Sumbang 
Kadim, Penal- 
ty. 
Remarriage 
into tribe of 
diverced wife. 
Permissibie 
on payment of 
fee the Kalang 
Batang. 
~ 
Monogamy. 
738° REMBAU HISTORY, ETC. meas iY 
A woman of that tribe having been outlawed on an incestuous 
union, performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, on her husband’s 
death. On her return she obtained permission from the 
Undang-—Dato’ Sérun—at the instance of Dato’ Merbangsa 
her tribal chief, to reside again in Rembau, on payment of the 
statutory fee. It is to be remarked that in this case the 
penalty was commuted after the husband’s death, tradition © 
records no like communication during the life-time of both 
guilty persons. 
Incest of near relations (sumbang kadim) or swmbang 
balai melintang > was nominally a capital offence, but actually 
punished with outlawry and confiscation of property, a penalty 
which the Undang had no power to commute.” ‘So great is 
the insistance of custom on exogamy that immediate re- 
marriage into the tribe of a divorced wife is an offence. 
Elder jurists class such a marriage as incestuous, but under 
existing practice, if previous notice be given, him, a tribal chief 
may sanction the marriage on payment of the fee known as 
Kalang Batang* a fee of 20 rupia ($7.20.) This rule is the 
-more striking that marriage with a deceased wife’s sister an 
event known as © changing the mat’”’ * 
tremely common. 
The practice of monogamy has survived longer in Rembau 
than in any other state of the Negri Sembilan, but is gradually 
losing ground to the licence granted by Mohammedan law. 
The general observance of the monogamic rule, which as will 
be shown later, is a logical deduction from the customary 
theory, of marriage, provoked caustic comment from the 
Sultan of Johor, on his visit to Rembau in 1874, A. D. and 
(gant? tikar) is ex- 
(1) Literally ; incest traversing the Lawgiver’s Hall of Audience. 
(2) In Naning tne death nenalty was exacted. There isa legend | 
current at Pulau Sebang, Naning, that a man and woman of the . 
Seri Melenggang tribe found guilty of incest, were placed in baskets 
and drowned in the stream running past the Mosque. The site of | 
their grave,—the Jirat Sumbang—is still pointed out. 
(3) Kalang (Galang) batang is the obstructing tree truuk. 
(4) If the parties agree it is not uncommon to dispense with 
payment of Adat on marriage of a man to his sister-in-law. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
