Page 138 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES
river to Pasir Panjang. Once there, he availed
himself of an ancient custom called ikat-diri that
" "
is, to bind yourself and, accompanied by all his
people, he went and stood in front of the Sultan's
house with his hands loosely tied behind his back
with his own head-kerchief, and, thus uncovered in
the sun, he and all his following shouted dmpun
"
Tuan-ku, be-ribu-ribu dmpun Pardon, my lord, a
thousand-thousand pardons."
After a quarter of an hour's waiting, while the
air was filled with this plea for mercy, and the
Bendahara and his company stood like prisoners in
front of the closed house, a door opened, a herald
bearing the Sultan's insignia appeared and cried
"
out : Our lord pardons you, and permits you to
enter into his presence."
That settled the affair. The Sultan's minister
had accepted the responsibility for what had been
done ; he was far too great a man to be treated as
a criminal, and, taking advantage of an old custom,
he confessed his fault, offered himself a prisoner,
sought and obtained the Sultan's pardon.
Amongst those who had received the message of
peace, and who entered into the presence, were the
Penglima Prang Semaun, Haji Ali, and the three
other murderers of the Shabandar.
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