Origin and 
Antecedents, 
Aboriginal 
Settlements. 
2 _ REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
Chapter I. Rembau considered historically. 
Tradition has summed up the origin and antecedents of 
the people of Rembau in the saying, Gagak itam, Gagak sémuz, 
turun dert bukit berkaki émpat, bangau puteh datang dari 
laut berképak sayap.’.“ The black crows and the grey crows 
descended on foot from the hills, the white egrets flew over 
_ on flapping wings from the sea.’’ The crows from the hills are 
allegorical of the aboriginal tribes, while the white egrets typify 
the Menangkabau eerilers! whose advent is given by local 
authority to the year 1388 A.D. (773rd year of the Hegira). * 
To intermarriage between these early Sumatran fathers and 
the aboriginal inhabitants of the state, the Rembau Warvs tribe 
traces its origin. 
The tale of the pecunion of Rembau by the “ Crows” is 
contained in three distinct traditions connected only by the 
extravagant hypotheses of Malay ingenuity. The earliest 
nomadic band was led by Batin Chap, the younger brother of 
Batin Saribu Jahia, or Séri Bujai, legendary chief of the ab- 
original settlers in Sungei Ujong.” No details have been 
handed down of this first descent from the hills, but its chrono- 
logical precedence is supported by the fact that upon this tradi- 
tion has been grafted the story of the Dato’ Raja di Gunong 
and the marriage of his spirit-child to Jahia Petra, a prince of 
the royal family of Johor.. This second tradition can only be 
considered as a natural attempt of a false pride to erase the 
blot on the escutcheon of the Rembau Waris descent on the 
female side from the hill-tribes. Later tradition, by identify- 
ing Dato’ Raja di Gunong with Batin Saribu Jahia, destroys 
the whole point of the legend; and whatever its interest. as 
myth or literature, the tale is of little historical value. 
The third and best known tradition relates in great detail 
the settlement in Rembau of Batin Sakudai, also called Benda- 
hara Sakudai. His three daughters To’ Mudik, To’ Méngkudu 
(1) ef. Newbold. British Settlements in Malacca, Vol. IT. p. 77. 
(2) v. Newbold. op. cit. Vol. Il. p.376. and Bland, Aturan Sungai 
Ujony. J. R.A. 5S, Vol. XXVIII. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
