1835.] one of the Malacca States. 549 



the interior, from four to six dollars per head ; they are generally 

 Battaks from the vicinity of Battu Bara, on the opposite coast of 

 Sumatra, and average twenty annually. They fetch a price from 20 

 to 60 dollars each ; according to age, condition, and sex ; a higher 

 value being set on the females. 



In addition to these imposts, the chiefs of Sungie Ujong formerly 

 enjoyed the division of a premium paid annually by the Chinese and 

 other merchants of Malacca for the tin monopoly, amounting, it is 

 said, to 2500 dollars ; 1000 of which went to the Dattu Muda, and 

 100 each to the three elders of Lingie ; 800 to the Kldna of Sungie 

 Ujong, and the remaining 400 to the Raja adhi Raja. 



The deputed Menangkabowe prince, it is affirmed by the Rumbowe 

 people, had the right of levying a duty, at Sempong, on the Lingie 

 river, of two dollars per bhar, on tin passing that settlement from 

 Sungie Ujong, which was afterwards given up as a subsistence to 

 their Iang de pertdan Mddas. In consequence of the disavowal of 

 this claim by the Sungie Ujong and Lingie chiefs, and other causes 

 too long for detail, a war ensued in 1833, and a consequent blockade 

 of the river by the Iang de pertdan Muda, Sated Saaban, at Sempong, 

 still existing, and by which the trade of Sungie Ujong has suffered 

 very materially. 



Government Sungie Ujong was ruled, under the Iang de pertdan 



Besdr, bj a Panghdld, three Sdkds, and a Raja adhi Raja. The 

 Panghdld, as has been already remarked, owes his title, Kldna Putra, 

 to one of the kings of Johor. He now refuses to acknowledge the 

 control of the Iang de pertdan Besdr. 



Bandahara Sekudai is supposed to be the first chief invested with 

 this title ; and regarding his origin, a long tradition was related to 

 me by the present Raja adhi Raja, the abstract of which amounts to 

 this, viz. " In ancient times, one of the princesses of Sungie Ujong 

 having had the presumption to laugh at the naked state of a Batin 

 of the Jacoons, incurred his resentment, and was forcibly compelled 

 to follow him through thicket and brake, until moved with compassion, 

 this sans culotte maitre de danse broke the spell and married her. 



" The offspring of this sylvan union is said to be Sekudai : from 

 whom descend the Panghdlds of Sungie Ujong." 



In all popular traditions of rude nations, there is more or less of 

 truth to be gathered ; and in absence of written and other historical 

 evidence, such testimony ought not to be entirely neglected, and set 

 aside as valueless ; though frequently ridiculous, and mingled up with 

 matter known to be incredible and void of truth. We need not 

 instance here the works of the early poets of Greece and Rome. 

 4 B 



