Rights of 
Settlers in Fo- 
rest landse 
Rules of in- 
heritance to 
Ancestral 
Property. 
68 REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. ‘ee 
attachment in execution of a decree against the oceupier. 
On the death of the tenant the Undang had the right, though ~ 
its exercise was infrequent, to terminate occupation by the 
tenants’ family. In many cases settlers on unredeemed lands 
have been in undisturbed occupation of their holdings for 
generations—succession following the rule of inheritance in 
ancestral property, but such occupation supports no claim to 
like rights with those of a holder of redeemed lands.’ 
Forest lands presented to a settler little attraction, except 
the durian orchards (dusun) on the hills. To such an orchard 
a right similar to the acquired right of a family in redeemed 
lands might be secured and maintained by the clearing of a 
space round the fruit trees. The communal nature within the 
family (pérut) of the right to an orchard is a matter of observa- 
tion at the present day, and affords valuable corroborative 
evidence as to the limits of proprietary rights in redeemed 
lands. Even since titles were issued (in A. D. 1888) the 
registered owner of an ancestral orchard in the hills claims 
no alienable right to the trees, nor would she seek to prevent 
any of her relatives, who can trace descent to a common 
ancestor with herself, from sharing in the profits of the durian 
harvest. The broad principle of succession to ancestral land 
has already been remarked, the same provision holds good in 
regard to ancestral property in chattels. The property is held 
in tail for the nearest female relative—the daughter. 
Should there be more than one daughter, it is the duty of 
the father, or the husband, to build a house for his daughter, or 
wife, on a convenient site in the ancestral. The mother’s 
house is inherited normally by the youngest daughter, who 
undertakes, in return, the support of her mother in old age. 
The rice swamp is divided equally between the sisters. 
Should a daughter predecease her mother, her female descen- 
dants obtain collectively an equal share with their aunts. 
(1) cf. Matnor and To’ Muda Lansah v.s. Tukang Rahman ; heard 
in 1906, and upheld on appeal. Land in dispute wars land at Chuai, 
claimed by waris against Rahman descendant of tenant. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
