J ELEBU 



The following Notes, regarding the history of the con- 

 stitution ofjelebu have been compiled from information 

 gleaned from the headmen of the State* 



The four following countries— (1) Jelebu, (2) Sungei Ujong, 

 (3) Rembau, and (4) Johol— were in former days governed by 

 Penghulus subject to the suzerainty of Johor. 



On one occasion the Raja of Johor was guilty of an act 

 of gross oppression towards the Penghulu of Rembau entitled 

 Orang Kaya Kechil. The Raja of Johor wished to obtain in 

 marriage this Penghulu's daughter, but the Penghulu refused 

 and married her to another. The Raja's anger was roused at 

 this, and the Penghulu, hearing of his indignation sent his own 

 son Siamat (sic) to explain matters to the Raja and to endea- 

 vour to appease his wrath. 



The Raja, however, would not listen to Siamat, but order- 

 ed him to be put to death. 



After this the Penghulus of the four States were afraid to 

 go to the Court of the Raja, owing to this unjust act. 



After some time, however, the headman of Jelebu took 

 courage to appear before him. Now this headman's name 

 was Munyong Salih, arid his title was Orang Kaya of Sungei 

 Lumut. The name of Jelebu was as yet unknown : and it was 

 not until some time later that the country was so called after a 

 man of that name who was drowned in the river (Triang) . 

 This headman of Jelebu, then, went to the Court of the Raja 

 of Johor, who presented him with a chop bearing the follow- 

 ing inscription : — 



" The Sultan Ma'acIam Shah confers upon the Mandelika 

 " Mantri supreme authority to be the Sultan of Jelebu 

 s( for ever." 



* The first division of this paper is, I need hardly point out, a literal 

 translation of the story verbally communicated to me by Malays. — H. A. O'B. 



