OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 175 



subjects the innocent sufferers by their party warfare, they ren- 

 dered these States, and more especially the Linggi river, all but 

 impassable. 



The Linggi river which in its lower part forms the boundary 

 between Selangor and Malacca,* in its upper part forks, the right 

 branch becoming, for some distance, the boundary between Sungei 

 Ujong and Eainbau, and the left branch, for a short way, the boun- 

 dary between Eambau and Malacca. 



It may be imagined what effect the positions of Sungei Ujong 

 and Eambau with regard to each other, and to the Linggi river 

 which ran between them, would have on any one so unfortunate 

 as to be obliged to make use of that river as a thoroughfare. 



During at least the last forty years, the condition of these 

 States may be briefly described as one of complete disorganization 

 and consequent oppression and poverty. 



Sungei Ujong and Eambau, to each other the bitterest foes, 

 when not in actual aud declared warfare kept their feud alive 

 by cattle-lifting, river piracy, and highway robbery, whilst each 

 constantly induced one or other of the remaining States to adopt 

 her cause, never failing to make the Linggi river the chief scene 

 of operations. Both legitimate parties would there erect stockades 

 and levy taxes on the traders (usually British subjects of Malacca), 

 whilst independent bands of marauders, with a true spirit of pri- 

 vateering, raised their stockades and demanded of every passer-by 

 an exorbitant blackmail, and should this be refused they seldom 

 failed to punish such temerity by murder and robbery. 



Add to this that in each of these small States there is at least 

 one Pengulu, at whose death there is usually an armed struggle 

 for the vacant office, and a fair idea may be obtained of the "peace 

 and prosperity" of the independent States bordering on Malacca. 



Such a struggle as has just been spoken of as possible had but 

 now (in January, 1S74,) ended in Eambau, and was about to begin 

 in Sungei L T jong. 



* Xow Sungei Ujong and Malacca. (1880.) 



