1920.] R.O. WinstEpt: Election of a Tribal Chief. 109 
IIlI.—Revival of Lapsed Office. 
In Minangkabau this has several names: membangkit nan 
térbénam, ‘‘raising the submerged,’’ m&ngémbang kain nan 
lériipat, ‘‘ unfolding the folded cloth,” mémbangunkan andika 
nan térlétak, ‘‘ raising a lapsed office,’’ mé&makat baju nan 
térlétak, “ donning discarded robes.” If there is no eligible 
candidate for office or if the eligible candidate is too youthful 
or if the electors cannot agree, then election may be post- 
poned :—pusaka itu di-sangkut, “the heritage is hung up. 
Later, choice is made as in the case of hidup btrktredlaan. 
IV.—The Splitting up of a Chieftainship. 
This is known in Minangkabau as gadang m%nyimpang, 
as sawah gadang di-bandar-bandar as baju sa-lat di-pakat 
bérdua. If a tribe has spread and the area of its habitation 
grown wide, then all the “‘ elders’’! of the tribe are summoned 
and asked if the office of the tribe may be split up, one 
chief to care for the folk down-stream and another for 
those up-country. If they consent, gadang mé&nyimpang 
bérktredlaan, then all the chiefs of the suku are called, a feast 
is held and the new office created. If the title of the ‘original 
officer is, say, Dato Jalak, that of the new will be a variation 
of it like Dato Jalak Muda. There are so many tribal officers 
in the Negri Sembilan Establishment List that this is likely 
to be an obsolete practice. Such a split may happen also 
owing to a disagreement in the tribe, when it is called gadang 
meényimpang karna stliseh. 
V.—Creation of a New Chieftainship. 
This is called in sees eg mémpérbuat penghulu or 
ménatkkan képala bandar. If there arises a new settlement of 
free people from elsewhere, then a chief may be appointed 
with a title derived from that of his original family or tribe. 
He is given the gé/ar muda as in the last case. 
VI,—Creation of a Chieftainship for a Freedman. 
Pénghulu ménggunting sibar baju, “ the chief whose portion 
is the edge clipped off his master’s coat’’ was in Minangkabau 
the title of a freedman, who might be appointed by the elder 
(mamak) of the family which had emancipated him, in consul- 
_ reckoned among gédang nan bérbingkah tanah atau bésar nan 
bérlengkong aur.* A sayin ; 
: Buapa N.S. ; mamak, pénghulu nan tiap-tiap indok, Min 
2 A MS. account explains— 4 da pun gédang nan bérbingkah tanah boleh 
