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 Bandar and laid a formal complaint against Měgat Raja, demanding to know why he had taken the law into his own hands and treated Měriam ina manner to put all her relatives to shame.

The Chief of the village of Bandar was also one of the great officers of State named the Orang Kaya Shabandar. He was a man renowned for his courage, was wealthy, a trusted officer of the Sultan, the receiver of customs, and lived at the upper end of the village.

He listened politely to Pěnglima Prang Sěmaun, and when the latter wound up his complaint by saying he would certainly attack Měgat Raja if he obtained no redress, the Shabandar put his advice in the form of this ancient saw:

“If you have no gold, it is well to sing small; if you have no pivot-guns (jingals), it is well to put a pleasant face on the matter; and if you have no cannon, it is better to be quiet.”

The advice was meant in good part and not as a taunt, but Pěnglima Prang Sěmaun took it as the latter and retired with rage in his heart, saying “It is well for you who have gold and jingals and cannon to tell me I have none of these things, but I will have my revenge of you with only a kris.”