Rights of 
members of a 
‘Tribe, 
26 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
the bonds of specific alliances, arising from the geographical dis- 
tribution of tribal settlements, or danger to a common interest. 
The historical consideration of the tribal settlements has 
already dealt with the geographical alliances of (i) the four 
baroh chiefs (ii) the four darat chiefs (iii) the 5 upstream in 
the darat district and (iv) the league of the 3 darat tribes 
downstream ; while (v) the league of the 5 Baroh tribes has 
been shown to have a political rather than a geographical origin. 
But the formation of these five leagues, while limiting 
the independent action of the contracting chiefs, did not affect 
the constitution of the tribe, 1is form of government or the 
inherited rights (pésaka) of the tribesfolk. 
Those rights flowed from the theoretical independence of 
each tribe and the tribal customs provide the means for their 
preservation.” 
Permanent residence in Rembau necessitated entrance 
into some one of the twelve tribes of the federation. But in- — 
clusion in a tribe, while entailing obligations does not confer 
full tribal rights. Only a full member of a tribe is eligible for 
election to the post of zbu-bapa or lémbaga, or can demand 
the higher marriage fee obtaining in certain of the elder tribes. 
Full membership depends on the ability of a claimant to trace 
his descent back to the founder of one of the original families 
(nérut.’) Thus the tribe Paya Kumboh (Saroh) has adherents 
living at Gadong, at Batang Nyamor, and at Sémérbok, none of 
whom are eligible to hold the office of To’ Merbangsa, the 
tribal chief, for their ancestors came from the upcountry 
settlement of Sungei Laiang, and their marriage fee is but 50 
rupiah instead of the statutory 90 of the baroh branch. 
The tribes then form close corporations,’ the members 
of which are bound together by a common interest. Hence 
the sayings compare the tribesfolk to a bunch of sireh leayes— 
a cluster of coconuts and a mess of curried meat.* 
(1) vide Saying XV. app. I. (2) vide Saying XXX. app. I. 
(3) Each tribe is a separate corporation : should the tribe have 
distinet bavoh and darat settlements then it would form not one, 
but two co-porations. 
(4) vide Saying XXXIII. app. I. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
