A GLANCE AT HHIO. 
71 
effected at one time it is lost when the places of these who may b® 
ameliorated are supplied by others having all their native vices 
about them, and where the total suppression of gambling will 
always remain an engine for corrupting the Police. 
We took leave of Rhio at 3 p. M., and paid a visit to Pulo Pin- 
ingat, or Pinig.it as Begbie has it, in the evening. This island pos¬ 
sesses a considerable population, and is of some note in the Malayan 
Annals of Johore. It contains the palace of the Raja Mud a, one of 
the officers of the former court of Johore; and it was here that the 
regalia attached to the sovereignty of that once powerful kingdom 
and now in possession of the Sultan of Lingin, were deposited. The 
possession of these relics was considered of much importance to 
the British interests previous to our treaty with the Dutch in 1821, 
but they fell into the hands of that nation, whose Commissioner, it 
is related by Capt. Begbie, wrested these insignia of royally from 
their keeper, Tuanku Putri, in' 1823 to bestow them on the ridsf 
who sided with them. The first object of interest that attracts the 
eye is a new fort which the Raja is building for protection against 
the Mamins, as we were informed by his gunner, who conducted us 
over the place, not contented until we had seen every thing, and who 
was very careful to impress on our attention its similarity to the fort 
of Rhio. It is a harmless way of spending money at all events, as it 
is flanked by a higher hill on one side and another of equal height 
on the other. Beneath the fort stands the Raja’s Palace or rather 
house, and, close adjoining, a remarkable mosque which is being 
built by a Chinese convert to Mahomedanism, called Haji Momen. 
The plan is said to be the same as one at Mecca. The Raja was 
busy celebrating the nuptials of his son, and on advancing into the 
enclosed court, we found several thousands of Malays and Chinese 
assembled, creating as much sound, discord, and music, on various 
instruments, as can be well imagined. % 
In the centre of the Court hung a large bell. To the north was 
placed a balei or audience chamber, and, near the south, what was 
taken to be the house of the Raja. From the audience chamber to 
the house there extended a double line of natives dressed uniformly 
and carrying a musket each. Others were in the Malay garb, car¬ 
rying spears adorned with red hair, called tombas. The balei was 
.crowded with people. After the ceremonies were over, the bride- 
