ALMOST A TRAGEDY. 
By His Honour Mr. Justice Hewick. 
Wan Mat, the Prime Minister of the Rajah of Kedah, accompanied me in the 
early ‘seventies on an expedition into the interior of the Malay Peninsula. The 
expedition was organised for the purpose of heading off one of the Sultans of 
Perak who was retreating in the direction of the northern end of the Peninsula. 
We formed rather an imposing spectacle as our flotilla of “ dug-outs ” proceeded 
up the river. Each boat was filled with Malays selected for their valour and 
reliability. The journey was a tedious one, entailing several days of poling 
againstarapidstream. After a time even the beauties of nature lose their charm, 
when one has to sit for hours day after day in a cramped position. A speedy 
arrival at the point where we had determined to land was our object and no time 
was wasted. When Wan Mat said to me, “‘ Tuan, we are not far off now,’ I was 
not, as may be imagined, sorry. As he spoke he pointed to a bend in the river 
where there were half-a-dozen or so Malay houses. This indicated a place of 
more or less importance in these parts. It was, as a matter of fact, the campong 
of the Punghulu Besar, or chief of the headmen, appointed by the Rajah to super- 
vise the district. 
News of our coming had been sent and the Punghulu, with his immediate retinue, 
was at the waterside to meet us. In the background were the women and chil- 
dren, watching the arrival of the representative of their Rajah and of the “ Orang 
Puteh,”’ the latter being the first specimen they had ever seen. 
The Punghulu and his followers formed a picturesque group, and well accus- 
tomed as I was to the Malay of every type, I could not help being struck by the 
appearance of this Punghulu. 
Punghulu Ibrahim was above the average height of his race. His complexion, 
a clear brown, showed perfect health, while his countenance indicated strength 
of character in every detail. The large dark brown eyes, set well apart, looked 
you straight in the face, and the firm mouth and chin had no line of weakness. 
At the same time the expression was not harsh : it was that of a man to whom, 
whatever his colour or nationality, one could not help being drawn. On our land- 
ing the usual formalities were gone through and we were conducted to a house 
which had been specially prepared for us. As it was just on sunset there was the 
usual call for prayers, and everyone, like good Mahomedans, facing Mecca went 
through the customary devotions. 
The day after our arrival at the campong of Ibrahim, other Malays from the 
jungle joined us, and we were busy in arranging the order of advance, which it was 
decided should begin on the next day. Towards the afternoon Wan Mat and I 
were told that a strolling band of players had put in an appearance and had asked 
permission to give a performance. ‘The request was granted, the entertainment 
to be given in the evening. Our men were delighted at the prospect of such a 
good send-off, for the Malays dearly love theatricals, and, in an out-of-the-way 
