RETORT ON THE ISLAND OF fJANKA. 
331 
ed. The village of Kampak, the principal resort of the R&yads in 
Rankfi, consists of those Chinese who have attached themselves by- 
marriage to these people and live a kind of amphibious life among 
their new connections. Their present chief in Bankfi is descended 
from a Chinese father who was connected with a Rayad by matrimo¬ 
ny, and he is again wedded to the daughter of their former chief in 
this neighbourhood. 
Demang Minyak is in various respects the most notorious charac¬ 
ter the island of Bfinka has hitherto produced. He was born at 
Sungie Ulu about 50 years ago, before the foundation of a regular 
settlement, when this place was the chief resort of the Rayads of 
B&nka. • In his early youth he displayed much vivacity and was en¬ 
gaged by a company of strolling players, who travelled, for the amuse¬ 
ment of their countrymen, through the greatest part of the island. 
As he advanced in age he was noticed by the agents from Plemb&ng 
on account of his capacity, and made himself very useful by his as¬ 
sistance in the foundation of the settlement at Jebus : he was in con¬ 
sequence recommended to the court of Plembang, and having alrea¬ 
dy obtained much influence over the Rayads by his connection with 
the daughter of the former chief, he was regularly appointed to their 
command with the title Demang Surantakka. He is generally 
known by the name of Demang Minyak; he deserves the title of 
Panglima Raman of Banka, which, literally translated, signifies a 
commander of distinction, and the odium which a comparison might 
attach to this name is obliterated by his being lawfully employed. 
This man possessed in a great degree the qualities of his maternal 
ancestors modified by the vivacity of the Chinese; and the same 
qualities which would give him much capacity for mischief as a pi¬ 
rate, have been regulated and controlled. During a long and active 
life he hag been usefully employed in resisting piracy, and one of 
his last exploits in the service of Plembang was the defeat of Pang¬ 
lima Raman whom he encountered on the north side of Banka; af¬ 
ter being severely beaten, Panglima Raman retired to Linga where 
he still remains, without attempting to appear on the seas again. 
Demang Minyak’s latest employment has principally been to res- 
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