OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 177 



is, that it was a custom in Sungei Ujong that when one of these 

 two offices became vacant, it could only be refilled by the consent 

 of the Chief who then held the other, and though it has been 

 stated that the present Klana* is not the legitimate occupant, yet 

 he was appointed in the regular way by the late Bandar, whose 

 own succession, though he enjoyed his post for so many years, will 

 hardly bear the light of severe scrutiny. 



There had never been cordial relations between the Klana and 

 the Bandar of Sungei Ujong, and an estrangement once formed 

 the breach between them became daily wider, more especially when 

 the Klana adopted the cause of Tunku Dia Urn^ and promised to 

 give none of his enemies harbour in Sungei Ujong, whilst it was 

 well known that the Bandar was on the best terms with Rajas 

 Maiidi and Makmud, and had, on several occasions, given them, 

 besides shelter in his house, material assistance for the prosecu- 

 tion of their raids, 



As for the other small States, besides their frequently taking part 

 in the Rambau- Sungei Ujong conflicts, they were themselves, 

 and more especially Ulu Muar, Jelabu and Sri Menanti, the 

 scenes of petty struggles, whilst they all, without exception, gave 

 refuge to the criminals who fled from justice in the Straits Settle- 

 ments. 



Johor and Pahang were the only exceptions to this disgrace- 

 ful state of affairs, and there has been for years so little good 

 feeling between even these two countries, and such jealousy with 

 regard to their boundary, that it is believed that were it not for 

 their position, so close to Singapore, and the great interest this 

 Government has always taken in Johor, they would long ere this 

 have been involved in a war as bitter, and on a larger scale, than 

 any that has been described, indeed it is more than probable that 

 this most anxiously to be avoided catastrophe has only been averted 

 by the constant mediation of this Government between those 

 States. 



* Syed Abdilkah^Iax ; lie died returning from Mecca at the end 

 of 1879. 



