MVRIT1ME CODE. 



3 



lion and superior advantages or authority have naturally dictated. 

 Many of the Undang undang contain the mere regulations for the 

 collection of the duties for trade and the peculiar observances of 

 the Port ; while others ascend to the higher branches of civil and 

 criminal law. 



From the comparatively rude and uncivilised character of the 

 Malay, neither learned disquisition, nor even general argument, 

 is to be looked for; bat simple ideas, simply expressed, may illus- 

 trate character better than scientific arrangement or refined com- 

 position ; and. in this point of view, however local or particular 

 the subject may be, the Institutes and Regulations of so extensive 

 a maritime nation must be interesting. 



Considering, therefore, that a translation of their Codes, di- 

 gested and arranged according to one general plan, might be 

 as useful in forming and insuring a more secure intercourse 

 among this extraordinary and peculiar nation, as it might be 

 interesting in illustrating the unjustly degraded character of so 

 extensive a portion of the human race hitherto so little known, 

 whether with respect to what they are, or what they were, I have 

 long been engaged, as far as the severe duties of my public situ- 

 ation would admit, in collecting, at much trouble and consider- 

 able expense, Malay manuscripts of every description; and parti- 

 cularly copies of the Undang undang Malayu, which, with the 

 various collections of Adat, or immemorial customs, and what may 

 be usefully extracted from the Sajara and Akal Malayu, or an- 

 nals and traditions of the Malays, comprize what may be termed 

 the whole body of the Malay laws, customs, and usages, as far as 

 they can be considered original, under the heads of Grovernment 

 Property, .Slavery, Inheritance, and Commerce. 



On the Eastern side of Sumatra, the Malay States of Achin and 

 Palembang may be considered as of the most importance. Prom 

 these States I already possess one copy of the Undang undang 

 Acliili, with a short account of the Undang undang Siafr. Further 

 copies of these, as well as of the Institutes of Palembang, I have 

 reason to believe, are within my reach. 



The laws of Achin are peculiar, on account of the severity of 

 the criminal laws ; and although it may be presumed thai/ they were 

 borrowed from the more ancient inhabitants of the Island, they are 

 interesting in as far as they may have been generally adopted by 



