Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra13141884roya).pdf/271

 chief are slightly less; money, for instance, is not scattered on the way, nor are cloths spread on the path. The story of the origin of Dato' Gĕmpa, Dato' Pěrba, and Dato' Pâtih is as follows: There was a chief named Dato' Bĕndahâra Sakûdei (his wife was a Jakun, daughter of Bâtin Sarîbu Jâya, she was called Princess Long-hair), who came from Johor with his followers to open Rĕmbau. After him came a man from Mĕnangkâbau named Dato' Lĕteh, and he and his party became trusted to the Dato' Bĕndahâra, and supported the people from Johor: they all settled at a place called Kĕbun Lâda (Pepper Garden). After a time Bĕndahâra Sakûdei had three children (female) the eldest named Dato' Bungkal, the next Dato' Mûdek, and the youngest Dato' Mĕngkûdu. Later on he removed to Sungei Ûjong, but he left his eldest child Dato' in Rĕmbau with Dato' Lĕteh. Dato' Lěteh belonged to the Mandîling branch of the Bâtu Hampar Sûku, and at the time all those of the Bâtu Hampar Sûku who came over from Mĕnangkâbau to Rĕmbau put themselves under him.

There were five branches of the Bâtu Hampar Sûku from Mĕnangkâbau who adhered to Dato' Lěteh, viz., the Mandîling, the Chĕniâga, the Pâya Bidâra, the Pagar Chinchang, and the Agam.

In course of time Dato' Lĕteh looked round for a suitable husband for the daughter of the Bĕndahâra, and while he was considering the matter, there came a Mĕnangkâbau man of the Chĕniâga branch of the Bâtu Hampar Sûku named Dato' Lêla Bâlang, to ask for Dato' Bungkal as a wife; all the family were agreed to it, and they were married.

In due course Dato' Lêla Bâlang became father of a son, whom he named Lêla Maharâja.

When he was about six years old, and the country had become populous, Dato' Lĕteh consulted with Dato' Lêla Bâlang, and suggested that it would be advisable for the latter to go to Johor and make over the country, for it belonged to the Dato' Bĕndahâra