24 A NANINO BECITAL. 
The Javanese, however, claim the names Perpati and 
Tumungong as appertaining to two high officers still extant 
in that country, viz. Pati, a minister, and Tumungong, an 
inferior sort of ruler and magistrate. The latter of these titles 
is in common use in Malayan countries; for instance, the 
Tumungong of Johore.” 
The word sila is used as a numeral coefficient for Chief- 
tains — an interesting use not, I think, recorded in dictionaries. 
16. Lines ll/l-Uflf This pantun seems to be a commonplace for 
deprecation of a Raja’s wrath ; it is used bv the midwives in 
the Hikayat of Awang .Sulong Merab Muda (Malay Literature 
Series, No. 5). 
17. Line 1^5. The ‘ climber ’ ( sigai ) is a bamboo pole by which 
the tapper climbs to tap the blossom of the palm ( mayang ) 
for the sugar-juice; two poles to one tree imply either a thief 
or a disputed claim: in Naning the line is a proverb for a 
lady with a lover as well as a husband. (See Malay Proverbs, 
42, in Journal No. 67). 
18. Lines ISO-183. For a discussion of the Adat Temenggong 
see Papers on Malay Subjects, Law, Introductory Sketch (Wil- 
kinson). Mr. Wilkinson considers that the Adat Temenggong 
is simply the Adat Perpateh — the true law of the Malays — in 
a state of disintegration after exposure to the influence of 
Hindu despotism and Moslem Law, and administered on auto- 
cratic lines. 
The 1 dat Temenggong is, in fact, the law of a sea-faring 
mercantile community; the Adat Perpateh is the democratic 
Custom of an inland folk away from foreign intercourse. 
Hence the well known proverb 
Bodoh Menanglcaba/u yang tiada menumpoh laut 
(Stupid the Menangkabau folk that have no footing 
on the sea) 
— a proverb very pleasantly illustrated by a Rabelaisian 
dialogue in Tja'kap-tjakap Rampai-rampai (Batavia, 1868). 
19. Lines 186-202. These lines, describing Malay forest where the 
upper waters of a river narrow to rapids, are one of the most 
famous passages in Malay literature; fragments appear in 
many forms in many Hikayat. 
20. Lines 205-212. The strange fowl, observing everything and 
visible to all, is a symbol of the mild democratic Ackit Per- 
pateh, impartial, even-handed, and understood of every 
peasant. 
21. Lines 217-219. The principle of reparation and restitution 
under the Adat Perpateh extended even to crimes of homicide. 
See Rembau, page 27 : 
‘ Death is regarded by the Custom as a diminution of 
tribal wealth. Hence in the case of murder an equivalent 
return was exacted from the murderer’s tribe : not the death 
Jour. Straits Branch 
