38 THE NEGRI SEMBILAN. 
hilu.* It is not clear whether the Dato’ of Johél had then 
been converted to Islam; in any case, he sent a Sakez Batin 
as Pénghilu. Some time after this, a family of Ménangkabau 
settlers of the tribe of Sri Lémak came from Pahang, hearing 
that their own countrymen had arrived in Ulu Muar. This 
family consisted of a man, his wife, two daughters and one 
son. The son married-the daughter of the Sékez Pénghilu, 
sent from Johdl, and his wife bore him ason. The Pénughilu 
died when this child was about six years old, and the son 
was elected as Pénghilu, but, being a minor, his father 
administered for him until he came of age, and hence the 
title of Pangkut Pénghilu (Deputy Pénghtlu) from the four 
original settlers and their families. It is thus that in all 
these States the Ménangkdbau settlers observed the Sékez, 
or, as they are termed, Waris{ rights, and intermarried with 
Saket, the women on their marriage adopting the religion 
of their husbands. In writing this sketch, my principal object 
is to make the constitution as clear as possible, and | will not 
enter into any elaborate stories or theories which created 
slight shades of difference in the individual States on ques- 
tions of origin, as the constitution is but slightly affected by 
these. 
Before proceeding further, I would lay special stress on the 
supremacy of the female Pénughilu of Johdl 
over the States of Sri Méndnti, including Muar, 
Jémpol § and Géméncheh. The Dato’ of Johdél 
to the present day wears his hair long, and the Pénghilu of 
these States must go to him if necessary, as he is not expected 
to travel, the first Johél Pénghtluship having been held by a 
female, and the same rules as applied to her then, apply to 
this day. 
The supre- 
macy of Johdl. 
* ‘Péng’ a personal prefix and ‘Hulu’ head, this officer was the head, 
while the ‘Pénglima’ was the hand, ‘lima’ was the hand, andso came from 
the number of the fingers to stand for five. 
+ Bosom, lap, and to hold in the same so to support, in this case, temporarily. 
+ ‘ Warith’ (Ar.) corrupted into ‘waris,’ heirs. 
§ Name of a fish, which is handed on tothe river and so to the State. 
D. Fe A, He 
