4t 
RfiMBAU. 
RimbaVy originally an ofishoot of Sungei Uiun<rj has long been one of 
tlie juQst populous and important of these small interior States, especially 
in so fjtr m Mnlaj's are concern ed. It is known^ by enumeration of houies 
in 1881-, to contain 12,000 inhabitants, silinoat all Makyan. Are:t about 
400 square raiks. 
It is not only the best known, but is, in every respecf, at pre- 
sent the most important of all tb?se small States, especijilly iu ita popula- 
tion and in its independence of spirit. Physi cully speaking, Bembiu h 
but an extension of tbe plain of Malacca, with no natural boundaries, ex- 
cept at one or two points, to separate the two countries. In tuct, until 
fifty years ago, the portitm of Malacca nearest to Rembau, called Ndfiing, 
ivas itself an independent State. It has never shown the lea.^t desire to 
revert to its former condition. Except perhaps to the tribal heads, or 
Lhnhdria^ the transfer cim have mattered little. 
Products^ Inhabiiants, Sfc. — ^The inhabitants are now mainly of Suma- 
tran race, and immigrated principally in the seventeenth century, for rea- 
sons unknown. I'hey probably reached Rembau by the Linggi river, al- 
thou^^b their tradition says by the a\[alacc.\ river and Nftiiing. The prin- 
cipal and almost exclusive industry of the country is and lias always been 
padi-planting, fur which its heavy rainfall is :iu advantage, lu recent yearSj 
tapioca bas been cultivated by the Chitiese, wliieh has raateriaily increased 
the profiperity of its people. Tin is known to exist in some quantity, 
especially in the river Pedas, but the prejudices of tbe people have hi- 
therto prevented mining. 
The soil and physical configuration of RSmbau generally resemble 
those of NAning. The cour-try is of an undulating charai'ter, the depres- 
sions being mostly jjlantcd with " sawah," or wet padi-fields. l^ukit 
B&sar is the only mountain in the country, exclusive of the ranges wliicli 
divide it from Sungei Upng, Sri M^uanti and Johol. 
The padi-fiekis are extensive, but are now a gnod deal out of cultiva- 
tion, owing to the fatal cattle di.scusc wliicli h is raged during the last tlir^'C 
years, and has carried olf almost all the bntfalocs. 
Boundfirii'H. — The lioundarics of Renibau are not very well defined. 
Those with Malacca territory are the places named in the Treaty cif 
the 9th January, 1883, and the K^mban branch of the Linggi, above 
Sempang, 
The boundary with Sungei TJjong was fixed in 1881 as follows ; — 
from Sempang to Bukit Mandi Augin, Perhentian Tiuggi, and Gunung 
Angsi. 
T!)e boundary on the inland side ttj wards Sri Menanti and Johol Iiaa 
shifted from time to time ; liunung PAsir, whicli is now unrter Sri Mi^- 
nanti, is claimed as properly belouging to Eembau, though in Nkwbqld's 
time (1833) itwassaidto have originally belonged to Johol; this is confirmed 
by the aborigines, who arc perhaps the best authorities on such a point, 
The boundaries with Sri M^nanti are said to be Giinong Tujoh, and 
Gunong Lipat K^jang, and those with Johol, BAtu G^jah and Gunong Dato', 
