56 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 
The similarity betweer the “ trial by stones”? and the 
result of a warzs attachment of land has led to a confusion 
between the two methods of recovery of debt. But whereas 
the attachment (7é/ab) was a recognised and legal prerogative 
of the waris, the stone trial, though winked at by custom; 
merely afforded creditor and debtor a ready means of working 
off their ill-feeling, without incurring liability for assault, and 
affected not the means but the readiness of the debtor's 
payment. 
The death penalty,—generally commuted to banishment 
and confiscation of property, —was inflicted under the order of 
the Undang by the Panglima Dagang. The execution knife 
(kéris pényalang) was driven between the collar bone and the 
left shoulder blade into the heart—great precaution being 
taken to prevent spilling of blood, a prerogative of the Raja, 
by withdrawing the blade through cloth. The last exe2u- 
tion carried out in this way in Rembau, at Kendong in A. D. 
1890, was abortive, and the condemned wretch was eventually 
despatched by police revolvers after he had dropped bound 
into his freshly dug grave. 
Death, or banishment with confiscation of property, were 
the only penalties for the forbidden acts (pantang), but for 
other offences (lavang) the minimum penalty inflicted by the 
Undang in his judicial capacity, was one bahara, ($14.00). 
On the expulsion of the Raja the Undang adopted the royal 
fine (66 kupang), but both these fines were independent of the 
expense of the purificatory feast an offender of rank might 
incur where a buffalo was slain. 
The Undang is further vested with certain powers in 
regard to illegitimate children. The sayings record that ~ the 
plant which hath no seed, the sprout which hath no bud 
belongs to the Undang.” * A child whose parentage cannot be 
established is held by the adat to be the child of the Undang. 
un (Ll) Buang hidop. 
(2) v. Saying XIX App. I. and Nero op. cit. vol. I. p. 213. 
Ho Saying XIV. App. I. 
(4) vide Saying XIII. App. I. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
