YALENTYN's DESCRIPTION OF MALACCA. 63 



I really don't know the author of the book Hangtooha, but I 

 must admit it to be one of the most decent Malay works I ever 

 have read, of which we will communicate to our readers a sum- 

 mary as briefly as possible. 



If we want to trace scrupulously the origin of the Malays, it is 

 worth while to find out first, whether they derive their name 

 from the country (the Malay Coast and the town of Malacca) or 

 whether that country has been called after them. 



They lived first on the great island of Sumatra ( called in 

 former times Andelis ( x ) and also Maningcaho, ( 2 ) till it was discover- 

 ed that this was the name of only one kingdom of this island) and 

 there more especially in the kingdom of Palimbang, situated on 

 the inner west coast, at about 8 degrees latitude, opposite the 

 island of Banca, on the river Malay oo, which runs all round the 

 mountain Mahamevoo, (3) and thence downwards to the river Tdtang 

 and so on into the sea. 



* Every one hearing the name of the first mentioned river, would 

 feel inclined at once to think, that those who had settled there 

 had been called after the said river " Orang Malay oo" i.e., " the 

 Malayoo people, people living on the river Malayoo," others however 

 suppose that that river ( also called Mallajoo and Maladjoo) has 

 received its name from this laborious, industrious, quick and hasty 

 people, while the Malay word for laboriousness and quickness is 

 also Maladjoo. But it is my opinion that the Malays got their 

 first name from that river, and that they have given that name 

 afterwards to several coasts and countries where they have 

 settled, though the whole of this country (then nothing but 

 fishermen) has been subdued by the King of Siam, of whom 

 some of these natives have rid themselves a long time afterwards. 



After having been settled here for some years, without knowing 

 anything about a King to govern them ( an obscure period, about 

 which nothing has been mentioned by one author ), but not quite 

 pleased with this place, and not always having been left unmolested, 



( i ) More commonly " Indalas " or " Anclalas." 



(2) Menangkabau, or Menangkerbau, as to the origin of which, name 

 various legends exist, e.g. light between tiger and buffalo, latter winning ; also 

 fight between gig'antic Javanese buffalo and buffalo calf, latter victorious ; 

 again when Raja was first instituted at Bukit Guntang Penjaringan a * buffalo 

 with golden horns and hoofs issued from a hole in the ground with a herd 

 of followers, but returned to it before his pursuers could catch him and so 

 " menang kerbau." 



(3 ) Mahamiru, the Hindu Olympus. 



* This and much of what follows has already been criticised by competent 

 critics, so I will not indulge myself here. 



