ON THE MALA'YU NATION. 105 



view, however local or particular the subject may be, the Institutions and 

 Regulations of so extensive a maritime nation must.be interesting. 



Considering therefore that a translation of these codes, digested and 

 arranged according to one general plan, might be as useful in facilitating 

 and ensuring a more secure intercourse, among this extraordinary and 

 peculiar nation, as it might be interesting in illustrating the unjustly de- 

 graded character of so extensive a portion of the human race, hitherto so 

 little known either with respect to what they are or what they were ; 

 I have long been engaged, as far as the severe duties of my public situ- 

 ation would admit, in collecting Malay manuscripts of every description. 

 and in particular, copies of the Undang JJndang Malay U, which, with the 

 various collections of Addat, or immemorial customs, and what may be 



A 



usefully extracted from the Sejdreh Malay u, and Akal Malay u, or annals 

 and traditions of the Malays, comprize what may be termed the whole body 

 of the Malay laws, customs and usages, as far as they can be considered 

 as original, under the heads of government, property, slavery, inheritance 

 and commerce. 



On the eastern side of Sumatra, the Malay states of Achi, Siac, and Pa- 

 lembang, may be considered as of the most importance. From these states 

 I have procured one copy of the Undang Undang Achi, with a short 

 account of the Undang Undang Side. Further copies of these, as well 

 as of the institutions of Pale?nba?ig, I have reason to believe are within 

 my reach. 



The laws of Achi are peculiar, on account of the severity of the crimi- 

 nal law ; and although it may be presumed that they were borrowed 

 from the more ancient inhabitants of the island, they are interesting, in as 



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