34 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
The primary duty of either class of ‘bésar’ is to act as a 
check upon the tribal official to whom he is immediately 
inferior. 
The ‘bésar’ of the lémbaga’s creation (grade b) riee to 
the notice of the /émbaga any instance of capricious or parti- 
san action by the elder. The tvribesfolk find in him a safe- 
guard against attempted extortion (méngéndap), or sheltering 
of an offender by the elder (mélindong). 
The © bésar”’ is only too eager to listen to such complaints, 
for his share in the fine that may be exacted from a guilty 
elder forms his main source of income. 
The “bésar’’ appointed by the Undang forms the constitu- 
tional check in the tribes on tha lémbaga, in his dealings with 
the elders. His rank as officer of the Undang (pégawai pada 
Undang) entitles him to an audience in the balaz, where he may 
present the elder’s case against the tribal chief. The lémbaga 
cannot retaliate on him for his dismissal from office lies with 
the Undang alone. 
As official of the court of the Undang, this bésar carried 
out the procedure laid down by custom for execution of a 
decree in favour of a beduanda creditor, against real property 
of an immigrant tribesman (rejab, lengkong), on an order 
which could issue only from the Undang.: He cut the posts 
marking out the boundary, dug the ground, planted the tufted 
spear in the court yard, and took possession of the land in 
the name of the Undang. 
For either duty he received payment from the Undang— 
a share of the fine, or a prime cut from the buffalo sacrificed 
in settlement (daging pétabah dua jari). As an officer of the 
Undang he was also entitled to an alms of 12 cents at the 
burial ceremonies of the Undang. 
The official appointed by the Undang to represent him in 
a tribe transferred from the government of the tribal chief (tér- 
gantong pada Undang)” was drawn from the bésar pégawat 
(1) rejab. lengkong, chapter II §5 sub Undang. 
(2) v. chap. IT, § 1 sub suku. 
Jour. Straits Pranch 
