12 CONSTITUTION OF THE NEGRI SEMBILAN. 



obtained but knowing that they will generally yield to the 

 arguments of them whom they trust I was hopeful that though 

 at the sacrifice of their self-importance, they would agree to 

 re-establish their ancient constitution. 



The opportunity arose in this wise : — When the Hari 

 Eaya, or festival which succeeds the month of fasting, was 

 approaching, the Yam Tuan invited the four Lawgivers to Sri 

 Menanti to witness the ceremony of obeisance which is 

 annually performed by the subjects of a Malay Eaja. 



They (Johol excepted) declined the invitation and made all 

 manner of excuses, their only reasonable plea being that it was 

 customary to receive the homage of their own subjects on the 

 Hari Eaya. 



The Yam Tuan then arranged to invite them immediately 

 after the festival of the Hari Eaya Haji, and I asked them to 

 attend. They urged that there was no reason why they should 

 go, and expressed fears that their attendance might be construed 

 to be a waiver of the freedom from interference which they 

 then enjoyed in the internal affairs of their respective States. 



I invited them to a meeting at the Eesidency and 

 explained that they were placing a strained construction upon 

 the words of the agreement, that the British Government had 

 never intended that they were to repudiate the Eaja who was 

 the representative of the dynasty their own ancestors had set 

 up, that they were trying to override ancient custom by 

 arguing on customs of thirty years' growth and that the 

 machinery of the Negri Sembilan Government could not work 

 until its component parts were replaced in their constituted 

 places. 



They replied that ancient custom required that they 

 should instal the Yam Tuan, that Tungku Muhammad had 

 not been invested with the powers and position of Yang di per 

 Tuan Besar by them, and that they would be stultifying 

 themselves if they went to Sri* Menanti. 



After a hasty meeting with the Yam Tuan, who at once 

 agreed to be formally proclaimed, I suggested to the three 



Jour. Straits Branch 



