246 Sketch of the four Menangkabowe States, [Mat, 



has been passed in feuds and bloodshed, and whose ambition has 

 since elevated him to the dignity of the Eang depertuan Besdr, was the 

 son of the wife of the Menangkabowe prince Raja Itam, by her for- 

 mer husband, Raja Haman, brother of Sultan Ibrahim, late Raja of 

 Salengore. Raja Ali's mother is the daughter of the second deputed 

 prince from Menangkabowe. 



Raja Ali, who had fled to a place called Sungie Nipah, beyond 

 Cape Rachado in Salengore, lent a ready ear to this proposition, and 

 repaired to Rambowe, accompanied and supported by the Dattu Muda 

 of Lingie. His weight turned the scale of events, and the Eang de- 

 pertdan Mdda, Raja Assil, after some fruitful efforts at negotiation, 

 retired to Naniug (1813), and eventually to Malacca (1814), where 

 he appealed to the then British Resident, Colonel Farquhar ; nothing 

 however favorable to his cause resulted. 



Having obtained a private loan of 2,000 dollars in Malacca, he again 

 proceeded to Rambowe, but failing, retreated to Naning, where he died 

 shortly afterwards (1814-15) ; and was interred at the green knoll on 

 which stood the mosque of Bukit Tutu, near Alor Gajeh. 



He left four sons and two daughters. 



Raja Ali, this obstacle to his ambition being removed, was elected 

 as Eang depertuan Muda, under the Eang depertuan Besdr Lingano 

 Laut who died in 1824, leaving two sons, Raja Radin, of Srimindnti 

 and Raja U'jong ; both by his wife, the daughter of the Raja of 

 Jillabu. 



In consequence of intrigues and dissensions among the four elective 

 chiefs, artfully fomented by Raja Ali, a successor was not appointed 

 until 1826, when Raja Labu, a son of the Raja of Menangkabowe, 

 bearing the ancient credentials from his father, and a letter from 

 the chief of Siac, arrived. 



He was preceded by an adherent named Raja Kre'jan, and having 

 presented his documents at Malacca, went up to Naning. From thence, 

 escorted by the chief of that place, the present ex-Panghdlu, he re- 

 paired to Rambowe, where he was installed according to custom. He 

 married with Tuanku Itam, daughter of the late Tdan Mdda, Raja 

 Assil, and proceeded to his astdnah in Sriminanti. 



ven, with all its black-eyed houris. Tn disposition, he is crafty and determined ; 

 taciturn and deliberate in council ; but prompt and decided in action — -qualities 

 of which I had opportunities of judging during a recent struggle between tha 

 Rambowe and Lingie chiefs. These, added to his high connexions, which how- 

 ever were not sufficient to give him a lawful title to the eminence which he ha§ 

 attained, mainly contributed to his success. 



