The times., 1899-10-01


Mr. Hugh Clifford, British resident at
Pahang, recently read, before the Royal
Colonial Institute. an account of his ex-
periences from which what follows is
taken.
In the Malayan States, as We found
them when first we began to set about the
task of molding their history for our
selves, the Sultan was theoretically the
owner of the whole country and all that il
contained. The country was divided up
into a number of districts, each OF which
was held in fef from the King by an
Orang Besar, or Great Baron. The power
which each Of these men held in his own
district was practically unlimited. Thus
in Pahsng dozen years ago each OF the
great chiefs. OF whom there were four. had
the power OF life and death over a his
people residing in his territories. and the
unWritten Law OF custom went further, for
il defined the exact manner in which each
OF these chiefs must carry cut the exeeu-
tions be might order. Under the four
great chiefs, or barons, there was the
chiefs OF the Council of Eight. These men
were related 10 the greater barons in pre-
cisely the same manner as the latter were
related to their Sultan-that is TO say
that they owed them fealty, and were
bound to follow them in time OF war. I'm
der the eight chiefs, each of whom had
his subdistrict. were the Chiefs of the
Council OF SiXteen-sguires who owned a
few clusters Of villages holding them in
hef from one or another of the Council OF
Eight. Under them, again were the Thir-
ty-two and the Sixty-four. who existed
more in theory than in reality. for no man
in ali the country knew its internal eeono-
my with sufficient intimacy TO be able to
name more than a few of them, and the
little village headmen who claimed 10 be-
long to one Council or another were prob
ably not sufficiently numerous TO make up
the required total OF ninety-six. Under
the village headmen, the Ka- -tuaan or ell
ders, as hey were usually termed were
the free Raayat, or villagers. These men
held land OF their own, upon which their
houses stood. Beneath the free raayat
again were the slape-debiors, and below
them again were the bought slaves and
their descendants, who fornei the lowest
class of Malayan society.
II must be fully realized that the Sui
tan was the main pivot upon which all
things in this country turned. His light
est word brought death, swift and inevita-
bic. He was also a law to himself, and
whatsoever he might elect to do those
about him would be certain to approve with
,oud-moEthed cordiality, such as princes
love. The training through which be had
passed before he attained to the throne
Tas OF kind which would most certainly
ruin the strongest European character.
From the time he was first suffered 10 set
foot upon Mother Earth with little shoes
OF beaten gold upon his tiny brown feet
which event was marked by feastiugs and
public reioicings-the young ra5ah found
himself hedged about by syeophanfs and
c0urtiers. whose sole desire was 10 please
Lin and 10 win his favor. Even in their
daily speech they did homage. AS he grew
older women who crsmmed the dirty little
native court yied with one another 10 lead
the child astrsy; the youths fiattered him,
praising his poor skill in field sports; en-
couraging him in every act OF brutality
which he might be tempted 70 commit, and
iauding him 10 the skies for his cruelty
and Injustice Never in all his life did he
see aught IN the possession Of another,
AtIt lLdll4ldNt 0DltLA- BCdSA O. DAl-
den, or cOmely wife or daughter. but his
followers urged him 10 seize il for his own.
Can there be room for wond T that with
such an up-hringing the young rajah de-
velOped into something not unlike a Nero?
The 1nly check which was ever exercised
upon young rajah during his early years
was that applied by his father; but so long
as the child did not come into direct op-
position TO his sire upon some matter con-
aected with the latter's intimate pleasures
the royal parent was usually content 10 let
the boy go his own way. and even smiled
with indulgent pride al his precocious vii
lainies.
The policing Of the Sultan's capital and
Of the pOpuious part OF the country is con-
Quoted BY means OF e body Of men who
bore the generic name OF the Budak Raja.
OF Kings Youths" These men are in ef-
feet the Sultan's bodyguard. They are
drawn from the noble and well-to-do
classes, are sent 10 live al the court while
they are still very young. and are thus
taught TO inhale the poisonous atmosphere
Of the palace at a most impressionable age
They receive no regular pay. though the
Sultan usually gives them few dollars
COW and again when MS caprice moves hiIc
TO do 50. They dress maglihceatly in
brilIiaut-colored silks, with the delightful
oltllllSS Dl BElEui AAtS MIiNA AAc
love by instinct; they are armed with dag
ger and sword, and spear, all beautifully
kept and very handsome IN appearance:
and they pass most OF their time in making
love and playing games II chance Their
duties are numerous, but no means heavy.
They follow at the heels of the Sultan when
he takes his walks abroad 10 guard him
from harm. and to give a finishing touch TO
his magnincence: they row his boat, hunt
game and snare turtle doves in his COM
pany; join with enthusiasm in any sport
which for the time the King is pleased 10
favor. such as kite-hying or peg-top; carry
the Kings messages, levy fines, murder
those who have offended their master
seize property which be coyets. abduct
women. spy upon the chiefs, bring word to
the King OF all that behcoves him to know,
and never miss an opportunity Of winning
his favor. by satisfying his desires Men
such az these. who from their youth are
taught TO be INSCRIPTIONS. and 10 live ex-
pensively upon no settled income quickly
discover means whereby money may be OBJ
tanned. When duty sends them into the
more remote portions of the country they
plUnder the unhappy villages without mer-
cy- When dealing with the more sophisti-
Gated folk Of the capital greater caution is
needed; but by threatening TO inform
against those who have committed some
crime. by declaring their intention OF ac-
II Happened in a Drug Store