17G THE INDEPENDENT NATIVE STATES 



In order that there may be no difficulty in understanding the 

 circumstances which led to the direct intervention of G-overnment 

 in Sungei Ujong, it will be well to at once describe the interior 

 economy of that State. 



The chief authority in Sungei Ujong. aud the one with whom 

 this Government has always corresponded and treated in conducting 

 relations with that State, is a Pengiilu with the title of Klana 

 Putra, a title which by right descends from uncle to nephew, that 

 nephew being the eldest son of the Klana's eldest sister, in default 

 the next son or a son of another sister. 



But in Sunge: Ujong there was another authority, with the title 

 of Datu Bandar, an office which ought, like the first, to descend 

 from uncle to nephew, and for which its last holder claimed an 

 almost, if not quite equal, position, authority, and consideration with 

 that of the Klana. 



There were reasons which might give rise to this feeling, prin- 

 cipal amongst them that the Datu Bandar was a man of at least 

 seventy-five years of age, and had held his office for some twenty 

 years, whilst the Klana was a comparatively young man and had 

 just been appointed. 



The Bandar, an extremely parsimonious man, had, during his 

 twenty years of office, accumulated a large sum of money, and this 

 consequently gave him considerable influence in the country, 

 whilst he was possessed of such a reputation for determination, 

 impatience of the least contradiction, and the prompt execution of 

 desperate deeds, that many of those who would not have been his 

 followers through love, were so by fear. 



The Bandar had also made use of his long tenure of power to 

 get the greater part of the revenues into his own hands, and the 

 Klana, having been installed, soon found that he must either 

 content himself with what the Bandar allowed him to have or 

 assert his rights by force. 



One thing, however, is certain in regard to the apparently 

 anomalous positions of these " Two Kings of Brentford," and that 



