SRI RAMA. 91 



The Orang Kaya Tumunggong, one of the chief ministers 

 of the State, then addressed the Raja asking what danger or 

 accident had caused this summons. 



Kota mana-lah yang rebuk? 



Parit mana-lah yang tungkal ? 



Pagar mana-lah yang runtoh ? 



Balei mana-lah yang chondong ? 



Tiang mana-lah yang putus ? 



Atap mana-lah yang gintang ? 



Dinding mana-lah yang pesnk ? 



Lantei mana-lah yang patah ? 



Angkat-an deri mana-lah yang tiba? 

 " What fort has fallen down, what moat is choked up, 

 what palisade has given way, what building is leaning over, 

 w r hat pillar is broken, what roof leaky, what w T all ruinous, 

 what; flooring out of repair ? Or has an army arrived from 

 anywhere V 



Then Sri Rama related his disquietude at the want of an 

 heir, and described how he had suddenly conceived the idea of 

 sending for his elder brother Raja Laksamana, who lived far 

 inland, in order that his advice might be asked. The Tu- 

 rn on ggong was at once despatched to call the latter. 



Deri jauh sesar-kan dekat. 



Sudan dekat hampir-kan tiba.* 

 (i From afar he got nearer and nearer aud gradually ap- 

 proached and arrived/' 



Raja Laksamana proceeded to the court with the Tumong- 

 gong, and Sri Rama then explained that he had sent for 

 his elder brother in the hope that he might be the depositor of 

 some of the secrets handed down from ancient times, by means 

 of which he might divine what was to happen in the future, 

 and w T hether an heir was yet to be born to him (takut ada-lah 

 barangkali abang dapat ' umanat orang tua-tua dahulu kala 

 barangkali dapat melihat lial kita laki istri barangkali ada 

 betuali-nia me-lihat atau ber-uleh anak atau tiada). This is an 

 allusion to the art of divination still practised by Malay sorcer- 



# This phrase is used repeatedly throughout the story, whenever 

 one of the characters makes a journey. 



