The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-16
CHAPTER XIV.
LOVE AND WAR.

Ihe beet oil I4keamlna was standing out 10
sea. The keels of the great prahus were blowing
gently the shallow Java sea. The outrageous
terraced high lands OF the sacred Isle of Jah were
fading in the distance. The great hero, now
resting from his Jayan exploits, was reposing in
his cabin, and thinking not of warlike achieve
ments in the past or to come; but dwelling fondly
on the memory of bis beloved Princess whom he
left at MenaDgkabau.
Suddenly the reverie of the Chief was disturbed
by a loud and angry order to some one in a boat
to let go, or be sunk alongside. Then the Chief
heard words Of piteous entreaty, in a boylsh tone,
to be allowed TO come on board, and to serve the
great Chief. Again there was i'm angry order
from the Captain of the prahu, and as men pro-
eeeded to execute the command. the bOyish voice
exclaimed 80 great Chief OF MeDangkabau, let
me serve thee "
Then Laksamana looked astern and saw a small
sampan, in which were two boys, attached to the
prahu. The great heart of the hero felt COM
passion for these youths, and also had i curiosity
to know their object, and he ordered them on
board. The speaker of the two, u graceful. sleiI
der youth, OF handsome features, yet with 4 COM
plexion that was darkened and d sisured By come
artificial tint, and whose features were partially
concealed by a heavy turban or head-dress, when
in the presence of the great hero came forward
and made low obeisance at his feet.
LaksamaDa spoke kindly, saying My child,
why hast thou left thy land, ana stolen away
from thy mother to perish among war-ships?
The youth replied in a musical-toned voice
50 Great Chief, the renown OF tile Prince of Me-
nangkabau has filled all the land of the Javans
and Sundese, and the great Prince is their Prince,
whom they desire to serve. The slave that now
stands before the great Chief felt in his heart to
follow him, to serve him, and to die for him. He,
with his cOmrade, jumped into a sampan and
made fast to the great prahu when she weighed
anchor. o Chief, do not send us back to the
shore. Order us to be cast into the sea to the
sharks, if thou will not have us serve thee :"
Then the Captain of the prahu demonstrated
with the great Chief and said it would not be
polite to keep these runaways from shore, and
furthermore urged that there was no duty on
board for which they were suited.
But the heart of the great hero had been
touched by the expression oil devotion OF the
youth, and he recalled a likeness Of one he had
seen before but could not tell where. lie on his
part demonstrated with the Captain. He said the
boys would perish in their Trail sampan, aud
would not reach the shore, as the island was now
nearly out of sight, and a threatening night was
setting in. He said the boys might wait on him.
although he had disdained servitors heretofore.
And the Captain reluctantly yielded to the wish
of the great Chief, and a place was assigned for
the two youths near the cabin of Laksamana.
The one who had spoken was evidently q youth
OF some rank, and the other was of inferior class
and a slave. The first one said his name was
Langhi Btu, or Star Of Heaven. The great hero
felt not only compassion, but a warm interest
towards this youth. He said he should read the
Bratayuda, the great poem of the Javan poet
Ampusada, to him and at times he should serve
him with the betel nut and the siri leaf, 80 much
chewed in the Malay islands, and should perform
other services near his person.
After n time LaksamaDa arrived with his teet
off the Island of Ternate. This is one of five
islands called the Moluccas, which have been
famous for their production of cloves. nutmegs,
and other spices. The other four islands of this
group are named Tidori, Mortier, Makian, and
Bachian. These islands are on the western border
OF the Pacific Ocean and it is evident from SINH
larity of language and customs to the Hawaiian
people, that at some remote period Adventures
from the Moluccas, as well as other Malay islands,
discovered and settled islands of Polynesia, espe-
cially the New Zealand, Tahitian and Hawaiian
groups.
At this time the King of Ternate was the SOW
ereign Maha or Moi of the Molucca group al
though his island is one of the smallest. But he
was a Chief of great energy and Inc had induced
the other Chiefs to form an allied force to resist
the expected invasion or intrusion OF Laksamana.
The Moluccans were at that time a brave and
warlike people, and had determined to resist the
imperial dictation OF Menangkabau.
The King Of Ternute had assembled a great
feet. manned by about thirty thousand warriors,
off the port of Ambun or Amboyna, in the Island
of Hitu. Laksamana had a much smaller force
of warriors, yet lie besitated not to give battle.
HIS men had learned TO conide in his prowres*
and uniform success, and they knew that he
never counted the number of his enemies. Laksa-
mana was, however, hard pressed i'll this battle.
His great ship and the royal champaka flag OF
Menangkabau were conspicuous, and the King Of
Ternate had commanded q dozen of his great
war prahus to drive at L~aksamana's vessel, and
TO destroy him at once.
A large portion Of the men on the great prahu
of Laksamana had been slain early in the action
by the arrows and slings of the enemy, and while
he was struggling to rally his small force, his
vessel was set on fire. The flames spread rapidly.
Laksamana was urged by his officers to escape In
a swift boat; but Laksamana had never turned
his back upon a foe. lie sprang into a boat with
ten men, not to escape, but To attack the youth
Langhi Btu, following Laksamana. The Chief
ordered the boat to pull towards the great prahu
of the King of Ternate and when the men of the
feet of Ternate saw this they cried out, = Behold,
the great Chief of Menangkabau comes to sur
render to our King"
But L~aksamana soon changed this cry. When
alongside the royal war ship Of Ternate, he,
avoiding the gangway. where he wa- awaited by
"A guard in force and with long bambros it'll hooks
at the end, made fast to the bulwnrkS. and lie
hauled himself up ard sprang on board with the
agility of a monkey, his men following him.
When he alighted upon the deck OF the fernate
war prahu he shouted his terrible bu. tie cry and
struck death around him ut every blow of his
heavy, fateful sword. He and his devoted little
band of braves made u sudden and fearful slaughter
among the surprised and terrified men Of the rci-
nate ship. They fed, some below decks and e.n'
over the side of the ship, exclaiming as they fed,
a. lie is a god, and not a man, and we cannot fight
against him
In a little while Laksamana was master of the
prahu, and being reinforced, he made the King
OF Ternate a prisoner in the cabin of his own ship;
and when the yellow, howery flag Of Menang-
kabau was hoisted to the maintOp of the royal
prahu of Ternate, there arose a great shout of
triumph from the feet of Laksamana; and the
men of Menangkabau and their allies Of Java,
being now encouraged by the marvellous success
Of their great leader, made with renewed courage
a more aggressive attack upon the Moluccan feet.
and the MUluccan warriors being now utterly
confuunded and discouraged by the surrender OF
their royal war prahu, gave way on all sides, and
many Of their vessels were captured or destroyed
despair.
The triumphant fleet, led by the royal war
prahu, over which Aoated the Champaka banner
of Menangkabau, came to anchor in the Bay OF