iThe 
Menangkabau 
Confederacy. 
British Trea- 
ty 
A.D 
of 
1795 
13 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. . 
was thus adopted by the Menangkabau Sultan as the basis of 
his rule in the peninsula. 
It is worthy of remark that the Menangkabau suzerainty 
was exercised over an alliance of four States only. There was 
no suggestion at this date of a “ Negri Sembilan ”’ (nine 
States) for Naning had fallen under Dutch influence, and 
the other 4 states of the Sakai Confederacy did not revolt. 
Jelebu obtained an independent charter from Sultan Mah- 
mud Shah,* a confession of weakness on the part of Johor; 
Klang left the confederacy to fall under the sway of The Bu- 
gis Chiefs of Selangor, while their geographical position merged 
Ulu Pahang, Jelai and Segamat 1 in the respective kingdoms of 
Pahang and Muar. 
The decadence of the Johor Sultanate after the withdraw- 
al of the Bugis from Rhio in 1785, the lack of a forward policy 
in the Dutch administration, preoccupied with the competition 
of the English East India Company, relaxed the tie uniting 
the 4 contracting States. Although Raja Meléwar on his death 
was replaced by Raja Adil, another deputed prince from Me- 
nangkabau, and he again in 1795 A.D., by Raja Itam, Rembau 
tradition records no act of interference in Rembau polities by 
the Menangkabau suzerain in the 18th century. 
In 1795 A.D., the British on taking possession of Ma- 
lacca concluded a commercial and friendly pact with Rembau, 
as a separate state. The document does not mention either 
the Yang di Pertuan or any of the 3 other States of the con- 
Sederacy. 
At that time To’ Pekak was Undang in Rembau, but as 
-he was unable, through infirmity, to make the journey to Ma- 
lacca, he appointed Kosil a waris chief, as his deputy. On 
-his return from Malacca, Kosil refused to lay aside his dele- 
gated power, and succeeded by force of arms in securing the 
deposition of To’ Pekak, and his own installation as Undang. 
The Raja-at Sri:Menanti made no sign, and his apparent in- 
difference to the personality of the Undang contrasts strongly 
with the action of the Johor suzerain in the time of, To’ Uban. 
(1) y, O’Brien Jelebu, J.R.A.S. XIV. p. 337, Dec. 1884.- 
‘Jour. Straits Branch 
