Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/57

Rh jealous of his ascendancy, and aiming at imperial power, allied themselves with Elberfeld for the express purpose of dethroning him; making this condition, that if their designs succeeded, one of them should assume the title of emperor, and the other that of sultan of some small independent state cut off from Matarram; while Elberfeld should be raised to the dignity of Sheik al Islam, or High Priest of all Java.

The plan they adopted was a very bold one, measures being taken by which the different leaders might carry it out simultaneously. While Elberfeld, with thirty thousand followers, was to attack and blow up the town, and slaughter all the European inhabitants throughout the whole residency of Batavia, the two young princes, with their adherents, were to dethrone Hamangkoe Raht, take possession of Matarram, and proclaim themselves emperor and sultan.