130 ON THE MALATU NATION. 



The Manlime Institutions of the J[falays 9 translated 

 from the Malaya language. 



IN the following sketch, which defines the laws and usages of the Ma- 

 lays at sea, the Maldca code has been selected for the text, as well on ac- 

 count of the admitted superiority of that once flourishing kingdom, among 

 the Malay states in general, as from the circumstance of this code having, 

 with but slight modifications, been adopted by several of the ancient and 

 powerful states on the island of Celebes^ and still continuing in force 

 among many of the Bugis and Macasar traders from that island. The 

 Bugis and Macasar states^ which are nations radically distinct from the 

 Malays, possess a Maritime Code of still greater antiquity, but in latter 

 times they appear to have in many instances adopted the sea laws of 

 Maided, nearly in the same manner as the Ramans adopted the celebrated 

 Rhodian code.. 



The Maldca code .appears to have been compiled during the reign of 

 Su;ltan Mohammed Shah, the first sovereign of Maldca, recorded in the 

 Maldyu annals to have embraced the Muhammedan faith. This circum- 

 stance is understood to have taken place about the year of the Christian sera, 

 1276. The origin of the Malay code may therefore be considered as 

 nearly coeval math the first establishment of Islamism among the Malays* 

 The authority of the code is thus stated in the preamble : 



" These are the laws to be enforced in ships, Junks, and Prdhus. 



" First of all, Pati Harun and Pati 'Eli as, assembled JVakhodah 

 Jenal, and JVakhodah Dew a and JVakhodah Is-HAK, for the purpose of 



