Page 132 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

Bandar and laid a formal complaint against Megat
Raja, demanding to know why he had taken the law
into his own hands and treated Meriam in a manner
to put all her relatives to shame.
of Bandar was also one
The Chief of the village
of the great officers of State named the Orang Kaya
Shabandar. He was a man renowned for his
courage, was wealthy, a trusted officer of the Sultan,
the receiver of customs, and lived at the upper end
of the village.
He listened politely to Penglima Prang Semaun,
and when the latter wound up his complaint by
saying he would certainly attack Megat Raja if he
obtained no redress, the Shabandar put his advice
in the form of this ancient saw :
"If you have no gold, it is well to sing small ;
if you have no pivot-guns (jingals), it is well to put
a pleasant face on the matter ; and if you have no
it is better to be
cannon, quiet."
The advice was meant in good part and not as a
taunt, but Penglima Prang Semaun took it as the
latter and retired with rage in his heart, saying
"
It is well for you who have gold and jingals and
cannon to tell me I have none of these things,
but I will have my revenge of you with only a
kris."
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