REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. 63 
The decadence of the Ménangkabau empire entailed on 
its subordinate princes a loss of prestige. The Raja’s power 
over the Federation was shaken by the constant struggles for 
the succession that followed the death of Linggang Laut in 1824, 
and the successful self-assertion of Raja Ali, 10 years before, 
had laid bare the entire dependence of the royal pretentions on 
public opinion. The appointment of the Yam Tuan Muda in 
Rembau and Jélébu’* dealt a death-blow to the suzerain’s 
authority. Civil war between the contracting states further 
emphasized the weakness of the royal power, and the efforts 
of Téngku Radin to regain influence in Rembau by the 
appointment of the Raja di-Raja failed to secure him public 
support.” 
In short, the story of the Séri Ménanti house is a 
refutation of the validity of the claims of the Raja to 
monarchical powers. The agreement of 1895 A. D. whereby 
an alliance of five states was created ‘under the name of the 
Negri Sembilan,’ expressly excluded the Yam Tuan of Séri 
Ménanti—as a contracting chief, from ‘exercising any other 
powers or authority in respect of any State than that which 
he then possessed.’ The later agreement of 1898 A. D. while 
purporting to re-establish the ‘ancient constitution’ debarred 
the Raja from interference in the internal government of the 
States, robbed him of any original jurisdiction, (clause 4), 
relieved the Undang (clause 5) of the duty of homage at the 
great religious feasts and (clause 6) of personally providing the 
offering formerly required at royal festival. 
As the British treaty with Rembau of A. D. 1883 had 
already denied the Raja the right of interference in the 
appointment of the Undang, subsequent treaty definitions of 
his power have left little to the suzerain but ceremonial 
precedence as nominal tiead of the Federation. 
The constitution of the court of the suzerain, and the 
ceremonial at his installation are dealt with in such detail in 
(1) J. R. A. 8. vol. XIV. p. 338 Jelebu, by H. A. O’Brien. 
(2) vide chap. IT. section 1. sub waris gedang. 
R, A. Soc., No, 56, 1910, 
Decay of 
Rajas Power. 
Treaty de- 
finitions of the 
royal power. 
