154 A JOURNEY IN THE MENANGKABAU STATES 
where very little security is found, both from government 
and from private Malays ; however, after we had promised 
that we would avoid every thing which could offend either 
the Malay chiefs or their subjects, in all the places we 
might journey in, two Malays consented to accompany us 
as guides and coolies. 
On the eleventh, at seven o’clock a m., we left Alorgajfi, 
directing our journey toward Johole, the most south east of 
the Menangkabau states. The boundaries of that state with 
the Company’s ground, are formed by a line supposed to be 
drawn from a small mountain called Bukit Putus, passing by 
another called Batang Malacck, and terminating at the foot 
of Mount Ophir. At about eleven we passed the boun¬ 
daries of the Company’s territory a few miles west of Bukit 
Pdtus, and entered a small state called Tamping, from the 
name of a high mountain. Three chiefs termed Panghulus 
rule over this small place. They told me, that they were 
only dependant on Syed Saban, formerly chief of Rumbau, 
now residing at Malacca, though, on the other hand, the 
actual chief of Rumbau, a few days after, declared the 
contrary. By about one o’clock we bad already crossed 
Tamping and passed its boundaries with Johole; we con¬ 
tinued our journey through the jungle till about three o’clock, 
when we found ourselves in a most pleasant place, though 
in the thickest part of the forest. The prospect is not very 
extended, but is however a beautiful one ; there is a small 
valley in which a fine cascade falling from the next eminence 
amongst large rocks, offers to the traveller both excellent 
water to quench his thirst, and one of the finest accommo¬ 
dations to bathe. We rested there about half an hour, and 
then continued our journey until half past four, when we 
found ourselves in a large valley in which lies the kingdom 
of Johole. The whole of the population of that state, which 
is said to amount to about three thousand souls only, in¬ 
habit this valley, which runs nearly in a line f om west to 
east, extending six or seven miles. Several places, where a 
greater number of houses are found more clustered together, 
are termed villages. There are five principal villages, viz., 
Nury, Landang, Iney, Toman and Bennong. Rice is cul¬ 
tivated througl out the valley, which appears very fit for 
such cultivation ; on both sides are the five villages before 
named, and a few other habitations; the rest of the state is 
covered with forest and is almost uninhabited. 
The village at which we arrived is that of Nury, the ordina¬ 
ry residence of the chief, who is termed Panghulu. This 
