GOVERNMENT 273 



journeys, and a document signed by the Rajah 

 recording his appointment and the duties of his 

 office ; but many of them derive a considerably 

 greater importance than their fellows from the 

 numerical strength and the warlike character of 

 their followings. The Penghulu has authority not 

 only over his own house or village, but also over the 

 chiefs or headmen of other communities of the same 

 tribe and region. He is expected to keep the 

 Resident informed of any local incident requiring 

 his attention, and to be present in the Resident s 

 court when any of his people are tried for any 

 serious offence ; he has authority to try minor cases, 

 both civil and criminal, among his own people. 

 Perhaps his most important service is the following. 

 When an up-river man has been charged with a 

 serious offence, the summons of the Resident's court 

 is forwarded to the Penghulu of his tribe and district 

 with the instruction that he shall send the man down 

 river to headquarters. It is generally possible 

 for the Penghulu to call the man to him, and, by 

 explaining to him the situation and the order of 

 the Resident, to secure his peaceful surrender. 

 But in case of refusal to come, or of active 

 resistance, the Penghulu is expected to apply such 

 force as may be necessary for effecting the arrest 

 and the conveyance to headquarters. In this 

 way in a well-governed district the arrest of evil- 

 doers is effected with remarkable sureness and with 

 far less risk of violence, bloodshed, and the arousal 

 of angry passions, than if the Resident should 

 send his police or rangers to do the work. The 

 Penghulu is in a much better position than the 

 Resident for obtaining accurate information upon, 

 and a full understanding of, the circumstances of 

 any such up-river incidents ; and his help is thus 

 often of the greatest value to the Resident. If he 

 judges that the accused man is innocent, and 



