country of Pasei was conquered by the Malaca men, and the raja fled to the woods. The Sultan Zein al Abedin was thus established on the throne of Pasei by the bandahara Paduca Raja. Soon after the bandahara asked permission to return, and requested what message the Sultan had for the raja of Malaca. The Sultan replied, "that he had left his salutation in Malaca, and that there was no occasion to send any other." The bandahara was angry at this answer, and said, "my greeting may likewise stay in Pasei for you."

The bandahara returned to his prahus, and setting sail reached Jambu Ayer, where news came from the land, which informed him that Sultan Zein al Abedin was already defeated by the fugitive raja. Then said the laksamana and Sri Bija di Raja to the bandahara, "well, let us return and reinstate the Sultan, that the sovereign of Malaca may be famed through all the neighbouring countries." The bandahara positively refused, and said he would return to Malaca. All the champions approved of it, and they arrived at Malaca.

Sultan Mansur, however, was enraged at the bandahara, and for three days would not speak to him, because he had refused to return to Pasei, to assist Sul-tan Zein al Abedin. Then the Prince called the laksamana, and asked him concerning all the affairs of Pasei, and he depreciated greatly the conduct of the bandahara, so that the Sultan was still more enraged. All the relations of the bandahara were present, and when the court dissolved, they informed the bandahara of the proceeding of the laksamana; but the bandahara was silent.

Next day all the court assembled, except the laksamana, and Sultan Mansur ordered the bandahara Pa-duca Raja to be called, and asked him concerning the affairs of Pasei, and how the laksamana had conducted himself. The bandahara greatly praised his conduct, saying, "it was the same in the absence of the Sovereign as in his presence, not a whit of difference." The Prince was greatly surprised at this, and going in, the court broke up. Then all the laksamana's relations informed him how the bandahara had conducted himself. Then the laksamana instantly went to the bandahara, and finding him seated in a large party, he seven times saluted his feet, and said, "true, you are a real great man, and worthy to be the head of us all." The bandahara then gave him good advice.

After this the Prince invested the bandahara with a complete regal dress, and to Tun Vicrama he gave the title of Paduca Tun, and to Tun Is'hak he gave an honorary dress, with many presents of gold and silver. On Hang Hamzah he conferred the title of Tun Pakarta Kasim, because by his feats the host of Pasei was overthrown, and the rest of the champions did not go unrewarded.