SUM A T R A. 177 
doofoons which are fituated neapcft to the refidence of the pangeran, at 
Bmngey-hmo^ acknowledge fomewhat more of fubordination than the 
diilant ones, which, even in cafe of war, efteem thcmfelves at liberty to 
aflift <-'r not, as they think proper, without being liable to confcqnences. 
In anfwer to a queltion oa this pointy** we are his fubjed:s not his flaves," 
replied one of the proatteens. But from the pangeran you hear a tale 
widely different. He has been known to fay, in a political converfation ; 
**fuchand fueh doofoons, there will be no trouble with : they are my 
powder and Ihot explaining himCelf by adding, that he could difpofe 
of the inhabitants^ as his anceftors had done, to purchafc ammunition in 
time of war. 
The father of Fameran Munco Raja (whofe name n preferved from Orfgia of the 
. t'tle of pan. 
obhvion by the part be took in the expulfion ot the Englifh from Fort ^^ran in Re- 
Marlborough in the year 1719) was the firft who bore the title of pari- 
g€fm of Sdongey-lamo, He had before been fimply Beginda Sehyam, Till 
about an hundred years ago, the fouthern coaft of Sumatra, as far as 
Oari river, was dependant on the king of B infamy whofe Jmmng (lieu- 
tenant or deputy) came yearly to Sikhar or Btncookn^ colktftcd che pep- 
per, and filled up the vacancies, by nominating, or rather confirming in 
their election, the proatkens. Soon after that time; the Englifh having 
eftabliflied a fettlemcnt at Bencoolen ; the jennang informed the chiefs 
that he fliould vifit them no more, and raifing the two head men of 
Smigey-iamo and Soongey-etam^^ to the dignity of pangeran^ gave into 
their hands the government of the country, and withdrew his mailer's 
claim* Such is the account given by the prefent pofieflbrs, of the origin 
of their titles, which nearly correfponds with the recorded tranfaiftions 
of the period. It followed naturally that the pangcran fliould lay claim^- 
to the abfolute authority of the king whom he reprefented^ and that the 
proatteens ihould flill confider him but as one of thcmfelves j and pay 
him little more than nominal obedience. He had no power to enforce 
* The latMF ii cbifrf of ihe ti^a country, m the neighboiuhcKJd of Bencoolcn river j on. 
Twliidi howtvcr^ the former poffeflTe* ibnie. village*, and \% chief of the Ht^attg tribe? , 
