REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 41 
the Bendahara and so passed into the direct service of the 
Raja with whose men no lesser chief dared interfere. The 
Rembau institution is peculiar in its application not to in- 
dividuals but to tribes; but in its effect, as increasing 
the power of the head of the state at the expense of 
the chiefs, is identical with the Pahang custom. Originally 
intended as a temporary measure to prevent disturbance 
during the settlement of a dispute between a lembaga and nis 
tribesfolk, the status of dependence on the Undang became 
erystallized into a form of tribal Government. 
The Anak Acheh tribe provides the classical example. 
From earliest time only the Pulau family was’ eligible for the 
office of Dato’ Lela Wangsa—lémbaga of the Anak Acheh 
tribe. But the growing importance of the Anak Acheh 
settlements at Bongek and Bintongan induced To’ Lela 
Wangsa Maalam, in 1877, to offer an extension of full rights 
to these branches of the tribe. The offer was accepted. On 
the day appointed for the ceremonial feast Bongek and Bin- 
tongan killed their buffalo, boiled their rice, baked their 
sweet-meats, received the Undang (Haji Sahil) with full 
ceretnony on his arrival, and waited for Maalam and the 
Pulau contingent—in vain. At the last moment the Pulau men 
had changed their minds. Incensed at such cavalier treat- 
ment, Bongek and Bintongan refused to follow Maalam longer, 
and placed themselves under the protection of the Undany. 
The sequel is instructive. In 1896 when the Undang 
(Dato’ Serun) had proved for eight years his indifference to the 
lesser duties of a lémbaga, when transfers of land were 
prévented by his refusing to © beat the bounds,’ ’ when 
advances towards reconciliation had only brought down fines 
on the peacemakers, the dependent Anak Acheh forwarded 
their petition to the British Resident praying for permission 
to follow their own lémbaga again—or if that might not be 
granted, to follow any other lémbaga whomsoeyver, and so 
escape from the © protection” of the Undang. 
(1) v. chap. II. section 4. 
R. A. Soc., No. 55, 1910. 
