SUMATRA, 
to fubmlt to the tkcifion, tban through a eocrcive power pofTeffed by the 
court, for the redrefs of wrongs. 
The want of a written criterion of the Uws^ and the imperfedl flability 
of traditionary iifage^ muft frequently in the intricacies of their fuits, 
give rife to contradictory decifions ; particularly as the interefts and 
pafEons of the chiefs are bur too often concerned in the determination of 
the caufcs that come before them* This evil bad long been perceived by 
the Engtifli RefidentSi who, in the countries where we are fettled, prefide 
at the bechars, and being inftigated by the fplendid example of the 
Governor-geoeral of Bengal^ under whofe direction a code of the laws 
of that empire was compiled, it was refolved, that the fervants of the 
Company at each of the fubordinate^ ihould, with the affiftance of the 
ableli and mofl: experienced of the natives^ attempt to reduce to writing, 
and form a fyftem of the ufages of the country people, in their refpec- 
tive rcfidencie*. This was accordiDgly executed in fomc inflances, and 
a tranflation of that compiled in the re/id ency of tdjye\ coming into my 
poScfTion, I Lnfert it here, in the original form, as being attended with 
more authority and precifion, than any account funuihed from my own 
jnemorandums, could pretend to. 
R s J A K G Laws, 
The laws and cufloms of the RejangSy hitherto preferved by tra- 
" dirion, are nowj after being difcufled, amended, and ratifyed in an 
*^ aflembly of the pangeran^ pambarahs and proalHsm^ committed to 
*^ writings in order that they may not be liable to alteration ; that juf- 
** tice may be regularly and impartially admlniftercd ; that thofe de* 
** fciTing death or fine may meet their reward ; that caufcs may be 
** brought before the proper judges, and due amends made for defaults ; 
** that the compenfation for murder may be fully paid ; that property 
may be equitably divided ; that what is borrowed mny be reftorcd ; 
that gifts may become the undoubted property of the receiver; that 
debts may be paid, and credits received, agreeably to the cuftoms 
that 
