Page 251 - Malay sketches

JAMES WHEELER WOODFORD BIRCH

ministration in the hands of British officers, and
asked his chiefs what they thought of them. The
"
Laksamana, an influential chief, said, Down here,
in the lower of the river, we must the
part accept
" "
proclamations ; but the Maharaja Lela said, In
my kampong I will not allow any white man to post
those proclamations. If they insist on doing so,
there will certainly be a fight." To this the Sultan
"
and other chiefs said, Very well."
The Maharaja Lela immediately left, and having
returned
loaded his boats with rice, up river to his
own kampong.
Pasir Salak was the usual collection of Malay
houses scattered about in of and fruit
groves palm
trees by the river-bank. Prominent amongst these
was the Maharaja Lela's own dwelling, a large and
new of a more than ordin-
comparatively building
arily substantial kind, round which he had for
months past been digging a great ditch and throw-
ing up a formidable earthwork crowned by a
These noted
palisade. preparations had been duly
by the Resident.
Arrived at his own home, the Maharaja Lela sent
out messengers to summon all the men in his
immediate neighbourhood, and when they were
collected he addressed them and stated that Mr.
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