(2 
3h MALAY LAW IN NEGRI SEMBILAN. 
Penghulu’s office. The Penghulu must immediately be official- 
ly informed, and various rites have to be gone through. The 
funeral has to be officially arranged by the Penghulu. All this 
Raja di Muda ignored, carried it through himself with a high 
hand and the Penghulu was never consulted. This was too 
much and the whole matter was reported. Enquiries were 
made, the Penghulu sent for Raja di Muda, who did not come, 
and the Penghulu asked to be allowed to dismiss Raja di Muda 
and that the re-election of another officer be recognised. This 
was accorded. To the outside world this may appear trivial, 
but to the Malay mind the Raja di Muda had by his last action 
placed himself in direct and meaning antagonism to the Peng- 
hulu absorbing the Penghulu’s rights in his own, and this could 
not be. 
A case in Rembau is one of some interest. The Chief of 
the Sri Melenggang tribe became intensely unpopular in a cer- 
tain section of his tribe, in consequence undoubtedly of irregu- 
larities he had committed in that section. After a good deal 
of seething and boiling in the tribe the whole matter bubbled 
up before the Penghulu and ruling Waris of Rembau (zzde 
Origin and Constitution). The Penghulu referred the matter 
back to the tribe for further consultation and for proofs to be 
brought forward of the complaints made. The plaintiffs went 
away and not long after it was rumoured abroad that a new 
Chief had been elected, the actual holder of the office not hav- 
ing been formally deposed with the sanction of the Penghulu. 
Then the Penghulu and Waris enquired the meaning of these 
signs, such as the firing of guns, the hanging of curtains in the 
house of one MARASHAD and let the tribe explain the adoption 
of such forms which were only allowed to a Chief. The dis- 
affected ones in the tribe asked for a meeting of all the Chiefs 
at which they would present themselves. The Penghulu ac- 
corded this and ordered the Chiefs to be present at his Balei. 
The day arrived. All were congregated. A message came 
from those disaffected who were outside the fence of the house 
in the padang or field for the Waris to come out and meet the 
new Chief and escort him to the Penghulu’s presence. This 
created general consternation and after deliberation it was 
