158 A JOURNEY IN THE MENANGKABAU STATES 
reached the mountains which separate the state of Johole 
from that of Rumbau: we crossed them between Tamping 
and Beraga. These mountains, though entirely covered with 
jungle, present in several places a fine prospect, and offer to 
the consideration of the traveller several beautiful s r reams 
and rivulets carrying a limpid water amongst large stony 
blocks. 
At three o’clock p,m. we found ourselves in the kingdom 
of Rumbau. This state stretches itself out in an extensive 
plain, terminated on the south by the Company’s territory, 
on the east by the mountains which bear its name, on the 
west by Salangore, and on the north by Sungey Ujong. 
This plain is in great part occupied by paddy fields, and 
inhabited by nine thousand souls, which is the amount of 
the whole population of the state. We walked in that plain 
two hours before we reached the house of the chief termed 
Panghulu, who resides at a place called Chunbong. We 
met that dignitary at our entering his house ; he is an 
intelligent looking person of from forty to fifty years old, 
simple and free in his manners, and seems to be a Malay 
of good education. We were received by him with re¬ 
markable politeness ; a servant was at once appointed to 
attend upon us, and we were abundantly supplied with re¬ 
freshments. 
We had in that place an opportunity of observing the way 
in which justice is done in Malay countries. The usual 
hour at which the chief of Rumbau holds his Court and 
administers justice, is about seven or eight o’clock at night ; 
he fulfils this duty conjointly with the high priest of the 
state. 
On the day of our arrival, about the above mentioned 
hour, the chief or king went to the extremity of the ve¬ 
randah, to a place arranged somewhat in the fashion of a 
throne, where he placed himself in the centre j I was near him 
on his right hand, and the Rev. Mr Borie on his left: the 
high priest stood outside the throne, and many persons 
placed themselves in the verandah. We had already spent 
about an hour in friendly conversation, when there arrived 
a dignitary of the state termed oyang besar , great man ; he 
was accused of some mischief, (it appeal's the affair was not 
of great importance ) The two parties, complainant and 
defendant, made three prostrations, touching the ground 
with their heads, and came to kiss the hands of the king, 
after which they went to take their places at some distance 
before the throne. 
