SUMATRA. 
Fajfamnmn people had reached their prefent palt/bed rtatc. The other, 
to be on a level with him, boafts pofTeflion of the beard of a reverend 
predecefibr, which was fo bulhy that a large bird had made its neft in 
it* His fon, on the deeeafe of the old man, cut it off, and it is faid to 
be carefully preferved to this day. 
The Malay governments, which are founded on principles more nearly Malay govern - 
feudal, than others on the iiland, confift o( ^Raja * or prince, who moftly ^l"' ^^^^ 
^flumes the title of SuUan^ introduced by the Arabians ; under whom 
are a certain number of UattetsSy chofen from among the body of ermg 
cayosy or men of rank ; who have ufually fubordinate to them, a conii- 
-derable train of immediate dependants or vafials. From the datms^ 
the fultan appoints the ofl&ccrs of ftate \ as the Jhahandm\ who regulates 
the cuftoms of the port ,* the tamcngeongi or commander in the \var3 ; 
the handabaray or adminiftrator of juftice, and others ; differing in 
number and authority, according to the fiiuation, and importance of the 
kingdom. There islikewife a clafs of officers called ^obshallang i which 
word is ufually tranflated champion,** from their fighting fiagly, when 
required, in the caufe of the prince or noble who maintains them: but 
they may be defcribed, more properly, as ajjdjfmsj who like tbe originals • 
of that name, (in the government of a prince of JJia mlncr^ called the 
** old man of the mountain cotemporary with Richard the firft of 
England) are difpatched by a weak, but arbitrary and blood thirfty mo- 
narch, to execute by furprize and flealth, his commiffions of death; 
removing obnoxious pcrfons, whom he dares not attack openly. In 
common they form the body guard of their mafters, who do not every 
where employ them in thofe fecret fervices. 
The title of datlM is peculiar to the Malay governments, and wherever 
it is in ufe, the people may be diftinguiihed as fuch, Ic has not however, 
proceeded from Malacca^ but from Menangcahow, Bencoolen (Bin* BcDcoolen. 
coukoji near which the Englifli Prefidency of Fort Marlborotigh is 
fituated, and where Fort Ym-k formerly Hood ; is a Malay town, go- 
^ ittf/d was a tick amongft the Datives from the earlieU times. It prcraiis alfb in ^^fim^ but 
whetJkCr adopted from thence by the Haftem people, is uncertain* 
verned 
