48 MEMOIR OF 



country, whore a plain of its own breadth gradually 

 sinks into its bosom. On the morning following, 

 they embarked and reached a town of some conse- 

 quence, Simawang, occupying the summit of a hill 

 about 500 feet above the level of the lake, and com- 

 manding a very extensive prospect. The next morn- 

 ing they proceeded to Suruasa, the second city of 

 importance, and, by mid-day, obtained the first view 

 of Pageauyong, the capital of the Menangkabu coun- 

 try, and one of the objects of the excursion. 



From the approach to these cities which had been 

 thus passed, it was evident that, at one period, they 

 had been of importance. " But, alas, little was left 

 for our curiosity but the wreck of what had once 

 been great and populous. The Wagarin trees, which 

 shaded and added solemnity to the palace, were still 

 standing in all their majesty. The fruit trees, and 

 particularly the cocoa nut, marked the boundaries of 

 this once extensive city ; but the rank grass had 

 usurped the halls of the palace, and scarce was the 

 thatch of the peasant to be found. Three times had 

 the city been committed to the flames ; well might I 

 say, in the language of the Brata Yudha, * Sad and 

 melancholy was her wagarin tree, like the sorrow of 

 a wife whose husband is afar.' " Several interesting 

 inscriptions were discovered here, arid a chastely 

 carved Hindu image, which, together with the very 

 high state of cultivation in the surrounding country, 

 were strong arguments in favour of the opinion formed 

 by Sir Stamford, that the Malayan empire was not 



