304 On the Government and History of [June, 



" We directed all the men in the districts under subjection to ap- 

 proach our dwelling, and demanded to know if they were satisfied with 

 Raja Merah and the other chiefs, and would submit to their orders. 

 If any person should be injured, and could procure no redress from 

 them," (here again the record is undecipherable.) 



" We addressed the people in such a manner that they unanimously 

 declared, that they had nothing to bring forward against Raja Me- 

 rah, and consented to place themselves under his control. We have 

 in consequence read in the Dutch, Portuguese, and Malay languages, 

 in the presence of the inhabitants of the districts under subjection, viz. 

 Naning, Melicque, Inak, and Perling, the commission appointing 

 Rajah Merah as our subordinate chief over the above-mentioned dis- 

 tricts ; and the tenor of the commission is noted down in the accom- 

 pany copy. 



" Raja Merah had selected three persons from each of the districts 

 Melicque and Perling ; out of which one will be chosen, in order to 

 increase the number of the members of the council in Naning, and 

 each of them should be a head man over a village. 



" Whilst Raja Merah, the chiefs, and the inhabitants were holding 

 a council, we took a survey of the lands and paddy-fields in Naning, 

 and proceeded nearly so far as the forests of Rumbowe. It is indeed 

 a fine and fertile land, bounded on both sides by forests. It is to be 

 desired, that Malacca could possess such advantages. In the districts 

 of Naning there is much waste and uncultivated land, which is well 

 adapted for planting pepper. If we could put our plan into execu- 

 tion, it is certain that the Company will derive great profit in time. 



" After the trial of many delinquents, there was one man, named 

 U'ang Caya Per Mattu Merah, who was once one of the chiefs at 

 Naning ; who, having evinced symptoms of disaffection, proceeded to 

 Rumbowe, where he had spent his days in cock-fighting and gaming. 

 This man was ordered to be apprehended and fined in our council, with 

 the concurrence of Raja Merah, in a sum of 50 crusadoes. 



" The enormous crime committed by Contella Lascarra, late head 

 man at Perling, for which he had been imprisoned here for a length 

 of time, was also investigated in the presence of the said chiefs. He 

 was condemned to pay a fine of 100 crusadoes. In failure of this, 

 he shall be scourged and banished the territory of Malacca. 



" The instructions, which we intended to furnish Raja Merah 

 with, being ready, we intimated the tenor of the same to him and 

 the other chiefs, and they appeared to be perfectly satisfied with them, 

 which gives us every reason to hope, that they would promote the 

 happiness and comfort of the people, and increase the confluence of 

 the Manikdbowes, when the villagers of other places shall hear Naning 



