608 Account of the Territory and Inhabitants [Dec. 



like projection in the centre, the idea of which does the Malayan 

 "Vauban" credit. 



The left of the lines terminates in an epaulment, flanked by a steep 

 hill, whilst the right terminates with the tope in a deep swampy rice- 

 ground. The rice -ground in front is traversed by a small rivulet, and 

 flanked by jungle, in which were three small stockades ; and on the left 

 by steep wooded hills, on the bottom of which, near the edge of the rice- 

 ground, runs the Alor Gajah road. 



In front of the left of the lines rises Bukit Penialangan, or execution 

 hill, (so called from the ex-panghulu's selecting this as his " place de 

 greve,") commanding the lines from right to left : some distance in rear 

 of the burial ground is a mosque, and the building where the aylj? 

 Taboh or great drum, whence the place derives its name, was placed. 

 The Taboh itself has been displaced, and now lies broken on the ground. 

 The sacred baths of the ex-Panghulu, little sheds, are near this. Here 

 the superstitious Malays were wont to seek a remedy for their maladies 

 from the holy-water into which the sacred foot of the Panghulu had 

 been dipped. 



The house of the Panghulu was situated in the midst of an almost 

 insulated cocoanut tope, and surrounded by a high stockade of bamboo, 

 with an imperfect mud breast-work. It has been pulled down by order 

 of Government, partly, I understand, to do away with any superstitious 

 idea entertained by the natives of the Panghulu's future return to it, 

 from the circumstance of its remaining standing. 



The village of Taboo itself is a small collection of Malay houses, not 

 amounting to 30, surrounded as usual by topes of fruit trees, and shut 

 in by lofty hills, mostly covered with forest ; it is considered unhealthy, 

 as stated before ; there are many idle superstitions connected with its 

 environs. 



The Rumbowe frontier at Kubur Feringie, through Chirara Pootih, 

 the last Naning village, is distant hence about three and a half miles. 

 Taboo is about twenty-two miles north by west of Malacca. 



Religion. — The inhabitants of Naning are Muhammedans of the Sufi 

 sect, and were converted in the thirteenth century in the time of 

 Muhammed Shah, the first king of Malacca, prior to which time, it is 

 supposed, that they were of the faith of Buddha ; the distinction of Shiah 

 or Rafzi, and Sunni, so common in India and Persia, are unknown to the 

 generality of them, owing perhaps to their Arab teachers. Many being 

 descendants of Arabs, their attention to the rite of Islam is more con- 

 stant and regular than is to be met with among the Muhammedans of 

 India, from whom also they differ considerably in their rites and cere- 

 monies; though not in their belief in the great principles on which the 



