16 CONSTITUTION OF THE NEGRI SEMBILAN. 



with all his following, should have returned with the herald to 

 Kampong Bukit, his recognised resting place, but proceeded 

 instead via Seremban to Terachi, where he joined the procession 

 of the Sungei Ujong Chiefs. 



To all other Eaja, Waris Chiefs, Lembaga, Penghulu and 

 Malays of good position throughout the States news of the 

 approaching ceremony was duly sent. 



I arrived at the Astana with Mr. Chevallier, the District 

 Officer, Kuala Pilah, at about 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, the 5th 

 of May, and found everything in a state of preparedness that 

 spoke volumes for the trouble taken by the Yam Tuan and his 

 household and by Mr. Chevallier. Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Parr 

 and Mr. Hatchell arrived on Thursday evening. I selected 

 these four gentlemen to look after the four Lawgivers and 

 their people, and to see that their comfort was attended to. 

 A great measure of the success of the whole pageant is due to 

 the assistance they gave me : and the Yam Tuan expressly 

 thanked them. 



I was told that the Dato' Eembau and the Dato' Johol 

 had already taken up their quarters at Sri Menanti with large 

 folio wings. We wrote letters to the other three Dato', who 

 were at Terachi, advising them to stop the night there and 

 come on next day. 



It was decided to procure more rice from Seremban, as all 

 the Kuala Pilah shops had been emptied, and we sent for more 

 drapery for the reception-halls of the four Lawgivers, and for 

 four and twenty large Malacca mats to cover the bamboo 

 flooring of those halls. 



It may be well to describe the Astana grounds, and the 

 subjoined plans will assist the description : 



An examination of the first plan will show that the dis- 

 tance from one entrance gate ( E ) to the other ( F ) was 

 about 300 yards. These entrances ( pintu gerbang ) were 

 covered with thatch and on each side there was an earthen 

 platform on which cannon were mounted. The road from 

 one gate to the other was broad and was lined on both sides 



Jour. Straits Branch 



