THE HISTORY OF PERAK FROM NATIVE SOURCES. S7 
are identified by natives as the scenes of the fabulous adventures 
described in the Ilikayat Shainsu-l-bahrin (+), and it is traditionally - 
related that the Bruas was formerly connected with the Perak 
river at a place now called Tepus, but then called Tumbus. An- 
ee ee eS — ——— — SSS SS 
() See a short description of this work in Van per TuvR’s ac- 
count of the Malay M.S.S. belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society, 
Woy). . 
The following extract is translated from a copy in my posses- ~ 
sion. It is the opening passage, and summarises the adventures 
described in the body of the work. The mixture of Hindu and 
Muhammadan names is very characteristic of Malay Romances :— 
“Tn the name of God, the Compassionate. the Merciful. God 
knoweth the truth. 
“This is the tale of Shamsu-l-bahrin, the incidents of which are 
related by the author in the most elegant language. This prince 
was descended on the male side from the posterity of God’s Pro- 
phet Apam, on whom be blessings and peace, and on the female side 
from the stock of Raja Inpra.* He it was who was famed for his 
nobility, beauty of form, benevolence, wisdom, and fidelity. And 
it was he who was endowed with the twelve virtues, and who had 
exceeding compassion for those servants of God who snffered in- 
justice, and who aided them to the utmost of his power wherever he 
mignt be. This was the prince who was widely renowned in the 
lands of the Jin, and the Peri, the Dewa, Mambang, Indra, and 
Chandra. Even down to mankind all feared and admired and stood 
astonished at his wisdom and prudence, to which must be added his 
boldness and courage and his supernatural power and knowledge of 
all the secret sciences and arts. He it was who possessed himself 
of the bow of Rama Bisnu, + called Kinduwan Braksana,t (of 
exceeding virtue not to be surpassed in those days), having taken 
*In Hindu mythology, Jvdia is the king of heaven. 
+ Bisnu=Vishnu, one of the gods of the Hindu Triad. Ruma is one of the incarnations of 
Vishnu. 
+ Rama’s bow and arrows are famed in the Rémdyana, 
