116 ON THE MALAYU NATION. 



Translation of a Maldyu manuscripts entitled, cc A history of former times, 



" containing an account of the first arrival of the 



" Portuguese at Maldca." 



" It is related that ten Portuguese vessels from Manila arrived at 



" Maldca, for the purpose of trade, during the reign of Sultan Ahmed 



" Shah; at a time when that country possessed an extensive commerce, 



" and every thing in abundance, when the affairs of government were 



" well administered, and the officers properly appointed. 



. " At the time that these ships arrived, the fort was composed of 



V JVibimgs. Alas ! with how man)'" other captains did the commander of 



M the Portuguese enter the fort, and with what presents of gold, of 



" dollars, of cloths, of Manila chains, did they present themselves before 



" the Raja, and how pleased to excess was Sultan Ah'med Shah with 



" the Portuguese! Whatever the commander required, Sultan Ah'med 



" Shah was ready to grant; but how many Bendaharas and Tamungungs 



u with due obedience urged the Raja to be on his guard against the 



" Portuguese ; for said they, " even the most experienced among us does 



" not recollect a misfortune so great as the arrival of the Portuguese." 



i( To this the Raja would reply, ' Alas! my revered Bendahara, and 



" you respected Tamungungs, you know nothing when you state that 



" these white men will do what is wrong in our country.' 



ss The Bendahara and the Tamungungs still remained of the same 

 " opinion respecting the Portuguese, and were not well inclined towards 

 " them ; but finding that their representations were not attended to, nor 

 ec well received by the Raja, they ceased to make them. To how many 

 cc of the rich and great men did the commander of the Portuguese pre- 

 il sent Manila chains, and how pleased was every one with the Portu- 

 " guese I The Bendahara and the Tamungungs were alone dissatisfied. 



