1836.] Sketch of the State of Mdar, Malay Peninsula. 563 



of succession obtains, to the exclusion of the Trdmba Pusdka prevailing 

 in the four Menangkdbdwe states. 



History. — Muar, like the rest of the Malay peninsula, was formerly 

 inhabited by savage aboriginal tribes, among whom the Jacoons seem 

 to claim the superiority. With regard to its origin, it is stated in the 

 Sejdra Maldyu that Sri Iscander Shah, the monarch of Singhapdra, on 

 his city being taken by the Bitdra of Majapahit, fled to Muar. This 

 event took place about the middle of the 13th century ; and it is 

 asserted that he left one of his Mantris in the interior of Muar. 



No more mention is made of this state until near the middle of the 

 14th century, when the kingdom of the Sultan of Malacca, Mozaffer 

 Shah, was invaded by the Siamese under T'hawi Chacri. The Sultan 

 on this occasion directed a levy of the population of Muar to be made, 

 and the inhabitants to be assembled at Malacca. According to the 

 Malay annals, the war between Siam and Malacca " continued for a 

 long time, and great numbers of the Siamese perished ; but Malacca 

 was not reduced. At last the whole Siamese army retreated, and as 

 they took their departure they threw down large quantities of their 

 baggage ratans in the district of Muar, where they all took root ; and 

 that is the origin of the name Rotan Siam. Their stocks, which were 

 formed of fig-tree wood, likewise took z-oot in a place in the vicinity 

 of Muar, where it still exists. The rests for the Siamese cooking 

 places also took root and grew up, and are to be seen at this day at 

 the place named Tumang Siam." I was unable to find out the locality 

 of the places here mentioned by the author of the Sejdra Maldyu, 

 though every inquiry was made near the spots where these scenes 

 are said to have occurred. The tradition, however, of the defeat of the 

 Siamese was universally current. In 1511, Ahmed, Sultan of Malacca, 

 on his city being taken by the Portuguese, retreated up the Muar 

 river to a place called Pagoh, about 15 or 16 miles from Gressik, now 

 under the Panghuhl besar, Inchi Muit. Sultan Mahmu'd remained at 

 Battu Hampar, and founded a fort at Bentayen. According to the 

 Sejdra Maldyu, the Portuguese pursued Ahmkd up the river, attacked 

 and took Pagoh. Ahmed fled further up to Panarigan, near Jompdle, 

 and thence, accompanied by Mahmud, repaired to Pahang. The latter 

 subsequently established himself at Johdre. Many of their adherents 

 remained in Muar and Segdmet, and in course of time erected a primi- 

 tive form of government, directed by four elders, styled Tuah Campongs, 

 who ruled under the Sultans of Johdre until 1119 A. H. The four 

 campongs were those of Pagoh, Sungie Ring, Sungie Terap, and Gressik. 

 A. H. 1119. A Mantri of high birth in Johdre, named Samade 

 Raja, obtained a grant of the territory of Mdar from the then Sultan 

 4 d 2 



