Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/379

 HISTORY or JAVA CONTINUED. 385 including women and children, were thus butchered in cold blood ! One farther example of the atrocities of this abo- minable tyrant will be enough. He had married in his father's lifetime the daughter of the prince of Surabaya, and by her had a prince, now appa- rent heir to the throne. Of this prince, and of his father-in-law, he seems early to have entertained a deep-rooted jealousy. The young prince having fallen in love with a young woman of Surabaya residing at Mataram, applied to his grandfather to put him in possession of her person. But the Sul- tan himself had unfortunately also felt a passion for the same lady. Notwithstanding this, the chief of Surabaya, willing to gratify his grandson, used his influence, and obtained her for the young prince, to whom she was accordingly married. The Sul- tan, when he heard of this transaction, was incen- sed to madness, and directed the immediate execu- tion of the chief of Surabaya, his wife, children, and grandchildren, to the number of 40 persons. There is one part of the story, which, for the credit of human nature, it were better to refuse our belief to, had it not been too well authenticated. The Sul- tan ordered the young prince and his bride to ap- pear before him, and there commanded him to stab her with his own hand j and this lover obeyed the mandate !