Malay Annals/Chapter 5

Of the Bitara of Majapahit. THE bitara, or sovereign of Majapahit, had two sons by the daughter of the raja of the  mountain Sagantang. The name of the eldest was Radin Inu Martawangsa, who became  raja of Majapahit. The name of the younger was Radin Amas Pamari, who likewise  became a raja in Majapahit; for it is  a country of great extent. The bitara of Majapahit died, and his eldest son succeeded in his place, and in his time the authority of the bitara was widely extended over all the regions of the land of Java, and all the rajas of Nusa Tamara likewise paid allegiance to him for half their lands. The bitara of Majapahit heard of the extensive country of Singhapura, the raja of which did not own his allegiance, being of the same family and his cousin. Then the bitara sent an ambassador to Singhapura, with a letter, enclosing in the envelope, a shaving of wood, seven fathoms in length, formed with the hatchet, fine as paper, and with its texture no where cut or broken. It was rolled up, and its circumference like a ring. When the ambassador of Majapahit reached Singhapura, he was invited ashore, and presented himself to Raja Vicrama Vira. The letter was read by the khateb, according to what was written, to the following import. " Younger brother, observe the skill of the artificers of Java; have you any such in Singhapura?" The raja opened and examined the wood shaving, rolled up like a ring, and said " I comprehend the import of the bitara of Majapahit's  message, he means to deny our manhood by sending us a ring." The ambassador said, " not so, he only wants to know if you have any artificers of equal skill under your government." Sri Paduca Vicrama Vira replied, " truly there are artificers here more skilful." He immediately ordered an artificer to be sent for, named Pawang Bentan, and ordered him to hew off the hair from the head of a boy of forty days old (says one copy) with a hatchet, in the presence of the ambassador of Java. The artificer accordingly executed his commission, without delay, not withstanding the exertions of the boy, and the constant rolling motion of his head, to the great astonishment of the Javanese ambassador. " Now," said the raja, " you may see the dexterity of our artisans ; to shave a boy's head with a hatchet, is somewhat more difficult, than to pare off your  shaving. Pray where is the difficulty in it. Carry this axe with you however, to Majapahit, and present it with our compliments  to our brother." The raja then dismissed the Javanese ambassador, at his own request, who went aboard his jong (junk) with the said hatchet, and proceeded to Majapahit, and presented himself  to the bitara, and delivered the letter,  with the message of the rajah of Singhapura. The Sri Bitara was highly enraged at the narrative of the embassador. "I understand the raja's meaning ; he threatens to shave our head like the boy's, if we should proceed to Singhapura." The bitara of Majapahit, without delay, ordered his warriors  to proceed in a hundred junks, to Singhapura, and attack it. Innumerable were the descriptions of vessels besides the junks, such as malangbang,calulos jongcong, charochah tongkang, which accompanied the  fleet which the bitara sent under the command of a famous champion, named Damang Viraja. The fleet arrived at Singhapura, and the Javan warriors immediately rushed ashore, and commenced the war  with the people of Singhapura. Thick waxed the press of war, there was clattering of arms on armour, and the earth shook with the stamping of warriors, and loud rose the hubbub of contending hosts, so that no other noise could be heard. Many were the slain on both sides, and the blood streamed on the ground till evening, when the Javans fell back to their prows. The events of this war between Java and Singhapura,  were too tedious to relate. Singhapura, however, was not worsted, but on the contrary, the Javan hosts returned to Majapahit. After this raja Muda, the son of Sri Paduca Vicrama Vira married the daughter of Tun Parpatih Parmuka Barjaja,  and they lived long very happily. At last, Paduca Sri Vicrama Vira departed this life, and was succeeded by his son Raja Muda, under the title of Sri Rama Vicrama. The bandahara Tun Parpatih Parmuka Barjaja,  also died, and was succeeded in his  office of bandahara, by his son Tun Parpatih Tulos.