RAJA HAJI, 219 
and Raja Abdul Samad.* Raja Haji himself was bent upon going: 
first, because the Selangor men were actually fighting ; secondly, 
because his royal relative had personally come to ask him; and 
thirdly because he hoped for merit in the sight of God (G12 ) 
by waging a religious war. For these three reasons he could not 
restrain himself. When all his preparations were ready he set out 
for Malacca. His nephew, the Yang-di-per-Tuan Besar, Sultan 
Mahmud, insisted upon accompanying his uncle as far as Muar, 
where he was left behind, while Raja Haji pushed on to Malacca. 
The latter established himself near Telok Katapang and built a 
stockade at Tanjong Palas, at the same time ordering Punggawa 
Puna Sati to attack Semabok. There was fighting at Semabok for 
some days between the Bugis and the Dutch, many being killed 
and wounded on both sides. The latter at length gave way, a 
number of soldiers having been killed and the Semabok people 
having lost several Panglimas. Not long after Semabok had been 
taken by Raja Haji, Sultan Mahmud came to Telok Katapang to 
see him, but his uncle induced him to return to Muar. ‘ Do not,’ 
said he, ‘ take part in this campaign, but leave it to me, for it may 
be that God most high has predestined that my time shall end in 
this war, and in that case it is first to God, next to the Prophet of 
God, and thirdly to your Highness that I desire to commit the 
care and protection of my people and my Bugis dependents. And 
I should accept this fate with joy, for I should die in the hope that 
all my past sins would be forgiven by God most high, by reason of 
my death in battle.’’+ 
“Sultan Mahmud wept bitterly at hearing these words and his 
uncle wept also. The Sultan then returned to Muar to await there 
the issue of the operations.” 
“Raja Haji visited Batang Tiga, together with the Yang-di-per- 
Tuan of Selangor, and made a stockade there and ordered an attack 
on Malacca on the land side. A detachment of Malacca men and 
Dutch soldiers came out and when the two forces met there was a 
fight, with a tremendous discharge of muskets and blunderbusses, 
and when they got to close quarters swords and spears and Alewangs 
and krises were used. Many were killed and wounded on both 
* Raja Abdul Samad (afterwards killed in battle with the Dutch) was 
in favour of Raja Haji invading Malacca, Raja Ali opposed the proposal. 
y+ “War against enemies of El-Islim, who have been the first aggressors, 
is enjoined as a sacred duty; and he who loses his life in fulfilling this duty, 
if unpaid, is promised the rewards of a martyr.”—Lane’s Modern Egyptians, 
. 133. 
