266 
A TRANSLATION OP THE KEDDAH ANNALS. 
there was any one else fighting, and on their way they found 
the R3j& concealed and destitute of clothes behind the tree. 
They gave him part of their dresses and escorted him into 
the audience hall. Here they had all the broken arms col¬ 
lected, and here they learned the cause of the uproar, and the 
real conduct of the Raja, and his horrid propensity to eat the 
hearts and blood of his subjects, whether they were criminals 
or innocent persons, and that he had quite abandoned himself 
to this authropophagism. 
The four ministers having consulted amongst themselves, 
proceeded one night into the Rajd’s presence, who just come 
out to hold his court. These ministers thus spoke—“May it 
please your highness to cease from slaying your subjects in 
this manner. We have constant and loud complaints from 
mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, of your cruel be¬ 
haviour. ’ “My lords, I desirefhat you will not again address 
me on this subject. I am resolved to continue executions as 
hitherto.” “If this be your majesty’s sentiments, then it is 
plain that some time hereafter our own families and descendants 
will be sacrificed. When your highness shall have driven all 
the strangers out of iCedda, and the ryots shall have sought 
safety in other countries, where then, may we ask your high¬ 
ness, will you find people to attend you and obey your be¬ 
hests? Where we ask, after you shall have eaten the flesh, 
hearts and blood of the remnant that may have not escaped ?*’ 
“ It replied the R£ja, it should thus come to pass and that I 
shall be left alone, what can I say then, but that I must pa¬ 
tiently continue alone. If I cannot find people to kill, then 
I will leave off the custom you complain against.” “If your 
highness determines thus to persist in opposing us four, we 
have no course open, but to oppose and resist your highness, 
tor no such practice ds that of eating the fleshy hearts and 
blood of men , was ever heard of from the days of your 
forefathers up to your highness’s reign.” 
“Well, my lords, if it is your intention to attack and try to 
kill me, then we shall resist you to the utmost of our power.” 
The four chiefs hereupon descended from the audience hall; 
and while so doing said to his highness—“ We advise your 
highness to strengthen the defences of the fort and ditch, for 
we will certainly attack you, and this be assured will we do 
without fail.” Raja Bersiyong now entered his palace and 
acquainted his wife and concubines, and all the inmates and 
persons present, with the intended attack of the ministers and 
the alleged cause for it. He also directed all his officers who 
were in the fort to have the guns ready on the ramparts, and 
to bring forth and place in readiness all the other arms ; and 
