Malay Annals. Anonymous

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ the sea till he arrived at a strait, when enquiring the name of the hill which he saw in view, one of the guides answered, the hill of Lingga,and that the galley had now arrived at the straights of Sambor. The news quickly reached Bentan, that the raja who had descended from the mountain Sagantang had now arrived at the straights of Sambor.

      There was at this time a queen on the throne of Bentan, named Paramisuri Secander Shah, whose husband was dead, and who had a daughter of extreme beauty unequalled at that time, and her name was Wan Sri Bini. The raja of Bentan had been a prince of great might, and had gone to Siam, and the queen governed in his stead. He was the first who established the practice of the royal drums, in which he has been followed by all the rajas under the wind. On receiving this intelligence the princess Paramisuri summoned her chief mantris, named Indra B'hupala and Aria B'hupala, and sent them to invite Sangsapurba with a fleet of 400 prows, directing them that if they found the raja aged they should invite him in the name of his younger sister (Adinda), if young, in the name of his elder sister (Kakanda), and if quite a boy, in the name of his mother (Bonda).

      The messengers proceeded accordingly to Tanjong-rangas, and thence to the straights of Sambor, between which their prows extended in an unbroken line. When they reached the prow of Sangsapurba they saluted him in the name of his eldest sister (Kakanda), and invited him to Bentan. He acceded to the invitation, and was introduced to Paramisuri who had resolved to take him for her husband had he been older; but who finding him still youthful, was contented to be reckoned his sister. However she had a great affection for him and conferred high honours on him. His son Sang Nila Utama, she chose for the husband of her daughter the princess Wan Sri Bini, and he afterwards became raja of Bentan.

      Sangsapurba also gave him a kingly crown, the gold of which could not be seen for the multitude of gems, pearls, and diamonds with which it was studded. He also gave him a royal signet of the same form as the signet Gampa, and with the same letters inscribed upon it. Then Sang-sapurba made his apologies to the Princess Paramisuri Secander Shah, being desirous of looking out for a more extensive country for a settlement, as Bentan was only an island of small extent; but Damang Lebar Dawn remained in Bentan with his grand-son Sang Nila Utama, to whom he was greatly attached.

      When Sangsapurba had left Bentan, he sailed on for a day and a night, till he arrived at Ruco, whence he proceeded to the point of Balang, where he observed a river's mouth of very great extent. He enquired of the guide, what was that river? The guide answered, "the river of Cuantan, and the country is extremely populous. "Let us ascend it," said the raja. It was represented to him that all the fresh water was exhausted, and that there was no place to obtain more.

      Then Raja Sangsapurba directed them to bring rotans and tie them in circles and throw them into the water; then having himself descended into a small boat, he inserted his feet into the water, within the circles of bamboo, and by the power of God Almighty and the virtue of a descendant of Raja Secander Zulkarneini, the water within these circles became fresh, and all the crews supplied themselves with it, and unto this day the fresh water is mixed with the salt at this place.

      Raja Sangsapurba now ascended high up the river Cuantan, and when he arrived at Menangcabow, all the Menangcabows were surprised at his appearance and the splendour of his diadem, and they all came to enquire of his attendants whence they came, and who they were, and "who" said they, " is this raja, and what is his origin? His dress is amazingly elegant." They answered, "this is Raja Sangsapurba, the descendant of Secander Zulkarneini, who descended on the mountain Sagantang Maha Miru. Then they related his whole history and adventures.

      Then all the chief men of Menangcabow consulted about appointing him their raja, since they had none. Then the ancient chiefs desired them first to enquire if he would engage to kill the snake Sacatimuna (Icktimani) which destroys all our cultivation. Then all the chiefs waited respectfully on the raja, and informed him that they considered his arrival as a signal piece of good fortune, and would be happy to appoint him raja, but that they were grievously harrassed by an immense snake, which destroyed their cultivation, which they wished he would oblige them by destroying, which had resisted all their efforts either to cut or pierce without either being stunned or wounded.

      Sangsapurba assented, and requested them to shew him its den. Then a champion, named Peramas Cumambang, was sent by Sangsapurba with his famous sword Chora Samanda Kian, to perform this service. He went accordingly, and as soon as he approached the place, the snake smelling a man, unfolded his coils. As soon as the champion saw it lying with huge coils like a hillock, the snake saw him, and put itself in motion, when the champion smote it with the sword, and cut it into three parts.

      Then the champion came and informed Sangsapurba, and returned him the sword. He was very glad, and extolled his conduct with many praises, and presented him with a royal dress like a raja's son. In this combat, however, the sword Chora Samanda Kian received one hundred and ninety notches. Then all the people of Cuantan appointed Sangsapurba their raja, and he was established raja of Menangcabow, and of him are descended all the generations of the rajas of Pagaroyung unto this day.

      Chapter 3

       Table of Contents

       The story of Sang Nila Utama, who stayed at Bentan.

      SANG Nila Utama remained at Bentan highly enamoured of his wife, Wan Sri Bini. On a day, however, after a long time had elapsed, he was seized with a desire of going to divert himself to Tanjong Bemban, and wishing to carry his young wife along with him, he asked permission of his mother-in-law, the Queen Paramisuri Secander Shah. The queen remonstrated with him, asking what was the need to go to Bemban to divert himself, a place where there was neither elk, nor hog-deer, neither deer nor porcupine, where there was neither variety of fish in the sea, nor sea-flowers on the rocks, where-as there was every kind of fruit and flower in the garden.

      Sang Nila Utama however declared that he had viewed all the streams of Bentan till he was tired; that he had been informed that Tanjong Bemban was a very fine place, and therefore he wished to visit it, and that if he did not obtain permission he wished he might die sitting, die standing, die in every possible kind of way. The princess finding him so obstinate, told him there was no necessity for dying; he might go and take his pleasure. She then ordered Indra B'hupala and Aria B'hupala to prepare for the trip.

      Sang Nila Utama accordingly proceeded with his princess to embark in a galley with three masts, accommodated with a cabin and couch, provided with musquito curtains, together with canoes, cooking apparatus, and apparatus for bathing; and a variety of other canoes in company, and arrived at Tanjong Bern-ban, where they landed to recreate themselves on the sands, and amused themselves by gathering sea-flowers from the rocks. The princess sat under an aloe (Pandan) tree, and all the females of rank around her, delighted with viewing the amusements of her attendants; one of whom brought an oyster, another a cupang (species of oyster), another a bari (species of oyster), another pulled a wild plantain, another the butan leaf to prepare a salad; another collected agar-agar (dulse), for making a relish. Others adorned themselves with the tertam flower, the turn flower and sangey-bre flower, according to their different kinds Some sportively pursued each other, and their feet being caught by the rotan creepers, they tumbled down and again springing up pursued their course.

      Sang Nila Utama, with the men went a hunting, and found great plenty. A deer started before Nila Utama, and he pierced it with his lance through the back. It continued its flight however, and he pursued it and pierced it through and through, so that it died. Then Sang Nila Utama reached a stone of great height and size, on which he mounted and viewed the opposite shore, with its sands white as cotton; and enquiring what sands were these which he saw, Indra B'hupala informed him they were the sands of the extensive country of Tamasak.

      The prince immediately proposed to visit them, and the minister СКАЧАТЬ