550 Account of Sungie Ujong, [Oct. 



It is certain, that to this day, in Sungie Ujong, Johole, and Jompole, 

 the twelve Batins, or chiefs of the savage tribes, have a considerable 

 share in the election of the Panghulus of these states, though there is 

 not now apparent any permanent mark of connexion, either social or 

 religious, between the Malays and these aborigines. 



As Kafirs and infidels they are despised by the Malays, but super- 

 stitiously dreaded. Converts are made to Islam ; but slavery, as far 

 as my observation extends, is their lot. 



A few years ago, the late Panghulu of Sungie Ujong, KldnaLimER, 

 died, leaving two nephews, Kawal and Bhair. It is an ancient cus- 

 tom prevailing in the interior, and, I believe, generally throughout 

 Malayan nations, that when a chief dies, his successor must be elected 

 on the spot, and previous to the interment of the corpse, (which is 

 not, unfrequently, protracted through the observance of this usage to 

 a considerable length of time,) otherwise the election does not hold 

 good*. 



The following are the traditional lines, or Serdpa, in which this 

 custom has been handed down in Sungie Ujong. 



*■* >j*" Serdpa. 



£■? 3 e/* C& **** c)}* £ Amar-nia pend£k langkah-nia panjang 

 *Ul O *M$ £**" *4*« Sudah Sampei Kahandak Allah 

 %jK* te\J&jjXSjj (J tUJb Hdndak berqabur ditannah merah 

 f^>jt lSj{&* jljJb lsJ+* Sa-hari hilang, Sa-han bertannam, 

 'jlrir 3 iSj**" *^W jj u5M^*» Sa-hari ber-tamboh, Sa-hari palihara. 



Short has been his life, though long his stride! 



When the will of God has arrived, 



The grave shall be dug in the red earth : 



In one-day lost, in one-day planted, 



In one-day sprung up, in one-day cherished. 

 Now it happened that Kawal was absent at the time of Panghulu 

 Leher's death. The three Sukus and one of the twelve Batins took 

 advantage of Bhair's being on the spot, elected him, and buried the 

 body of the deceased chief. Against this proceeding, the Raja adhi 

 Raja, and the remainder of the elective body, the eleven Batins, 

 protested; a war ensued, which terminated in 1828, pretty much as 

 it began. Kawal, however, by virtue of the suffrages of eleven out 

 of the twelve Batins, and by the support of the Raja adhi Raja, is 

 generally considered the legitimate chief. 



* In consequence of this custom, the present Sultan of Johor's younger 

 brother was elected during the absence of the elder brother, whose claims were 

 subsequently acknowledged by the British. 



