The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-09-16
CHAPTER V

NLlaI L v
Then the ten slaves of Borneo gladly undertook
to execute the atrocious order that they might
themselves escape from the tigers. They pro-
cured a strong rope, and soon bound the bodies OF
Umba and Laksamana together aud notwith-
standing the terrific struggles Of the chained hero
his arms were securely fastened. And then by
order Of the King, the Princess Umba was grad
nally lOosened away from Laksamana. and when
ne was separated from him, the King ordered
re slaves to strip the clothing from the Princess
and to torment her in the presence OF Lsksamana :;
and afterwards torture the hero unto death.
Thus, the cOwardly are always cruel and vicious.
In the savageness of his rage, this SO called King
OF Kings, ordered a Kinswoman to be treated
abominably, and a brave man, who was chained,
to be tortured and slain like a wild beast. But
ylllaIny of this magnitude usually over does the
work OF evil and defeats its own purpose. And
ii happened at tins time when the brutal slaves
had torn part of the clothing from the struggling
and screaming Umba and had exposed the beau
tiful arms aud bi-om Of the unhappy Princess,
there broke forth from the agOnized heart ot the
chained hero u terrible and painful cutlery he,
addressing the people and guards who were as
semhled outside, and looking through the prison
doorway, and gratings. &C you men Of Me-
nangkabau. and yru who have the blood OF prin-
ces can you 9uitfiy behold the blood of your no
blest line Of Princess trampled upon and detled
by dogs!
And then there arose mutterings and groanings.
and cries Of Indignation among the assembled
Princes, people and soldiers. Some crying out
= : save the daughter of Sapidin, the brave chief.
whose war boats are the terror OF the Dayaks Of
Borneo :" The outcries and threatenings were
redoubled with ferceness and stopped the bands
of the slaves IN their work of dissertation. They
turned their heads with alarm, and let go their
hold upon the poor, painting, agitated Princess,
who Immediately ran to clasp her arms around
her chained and tightly bound lover.
At this time. the Ferdano Mautri, or high mill
] ,srar AT tho linz apprnachad bia rnual MASTER
and making a low obeisance, spoke to the KING in
IA low voice saying 20, King and Master for
bear - The people OF the city have much sym
PATTY for the great hero, who has fought with
the pirates of Borneo, with the wild men of the
forests, with the tigers, with the terrible Raksha-
sha. and with the chief Jahat, whom the people
hate. Therefore, o., King let these two prison
ers remain in peace for "a while. to quiet the
clamor of the people and l will see that they
are both put to death, at another time, when it
may please you. o., King, to witness their tor
ture for their disobedienee, without the clam .rous
enterruptiono of the people !"
And then King Sri Rama. who was a coward,
and afraid OF the anger OF the Malay people, "a
proud and generous race, gave a sulien and re-
luctant order, that Umba and Laksamana should
be left alone, and even declare his intention to
release them, and let them return to their own
islands which however was not his intention.
And the guard Of the Palace was withdrawn, the
people retired, and the door of the prison was
closed upon the bound chief and the Princess,
who were thus left alone. And now Umba. with
marmurings Of tenderness and endearment, stroye
with her dainty fingers to unite the cruel ropes
that had been drawn SO tightly around the body
of Laksamara, as to lacerate bis skin. And
with her teeth and hands she united the ropes
that bound his arms and then he Chased IN a
firm embrace the tender exposed shoulders and
waist of his darling Princess, crying out. in the
deep emotion of his great soul; his words taking
the form OF a piteous lamentation.
80, Umba sweet food Of my heart!
/ was nothing till l saw thee,
was a wild man and a beast
/ lived in trees. and fed with apes,
saw thee by the sea shore,
And the heart of man beat within me
l plunged into the sea for thee,
And Umba loved the wild man,
Umba clothed me, and made me a chief
And what have l done for Umba?
was gone, when Jahat tore her away
And L brought her TO the palace of this King
Who is worse than tigers or wild men,
o. Umba. my life, my love
/ feel not these heavy chains.
L feel not the pain of the cords,
Standing here by day and by night
l feel only thy pain and thy woe
o, my love, my life, my Umba."
And the Princess caressed her suffering Lord.
She wiped the sweat OF agony from her brow
size wrapped part of her garments around his
body she rubbed his swollen feet and legs,
panied by his long standing and she stroye in
every way that love could suggest, to sustain and
DLlltl lie uuC tiS piluy CCauo 6VG LUG
strong and mighty Laksamana began to grow
faint after so much struggle and pain. So that
the loving and tender hearted Umba was agonized
in her heart, on beholding the suffering of her
dear chief, and with tears OVERLOOKING, she too
broke forth into a piteous lamentation of suffer-
ing love
CO., my dear love, and Lord
Let my weak arms now aid thee.
Thy strong arms lifted me out of the sea
They bore me out of the tree top
Out Of the clutches of the wild men.
They saved me from the giantess,
From the embrace of brutal Jnhat,
And they save me still,
In the prison of the cruel King.
o. my chief beloved of Arjuno
Beloved too, of the Widadiri,
The good fairies of Sumatra.
Courage, my chief, for Arjuno
Will not forsake her chief forever
And there was help near at hand. Before
Umba had ceased her refrain of love, they heard
a loud murmur Of voices, and then an cutlery in
the streets. They heard a great rushing of feet,
and shouts of men, and the rattling of the arms
of soldiers. And they heard the cry Of Sapidin.
Sapidin, the brave Prince of Mia
Laksamana reused up his head. like a re-
freshed lion at these cries and Umba clasping
her arms round the neck Of her chief, cried out. |
whilst tears streamed from her eyes. d" We are
saved Arjuno has heard us! My brave
father, and the noble of Menangkabau will rescue
us!'
The man of Laksamana's company who had
esca ped over the garden wall OF the Palace, and
out of the city at the time of the capture of his
chief, and who FASTENED to reach Mia to report to
King Sapidin the danger of his daughter the
Princess, and OF his sOn-in-law met the King
already landed on Sumatra with a small force of
the picked warriors Of Nia-aud the brave and
affectionate old chief had set out in search Of his
beloved daughter, and her husband. When King
Sapidin heard the report Of this man. he appealed
to the people of Sumatra, he met on his route.
against the tyranny of the great King at Menang-
kabau, and as Sapidin was renowned throughout
the great Malay Archipelago. as a very brave
was said to be descended from the blood
of the great Alexander and was thus a Malay
Prince of the highest lineage, crowds of Malays
of the great island hocked to the standard Of the
chief of Mia, aud joined in the general cry OF
- Lead us against the cruel tyrant of Menangka-
bau -
The fame and the fear of Sapidin had greatly
weakened the army of King Sri Rama and some