SUMATRA, S/O^ 
The government of the country is divided into a number of petty chief- GovenimeBi, 
fliips, the heads of which, llylcd rajas ^ arc feldom dependant upon any 
fuperbr power ; but enter into aflbciadons with each other, particu- 
larly rhofe of the fame tribe, for mutual defence and fecuricy, againft 
any diftant enemy* They are extremely jealous of the increafe of each 
others jKJWer, and on the flighteft pretejct a war breaks out between, 
them. The foreej however* of diflerent r^^pongs is very unequ^ii, and 
fome rajas poffefs a much more extenfive fway than others ; and it mufl: Power of the 
needs be fo, for every man who can get a dozen followers, and two or "^^^^ ^^^*' 
three niuil;.ets, fcts up for independence, and fcarcely acknowledges any 
{upcrior. In the two dillricts of Ancela and MandecUngy there appears fome 
exception to this general defeat of fubordination, as chey have each a 
fove reign raja over all the tribes j but tBeir power is nominal merely, 
the great vaffals acknowledging little fubje<flion, but when it fuics their 
inclination, or intereft*' Inland of a place called Sokum^ great refpe^t 
was paid to a female chief, or mei^ whofe jurifdidion comprehended 
and uncontroi'erteil noioriety in the Ifland : I have talked on the fubica with natives of the 
country, who acknowkilg* the ptafiicc, and become aihamed of it when thzj have refidtrti among 
more humanized peopJe : li ha* bein mj chance i& have had no kfs than three brothers, chie& 
of the frttlements of Natai and Tappmostyt wliere their intercourfe wiih the Baitas is daily, 
and yifho all affure me of the tnith of it ; The fame account I have had from ether gcmlemen 
whohHd«|wat, or fuperior opportunities of knowing tJje cuHoms of tjie people j and all their 
relation* agree in every material point ; A rcfid«it of TaJ>panc^.y (Mr. Bmdley) fined zraja a 
few years fuxce* for having a prifoner eaten tQO. dofe to the company's fetllement; Mr. Alejt* 
ander Hail irmtlc a charge ifl his (iuUic accounts of a, fum paid to a raja in die country, to induce 
him lo fpare a man whom Mr. Hali bad feen preparing for a viQim : Mr, Charles Miller, in. 
the journal before quoted, fays '* In the fap^cu, or houfc \vl«:re tlic raja receives Grangers we 
faw a man's Ikull hanging up, which the raja told us was placed there as a trophy, it being the 
{hull of an enemy they had taken pri Toner, whole body (according to the cuftom of the Bmaiy 
thry had eaten about rwo months before- Thus the experience of later days is found to agree 
iwhhthe uniform teftimony of old writers ; and though I am aware that each and every- of tiiefe 
proofs, taken iSngSy, may admit of fome cavil, yet in the aggregate I think they amount to fatif- 
£a£lory evidence, ?nd fuch as may induce any perfon not very incredulous, to admit it as a fa£t, 
that human flefh is eattri by inliabiiants of Sumatra, as we have po^tive authority it i« by Inha- 
bitanM of tfi^ ZgaJwtd. 
• Tlie nephew is faid to fucceed to the place of Raja, m preference to the fon. 
thai ihi« unaccouD table rule b oblcrved in feme other pacii of the eaA* 
4H 
I bare heard 
maay 
