Page 131 - Malay sketches

THE PASSING OF PENGLIMA PRANG SEMAUN

In reply to a call, Che Nuh bid his adversary
him
come outside the gate and he would give any
satisfaction he pleased.
That of course meant an internecine struggle
between the two parties, and Megat Raja declined
for the odds were now against him, and he was
it,
still uncertain whether his wife were unfaithful or
not.
On the strong suspicion that he held, his inclina-
tion was to at least make short work of the woman,
but here again he was deterred by the knowledge
that her relations would certainly be revenged on
him. He, therefore, decided on another course of
action. On the assumption that his wife was guilty
of this he became well he
(and tolerably assured),
treated her as though he held the proofs, divorced
turned her out of his and declined to let
her, house,
her have any of her own possessions or to remove
any of his.
This action was considered a
very serious indig-
nity by Meriam's friends, and it so happened that
she possessed a relative named Penglima Prang
Semaun, an adherent of the Sultan's Wazir, the
Raja Bendahara, and he was reputed one of the
principal warriors in the country.
Penglima Prang Semaun called upon the Chief of
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