SUMATRA. 
bitants under the fubjetStion of another power, or has added foreign 
diftrifts to their domimon, there the feudal maxims prevail : where the 
natives, from fituation or difpofition, have long remained vindlfturbed 
by revolutions, there the frmplicity of patriarchal nile obtains ; which 
is not only the firft, and natural form of government, of all rude nations 
rifing from imperceptible beghinings, but is perhaps alio the higheft ftate 
of perfe<ftion they can ultimately arrive at. It h not in this art 
alone that we perceive the next flep from confummate refinement, lead- 
ing to fimpJicity, 
The foundation of right to government among thefe people, feems^ 
Much Hmited. I fajd, to be the general confent. If a chief txerts an undue autho- 
rity', or departs from their long eftabllfhed cuftbms and nfagcs, they con- 
ceive themfelves at liberty to relinquifli their allegiance^ A command- 
ing afpe<^V, an infinuating manner, a ready fluency in difeourfe, and a 
penetration and fagacity in unravelling the little intricacies of their dif- 
. putes, are qualities which feldom fail to procure to their pofleflbr, re- 
fpedt and influence, fometmres perhaps fuperior to that of an acknow- 
ledged chief, ' The pan gcran indeed claims dc/potic fway, and as far 
as he can find the means, fcruples not to exeh it; but his revenues 
being infufHcient to enable him to keep up any force, for carrying his 
mandates into execution, his actual powers are very limited, and he has 
feldom found himfelf able to puniih a turbul^enc fubje<5l, any otherwife 
than by private alTaffi nation. In appointing the heads of doofoons, he 
does little more than confirm the choice already made among the inha- 
bitants, and was he arbitrarily to name a pcrfon of a different tribe, or 
from another place, he would not be obeyed. He levies no tax nor has 
any revenue, (what he derives from the Jndia Company being out of the 
queftion) or emolument from his fubje^s, other than what accrues to 
him from the determination of caufes. Appeals lie to him in all cafes, 
and none of the inferior courts, or affemblies of proatteens, are competent 
for life and death. But all punifhments being, by the laws of the country,, 
CQmmutable for fines, and the appeals being attended with expence and 
lofs of time, the parties generally abide by the firft decilion. Thofe 
doofoons 
