The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-09-30
CHAPTER XVII.

which Sapidin's forces, strove in vain to dislodge
them. The soldiers of Jahat had bows Of very
long range, and shot arrows, SO thick and fast,
that the men of Sapidin were repulsed again and
again, in their attempts to storm the walls
and dislodge Jabat and his army. The King
Of Mia was preparing TO retreat to another point
al recruit his army, when be heard a mighty
81 ut, and saw great confusion 10 the camp oil
Jahat, which was oecasiOned by Laksamana and
his troops attacking the intrenched army within
the lines of it's ratification.
Laksamana's towering and terrible form was
now visible amid the dust of the battle, moving
about like a destroying god. His voice was like
the roar Of distant thunder, as he cried out,
Down with the coward-the woman abductor
and tormentor His great sword swung and
q ,zhed IN the air like a meteor darting
across tie face Of heaven and wherever il fell a
li'eless body fell, and the lie al II man passed away.
AT every blow he l"Pp,d Oh a head. or would
cleave it open down through neck and shoulders.
He cut through ranks of men like u strong-work-
er walking through rows OF came and topping of
the heads. And lie soldiers fled before him like
sheep fleeing from ( attack u a wolf
By this onsiau5i, nf La~ksumana, so sudden
and so unexpected. and from a quarter whence
Jahat had been expecting help, he and his sol
diers were completely distracted and demoraiized.
So that King S.lidin taking advantage OF the
confusion into which the troops OF Jahat had been
thrown, was enabled to storm the entertainments,
dislodge the troops. and after a short struggle
eDteT Tue OIiy u u NlcLduShdUdu-
Ii was in the struggle of the Stormins at the
great gate that Laksa mana and Shpidin met. The
old King OF Nj looked grand with u golden hei-
met ON his head, whilst the Hero looked terrible
IN his tiger skin, and covered with tlood and
dust. The King cried out, sWhere is my daugh-
ter?" To which Laksamana replied, " Safe. D
my King, in the Palace. But let US hasten To
slay Jahat, and make Sri Rama our prisoner.
And the two warrior. chiefs led onward their
troops towards the great Castle of the city.
As the conquering chiefs approached the great
Castle Of Islander, they were met by a herald,
and an officer bearing a letter from King
Sri Rama unto King Sapidin. In this letter
King Rama crayed forgiveness for the wrong he
had done unto The Princess Umba and the great
chief Laksamana. and he declared that he would
make compensation unto them, and unite the
great chief Sapidin. with his treasures and his
lands. and with the services of his people.
Then the King OF Mia sent back a message la
the King of Menangkabau, saying: That ie, Sa-
pidin, did not come to Sumatra for land or treas
ures; he was content with lis own island; and
that his daughter, the Princess Umba and the
chief Laksamana could not be compensated for
the outrages they had suffered. with any land or
treasures in the Kings gift. In only one way
lay peace with these terms. The marriage of
the Princess Umba and the chief Laksamana
should be celebrated in the Palace OF the Forty
Towers, with the highest honors accorded to the
blood oi Alexander. Laksamana should be de-
clared Commander in Chief of the armies OF
Menangkabau. He should sit next to Sri Rama
on the throne, and be declared the heir Of the
King OF Kings OF all the Malay People.
These were bitter terms to the mind Of Sri
Rama. But when told that Jahat, his comman-
der. was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy,
and as he was altogether in the power of Saridin
and his sOn-in-law, he reluctantly consented to
the terms OF peace.
Then the troops of King Sapidin took possess
sion Of the Castle of Iskander, although the royal
flag oil Sri Rama was not lowered. This wicked
King was allowed to retire unm0lested to the
chambers OF his Palace. Many officers OF Sapidin
cDunseled that Sri Rama should be put to death.
but Laksamana would not listen to such counsel,
saying there was nothing to fear from so weak a
King. and they must not shed the blood OF a
descendant of Alexander.
King Sapidin and the great Chief now FASTENED
To end the Princess Umba. She was in the royal
chambers of the Palace, where she had been
praying for the safety of her lord. When she be-
held the two Chiefs, she first flung her arms
around her Iather's neck, and then around her
lover +. Aud they both clasped her, and wept
together.
And alter "a time the beautiful koinala came
forward and knelt down at the feet of the Prin-
cess Umba. and kissed her hand. and thus spoke,
as tears streamed down her checks o, most
noble Princess. pardon me for the wicked decep-
ton | practiced against your lord. the great Chief
Laksamana. | deceived him with a poisonous
drink that stupefed his senses. and caused him to
fall into the hands Of his enemies, but it was moi
my will to do 80, but by order of one who had
the right To Command me-
To which the Princess Umba graciously re-
plled: Fear not. that | blame You for the
poisoned drink. That was not your gift. You
we've hut IA messenger. But | may fear the en-.
chantnent Of your eyes on my lord" At which
words the Lady Komala embraced the Princes
Umba. saying. Fear not, gracious Princess, foI
your lords love, for lie is IA god. He loves not
for beauty and pleasure, but his love grows as hs
suffers for the loved one. This, as the ancient
poets say, is as the love Of the gods-Laksamans
is a god"
Then Laksamana was escorted to and placed IN
possession of the superb chambers of the Lion
Tower, and p numerous suite and train of chief,
and soldiers were appointed to wait on him
But he had a guard of the soldiers of Sapi
din. who slept near the doorway Of his chamber
who were his especial body guard. And gar
ments suited to his rank as heir apparent to thu
throne OF Menangkabau were placed upon him
He wore T. coat OF white silk, on the breast were
four stars Of gold, and the skirts were adorned
with bands of gold. A scarlet silk sash wal
wound round his waist, and in this sash werf
held two long dirks of wonderful manufacture
and their hafts were glittering with diamonds
. On his head, when giving audience, he wore a cor
onet of gold, or a circle of seven stars to repre-
sent the seven great states Of Malaysia; and il
the centre over bis brow, was one large star, will
a large diamond in the centre, worth more thar
IA million OF dollars: and this star represented tn
az Nliih1 0bAiC w uANuuhShhOdu
And Laksamana held in his right hand a sceptr'
OF ivory and gold, upon top of which was a COLDER
butterfly. to represent his restoration from a sad
painful and unhappy condition. to one of grea
power and bliss. And Laksamana was proclaim
ed by the Princes of the Empire and by mani
hearlds, who called the people together at tn,
sound of the trumpet.-to be styled, and obeyed
and reverend as Lord, High Chief Laksamana
the favored of the Gods, and Heir and Successor
to the throne of the illustrious SRI Rama, King o
Meuangkabau and King and Emperor of al
Malay Kings and States.
And the Princess Umba was installed in tht
beautiful Pearl Tower near by her Lord. Sh'
had twenty-four princesses and high chiefesses tC
wait upon her, besides a multitude OF waiting
women to perform all the duties pertaining to
grand royal court. When all these court Ladies
were assembled around the Princess Umba. IL
the great pearl chamber Of the Pearl Tower
there was presented an array of wonderful ana
dazl ing beauty. The Princess sat upon u Throne