Malay Annals. Anonymous

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      From this condition it is that none of the Malay rajas ever expose their Malay subjects to disgrace or shame; they never bind them, nor hang them, nor give them opprobrious language; for whenever a raja exposes his subjects to disgrace, it is the certain token of the destruction of his country: hence also it is, that none of the Malay race ever engage in rebellion, or turn their faces from their own rajas, even though their conduct be bad, and their proceedings tyrannical.

      After this agreement, Damang Lebar Dawn delivered his daughter, Wan Sundaria, in marriage to Sangsapurba, who returned with her to his country. After associating with the raja, it was found that she had escaped the curse of leprosy which had afflicted his former wives; to his great satisfaction, he immediately sent to inform Damang Lebar Dawn of the circumstance, who came with great haste, and was rejoiced to find her in excellent health. In his great joy he requested him to pack up his baggage, and return with him to Palembang. To this proposition Sangsapurba agreed.

      After his return to Palembang, Damang Lebar Dawn ordered a splendid bathing-house to be constructed, and the architect was the aforesaid Bath. This bathing house was named Pancha Presadha, and it had seven stories, and terminated in five towers on the roof. A public festival was then made for the space of forty days and forty nights, which was attended by all the inferior rajas, mantris, seda sidas, or eunuchs, bantaras, champions, and commons in general. There was playing and music on all kinds of instruments that ever were heard of, and what a carnage of buffaloes, kine, goats, and sheep. The heaps of half-burnt rice rejected, lay like hillocks, and the skimming of the foam of the rice-broth stood in little seas; and in these were floating the heads of buffaloes and goats like so many islands.

      After the completion of the forty days and nights, the bathing water was introduced, with all kinds of music and an immense concourse of people, into the bath, adorned with gold and gems; and the husband and wife having, with a great multitude, seven times encircled the bathing-house, afterwards bathed in the highest story, and Bat'h was the person who officiated at the bath. After bathing, they changed their garments, and Sangsapurba arrayed himself in the cloth, derapata deremani, and the queen in that termed burudaimani, after which they entered on the duties of government, and mounted the golden throne of authority, and the state drums were beat.

      He was now installed in state, and all the mantris and champions came to pay their respects to him, and he feasted them in state; and the prince and princess eat with them, and Bat'h inserted the Panchawa Panchara, on the temples of the royal pair. Sangsapurba then assumed the sovereignty of Palembang and Damang Lebar Dawn was appointed mangku bumi.

      It happened on a certain day, that the river of Palembang brought down a foam-bell of uncommon size, in which appeared a young girl of extreme beauty. The raja being informed of the circumstance, ordered her to be brought to him. This was done, and the raja adopted her as his daughter. She was named Putri Tunjong-bui, or the Princess Foam-bell. The prince was extremely fond of her. By the queen Wan Sundaria, he had four children, two of them daughters of uncommon beauty, the one of whom was named Putri Sri Devi, and the other Putra Chandra Devi. Two of them were sons, of whom one was named Sang Mutiaga, and the other Sang Nila Utama.

      It was now noised all over the world, that the descendant of Raja Secander Zulkarneini, of the race of Hindostan, had descended on the mountain Sagantang Maha Mini, and was now in the land of Palembang. All were astonished at the report, and it even spread so far as the land of China. Then the raja of China sent to Palembang, to Raja Sangsapurba ten prows, to ask his daughter in marriage. They brought with them as presents three bahars of gold, and a great quantity of articles of China. Along with them one hundred male Chinese slaves, and a young Chinese of noble birth; a hundred female Chineses; all to convey the raja's letter to Sangsapurba.

      They reached Palembang, and delivered the letter of the raja of China, in the most respectful manner, in the hall of audience. The letter was read and comprehended, and Raja Sangsapurba consulted with his warriors, whether it would be proper or improper. They were all of opinion, that if the request were not complied with, the safety of the country would be endangered; " besides," said they, " there is no greater prince than the raja of China, nor of more noble extraction, whom she could get for her husband, nor is there any country greater than the land of China." " Then" said Sangsapurba, "if you approve of it, we will grant his request, in order to promote the friendship between the Malay and the Chinese rajas."

      Accordingly the elder princess, named Sri Devi, was delivered to the Chinese ambassador, together with a letter, stamped with the signet Kampen, desiring the ambassador to take notice, that when a paper signed with a similar stamp, should arrive in China, they might depend on its being sent by him or his descendants, the Malay rajas, but not to credit any other. The Chinese mantri was highly gratified. The young Chinese of noble birth, remained in Palembang, and became greatly attached to Raja Sangsapurba, who likewise had a great affection for him, and wished to settle him in marriage with the Putri Tunjong-bui.

      The Chinese ambassador left with this young nobleman one of his prows, and took his leave of the raja, who honoured him with a rich change of dress. He returned to China, the raja of which was highly gratified with the daughter of the raja, from the mountain Sagantang, and treated her with the dignity due to her rank and family. She in due time produced a son, from whom are descended the royal race who reign in China at the present time.

      After Raja Sangsapurba had remained a long time quiet in Palembang, he was seized with the desire of viewing the ocean. He summoned Damang Lebar Dawn, and the rest of his chiefs, and informed him of his intention to go and look out for a fine situation to found a new settlement. Damang Lebar Dawn very obligingly offered to accompany him, as he did not wish to be separate from him. Prows were accordingly prepared, and the younger brother of Damang Lebar Dawn was directed to remain in the government of Palembang.

      According to some, the noble Chinese who had married Tunjong-bui, was made raja of the upper country of Palembang, and had the command of all the Chinese in Palembang. The present rajas of Palembang are all descended of this family. The younger brother of Damang Lebar Dawn had, according to the same authority, the command of Lower Palembang.

      These arrangements being made, Raja Sangsapurba embarked in a golden galley, and his queen in a silver galley, accompanied by Damang Lebar Dawn, with all his mantris, seda-sidas, bantaras, and champions. The forms of the prows were so various as to defy description; their masts like tall trees, and their standards like the floating clouds, and the royal umbrella like a dark cloud; and the number of vessels almost filled the seas.

      After setting sail from the river of Palembang, they sailed towards the south; and after six days and nights, they arrived at Tanjongpura, where Sangsapurba was very honourably received by the raja and a thousand of his chiefs, who introduced him into the country, seated him on the throne, and honoured him like a prince.

      Intelligence of his arrival soon reached Majapahit, stating that the raja, who had descended from the mountain Sagantang Maha Miru, was now at Tanjongpura; and the bitara (awatara) of Majapahit went to visit Sangsapurba. The raja of Majapahit was at this time very powerful, and of very noble extraction; and as recorded in stories, he was descended from Putra Samara Ningrat.

      When he arrived at Tanjongpura, he paid his respects to Sangsapurba, who received him graciously, and gave him in marriage his daughter, Chandra Devi, the younger sister of the princess of China. After his marriage, he returned to Majapahit; and it is from this marriage that the rajas of Majapahit are descended.

      After a long residence in Tanjongpura, Raja Sangsapurba set out again in search of some other country for a settlement. But he first married his son Sang Muttaya to the daughter of the raja of Tanjongpura, and established him on the throne as raja of Tanjongpura, and gave him a crown adorned with gems, pearls, and diamonds. After leaving Tanjongpura, Sangsapurba set sail and traversed СКАЧАТЬ