48 
MEMOIR OF 
country, where a plain of its own breadth gi-adually 
sinks into its bosom. On the morning following, 
they embarked and reached a town of some conse- 
quence, Simawang, occupying the summit of a hill 
about 500 feet above the level of the lake, and com- 
manding a very extensive prospect. The next morn- 
ing they proceeded to Suruasa, the second city of 
importance, and, by mid-day, obtained the first view 
of Pageauyong, the capital of the Menangkabu coun- 
try, and one of the objects of the excureion. 
From the approach to these cities which had been 
thus passed, it was evident that, at one period, they 
had been of importance. “ But, alas, little was left 
for our curiosity but the wreck of what had once 
been great and populous. The Wagarin trees, which 
shaded and added solemnity to the palace, were still 
standing in all their majesty. The fruit trees, and 
particularly the cocoa nut, marked the boundaries of 
this once extensive city ; but the rank grass had 
usurped the halls of the palace, and scarce was the 
thatch of the peasant to be found. Three times had 
the city been committed to the flames ; well might 1 
say, in the language of the Bi-ata Yudha, ‘ Satl and 
melancholy was her wagarin tree, like the sorrow of 
a wife whose husband is afar.’ ” Several interesting 
inscriptions were discovered here, and a chastely 
carved Hindu image, which, together with the very 
high state of cultivation in the surrounding country, 
were strong arguments in favour of the opinion formed 
by Sir Stamford, that the Malayan empire was not 
