VOLUNTEER POLICE FOR PROVINCE WELLESLEY. 181 
their Katuas, * or elders, and the latter to name the Pénghitlus, * 
or heads, for submission to you.+ With your approval, I also 
adopted a form of agreement which is printed in English and 
Malay at the head of the Rolls, by which the signers agree to aid 
in keeping the peace, and not to join unlawful societies. Opposite 
the name of each is a list of the arms kept by him, and for which 
licenses are requested. 
3. Ithas necessarily taken some time to get the plan carried out 
thus far amongst so scattered a population. Almost universally 
it has been received with the greatest favour. In some of the 
villages towards the west, where there is a Jawi-pakan admixture 
and where the influence of two of the town jwmahas and one 
of the Province ones was recently great, hesitation was shewn 
_by individuals, who asked if Government, after doubling and 
trebling the assessed rates on the lands and rating their houses, 
might not intend to put on new taxes, or make the volunteers 
keep up the roads and drains, or serve as soldiers? I explained 
to them that the Municipal Commissioners had simply directed 
re-assessment at the true or improved valuation, that the pro- 
posed system was a purely voluntary one originating with myself 
and heartily taken up by the Malays in my quarter as the surest 
means for our mutual protection, but that the Lieutenant-Governor 
had approved of it, would grant written appointments to the 
Pénghilus and Katuas, and would, I hoped, give it every encourage- 
ment if it worked well. Ja some instances difficulties have arisen 
from a difference of opinion in the choice of heads, or from bold 
and crafty men, of whom their more ignorant and timid neighbours 
stand in some fear, manceuvering to be named as Pénghilus, but 
by a little patience and management these difficulties have been 
overcome. 
4, I consider it essential to the success of the plan, and as 
constituting its distinctive feature, that the village heads as well 
as those of divisions should owe their position and their retention 
of it, to the opinion in which they are held by their fellow-vil- 
lagers. In most cases, the appointment would practically be 
permanent, but to keep the heads on their good behaviour the 
villagers should have the option of changing them at intervals, 
and three years appears to be a suitable term.{ Among sucha 
* Katua from tua, old; Pénghilu from dlu, the native Malay name for 
head, now replaced. by the Sanskrit kapaia. 
+The Kweangs are accredited messengers of the Katwas and Pénghilus 
named by them with the approval of the villagers. 
t One year, formerly proposed by me, is, I find, too short a term to render 
the office acceptable to the Malays and give them a proper training. 
