THE HISTORY OF PERAK FROM NATIVE SOURCES. 93 
fortified a strong position. This was closely invested by the Sul- 
tan’s forces, and a long siege ensued. During the siege an un- 
known warrior joined the Sultan’s army. He came from Pagaru- 
yong in Menangkabau and was the illegitimate son of the Great 
Sultan of that country, by a concubine. In consequence of his 
illegitimate birth, he was driven forth from his native country, 
having for his sole fortune a matchlock (istinggarda) (+) and four 
bullets, on each of which was inscribed the words, ‘This is the son 
of the concubine of the Raja of Pagaruyong; his name is Magar 
TERAWIS;(?) wherever his bullet falls he will become achief.’ Magar 
Terawis did not declare his name or origin to the Perak men, but 
served with them as an obscure soldier. At length, having selected 
an auspicious day, he asked one of the Sultan’s followers to point 
out Tan Sasan to him. This the man had no difficulty in doing, 
for Tan SaBan was frequently to be seen on the outworks of his 
fort across the river dressed in garments of conspicuous colours. 
In the morning he wore red, at midday yellow, and in the evening 
his clothes were green.(?) When he was pointed out to Magar 
(7) Another anachronism. So, cannons are mentioned in several 
places in the Thousand and One Nights. See Lanz’s transla- 
tion, vol. ii., p. 329, note 100. The istinggarda (Portuguese espin- 
garda) is the old-fashioned matchlock, specimens of which may 
still be found in use among the Malays. In former times a bow 
and four arrows may probably have occupied the place given to 
the matchlock and bullets in this narrative. 
(2) Alagat, a Malay title of Sanskrit origin. MWdgadha (Sansk.)= 
the son of a Vaicya by a Kshatriya woman. In Malay, magat is 
applied to a chief who is noble on one side only. 
(3) A superstitious observance found among more than one Indo- 
Chinese nation. “Le général en chef doit se conformer a plusieurs 
coutumes et observances superstitieuses; par example, il faut qu il 
mette une robe de couleur différente pour chaque jour de la semaine; 
le dimanche il s’habille en blanc, le lundi en jaune, le mardi en 
vert, le mercredi en rouge, le jeudi en bleu, le vendredi en noir, et 
le samedi en violet.” —PatiEGorx, Description de Siam, vol.i., p. 319. 
Regarding the signification attached to various colours by the 
Turks and Arabs. see Lanr’s Thousand and One Nights, vol. i1., 
p. 326, note 78. 
