The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-14
CHAPTER XIX.

between Laksamana and his Princess bride,
the hero became restless, and desired to be
engaged in come greatwork-to undertake some
notable adventure, or to light some OF the
enemies of his country. And the beautiful
p lcess observed that her lords mind was pre-
coupled with serious and weighty matter and
she lmplored him to tell her the reasons for his
putting on a thoughtful and reserved demeanor.
Thus the hero replied 10 his beautiful Princess
.'My own beloved Thou, that madest me a man,
think not that l am weary OF my sweet wife
But remember that l bear within me the blood
of kings, and shall be a king. and ruler of men
therefore | must take less pleasure, and be more
of a worker and a soldier than other men. L
must not rest quiet 30 long as there are any
wrongs IN the great Island OF Sumatra. and
among the Malay people which should be re-
dressed. And tnnu, q Umba, must he a true
queen, and help me To DO my duty as u leader and
a father Of the Malay people
The princess clIsped her arms round the chief .
neck ,exclaimins;--My lird and my king-Thou
must d. 2 god ~btk, and the gods will take
care OF thee
There was al ,uciemt chief minister. who had
served the tn. me of Menangkabau for many
years ia past times. whose name was Ferdano
Mantri. Tie had been the trusted Councillor of
King Sri Pati, and when this king was impris-
oned the wise minister had fed to the home OF
friends IN a remote part of the kingdom but
now that his beloved master was restored to
power again lie came :orth. aud Was restored to
place by the throne. The mobiles of Menang-
kabau feared Ferdano MantrI, because they
wanted the kingdom Of Menangkabau to form
alliances with the kings OF the island of Java,
and with the kings of Malacca and Johore, on
the Malay Peninsula. These mobiles received
gifts and great advantages from the sOvereigns OF
these several foreign countries but Ferdano
Mantri was devoted faithfully to the people of
Menangkabau, and could not be approached with
gifts; therefore wa he hated by the mobiles and
rich men of the Kingdom. They tried to pre-
JUDGE the mind of Lsksamana against Ferdano
Mantri. Said they "He is a dangerous man-he
seeks absolute power, then he will he betray the
King and sell the country" But Lakasmana
was not deceived. And he said to these mobiles
and wealthy men ''Ferdano Mautri has had no
Office for many years he is poor in property.
and has always been the friend of the people
but YOU mobiles. aud rich men, you have held all
the Ofices and emOluments OF the country Tor
these many years, and you regret to lose your
hold. 1t is you who would sell, or surrender,
the independence of Menangkabau to Java, or
Malacca. L know you, and | will not trust you.
l will trust Ferdano Mantri, the Kings constant
friend, and the true friend Of the Malay people +"
Then the mobiles and men of influence of Menang-
kabau sought in every way to injure the charac-
ter OF the old minister but it was of no avail.
as Laksamana con6ded in Ferdano Mantri. and
the old King placed all power in the hands OF
L~aksamana, as his grandson and heir to the
throne.
Then the great hero held council with Ferdano
Mantri, and discussed what was best to do for the
welfare of tie kingdom. And the minister then
spoke to him : These, o great chief, are some
OF the troubles and dangers of the kingdom
Merchants of Java and Malacca have come and
got possession of our best lands and the rich
people of Menangkabau join hands with these
foreign merchants. Thou must, o, chief, help the
poor Malay people, and save them from the
rapacIty of the foreign merchants, and the
t~reackery of their own MOBILES"
Il wall or let Ariuno destroy me . u" cried out
Laksamaua.
And besides the foreign merchants said
Ferdano Mantri. " 9 who cheat our people Sc
cretly there are foreign pirates from the island
o fJava, who rob our people openly
Il will slay the robbers; and imprison the
trading cheats , cried out Laksamana.
And behold, o chief continued Ferdano
Mantri, " that our rich and beautiful country is
covered in some large tracts with a dense forest
which is a secure cover for numberIess tigers
who destroy many of the people
" will open up the forests and destroy the
tigers, exclaimed Laksamana.
Furthermore - said Ferdano Mantri, 'the
forests conceal multitudes of wild men, who
carry off and abuse Malay women"
THE Malay women shall be sale. while | live,
and love Il Malay woman" said tie Hero.
=" And now l lear to speak OF a great danger
10 the country" Ferdano Mantri spoke in a
low tone-almost in a whisper. 1.-The grear
glantesses, who come from tie forests of Asia
from the Dewa-nagarI 1.-THE Sacred Land). the
AAh-''- 0O W.
assembled to the number of many hundreds, il
the dense forest of the Batta land to the north
and tie, demand tribute from the king, and the
sacrifice Ut many of our best men. 1t has beer
customary to send twenty piculs of gold (aboui
half il million doll lrs) one hundred silk vestments
and fifty young men, as annual tribute to propi
tiate Glomira the Queen Of the Rakshashas.
land why are the young men sent " de
manded Laksamana.
Alas " said the old councillor, . this lie
draodTnl disvraoe m the KinudOrn nf MANN,
kabau. These young men are sent as an Offering o
slaves 10 the Rakshashas. who abuse them al
, they please; and afterwards, if they permit any on,
= of them to live, they cut out their tongues, ant
{ then these mutes become the slaves who wait OF
the giantesses."
. Laksamana strobe about making Indiguan
gestures when he heard all this, and he said
IL will attack this last named and most feareC
enemy the first and no more Malay young mel
shall be sent as slaves to these monsters o
. women
Ferdano Mantri, replied : Thou, o chief
art the favored Of Arjuno. Thou must seek tn,
help of the great goddess in this matter
When the Princess Cmba heard the resoIy,
e of her great lord to go and attack the might.
: Rakshashas, she was overwhelmed with grIe
and fear and Laksamans found his belovec
: weeping. And when she told him her grea
h fear, he replied /:
e." Think o darling OF my life, how must
d, prove myself worthy to be a king. Must | liv,
easy, ana daily IN pleasure IN your sweet arm
/, alone? Would not ny beloved princess despis'
me if [ continued to do so? We chiefs, who
may have great joy and glory, have great duty
/ must not live in ease and pleasure whilst one
Malay subject of Menangkabau may be in danger
5 and my proud and noble Umba. who has suffer
4 ed so much with me, must help me now"
The Princess Umba casped her arms round
the neck of her chief, and said, weeping my
1 chief is a true king and a father of the people
must not, L will not, be weak. | will help my
lord to do what his high soul commands him tc
do as his duty"
When Laksamana had declared his purpose tc
attack Glomira the mighty Queen Of the Rak.
shashas, he at the same time called upon the
mobiles Of the kingdom to volunteer TO serve
against the terrible enemy. But all held back
and even the common people and soldiers feared
To seryc Laksamana In fighting the dread giant
ssses. The suldlers all cried ont ..Lead nl