A TRANSLATION OF THE KEDDAII ANNALS. 
9 
MAHAWANGSA ARRIVES IN KEDAH, AND BECOMES RAJA. 
When the ship had been moored, Marong Maliawangs^, 
accompanied by all his chief men and followers, went on 
shore, and in a short while he was visited by very great 
numbers of the very large men ( k ) belonging to the tribe of 
the Girgassi. Now Raja Marong Mabawtmgsa knew the 
Caste of these Girgassi, and he encouraged them by speak¬ 
ing to them in a soft tone of voice. r lhe Girgassi were both 
afraid of him and astonished at his demeanour; and they 
trembled with apprehension, as they had not previous to or 
about that period been used to see his like. Mahawangsa 
addressing the visitors said, “I have put m at this place, 
and if it should be quite convenient to you , I wish to remain 
until I can obtain intelligence of the Prince of Rum , whether 
he be alive or not”* The Girgassi respectfully saluting 
Mahawangsa, replied, “Your servants are all overjoyed at 
your lordship’s request,because we have not established a Raja 
over this place; therefore your highness may select a spot to 
reside on/ 5 Raja Mahawangsd accordingly walked.about, 
followed by his own suite, and all the tribes of Girgassi, 
and at last pitched upon a delightful and convenient spot 
for a residence. Having quitted his ship, he erected a Fort 
with a ditch around it; also a palace, and a very spacious 
Balei or Hall of audience, to which he gave the name of 
Ldnkasukd on account of its having been built in the midst 
of all kinds of rejoicings and festivities, and because objects 
for field sports were abundant, from the chasing of the deer, 
the roe, the palandok ( l ) and the wild ox, to the snaring 
and catching of numerous species of birds, all of which 
loaded the feasts and made glad the hearts of the people. 
other. This I think is a very material point to be kept in view, because, from 
the general import of the Chronicle or History, the wtiter seems rather desirous 
of having it inferred that Keddah had not been visited before—by strangers.^ 
If our author’s description of the Coast of Keddah be a correct one, it will 
also assure us of the fact, that the sea has within the past fire or six hundred 
years made extensive recessions, 0) In order to ascertain if possible if such 
change had been effected, and also with other objects in view, I undertook during 
the year 1847 a rather more toilsome excursion to and made a fuller examination 
of the Keddah country from the British boundary to Furlii than circumstances 
had before admitted of, and I am happy to add, that my observatioDsbave verified 
pretty closely our author’s accounts of localities, and not only in the above in¬ 
stances,but in those which he brings forward in the subsequent parts of his work. 
(*) See some remarks on this subject ante vol. II p, 117. 
(&) The words are oraDg beBar besar— which properly signify 
great men—men of rank. But it seems clear that the author intended by 
them " big powerful men ” they being‘of the tribe of Girgassies. 
(1) The Chevrotin of Buffon. 
B 
