44 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
Bangsa Balang, to whom their chief became subordinate, 
though admitted into the group of the Twelve.” The circum- 
stances of his exclusion from that group are a matter of 
dispute. The five baroh members of the group possessed equal 
power with “the Hight,” in their respective tribes, and, within 
their limited spheres of influence, the Sétia Maharaja and the 
Sutan Bendahara are paramount—their judicial powers were 
the same, and the fees due them for the performance of their 
functions are indentical with the customary emolumentsof the 
Eight.”” The Maharaja Inda and the Ngiang, however are bound 
to act in concert with the Méndélika, and are constitutionally 
incapable of independent action except in questions affecting 
their own tribe alone. 
“The Twelve” are technically known as the Kepak Sayap 
(the wings and pinions). From them the Undang selects 
chiefs to attend him on his official journeys. They have the 
right to be present at a sitting of the Undang and “the Hight ” 
lémbayga, but their abSence does not invalidate the session, 
and they have no voice*in the election of the Undang. 
On the death of a lémbaya custom prescribes that his 
successor should be chosen before the burial ceremonies are 
completed. Considerable importance attaches to the due 
performance of these rites. Ifthe custom is not ‘ maintained 
erect’ (adat ta’berdirti) the family to which the deceased 
lembaga belonged, loses the franchise (pésaka). A violent 
death (mate torkejut) or death from infectious disease is held to 
warrant the omission of these ceremonies. 
Selection of a successor lies with the elders of the tribe 
acting In accordance with the wishes of the minor headmen 
(bésar) and fully enfranchised members (waris) of the tribe. 
The field for selection is narrowed by a strict rule of rotation 
among the several fully enfranchised families (pérut) of the 
tribe. Their nomination may be rejected by the Undang at 
will, and is valid only when confirmed by his acceptance of 
homage from the new chief. 
(1) vide case of To Raja Sénara chief of Tanah Datar bur oh tribe. 
For ceremony precribed at death of lembaga see appendix VI. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
