Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra13141884roya).pdf/270

 Râja Ali intrigued himself into the position of Yam Tûan Mûda, and after the defeat and retirement from the country of Râja Lâbu, the last Mĕnangkâbau prince, he succeeded in obtaining the object of his ambition, the position of Yam Tûan Bĕsar, to which, as to that of Yam Tûan Mûda, he had no real claim at all.

From the time of his advent till quite lately, Rĕmbau and the neighbouring States have continued to be troubled by a series of intrigues.

He appointed Syed Saban, his son-in-law, Yam Tûan Mûda, who was ultimately unable to hold his own, and after the Nâning war became a pensioner of the Government, living alternately in Malacca and Tampin, which latter place has, from the time of the first Yam Tûan Mûda Râja Asil, been assigned to the prince holding that position for his maintenance.

Syed Saban's son, Tengku Syed Hamid, though he has long endeavoured to obtain the position of Yam Tûan Mûda, has never succeeded in securing the needful recognition, and now rules in Tampin only, which may be now considered to be as completely severed from Rĕmbau, as that State is from any further connection with a Yam Tûan either Bĕsar or Mûda.

The following account embodies those traditions which have been handed down in Rĕmbau regarding the origin of the Pĕnghûlu, of some of the chiefs, and of some of the sûkus, and will be found, as might have been expected, to differ in some points from others on the same subject already referred to and obtained from different sources.

Among the "Lĕmbâga" or eight chiefs of "sûku" the two highest are the Gĕmpa Maharâja, and Mĕrah Bangsa.

This is because, on the decease of a Sĕdîa Râja Pĕnghûlu, when the chiefs are assembled for the election of his successor, the Dato' Gĕmpa Maharâja's duty is to install him and notify it to the people. And on the decease of a Lêla Maharâja Pĕnghûlu the Dato' Měrah Bangsa discharges similar functions.

The four Lĕmbâga in the low country are held senior to the four inland, and when one of the former dies, his insignia are half those displayed on the death of a Pĕnghûlu, while those of an inland