H I S T O R Y OF THE SULTANS OF BRUNI AND OF THEIR DESCENT, FROM SULTAN ABDUL KAHAR TO SULTAN ABDUL JALIL-UL-JEBAR, By Hugh Low

H I S T O R Y

OF THE

SULTANS OF BRUNI

AND OF THEIR DESCENT,

FROM SULTAN ABDUL KAHAR

TO SULTAN ABDUL JALIL-UL-JEBAR,

By Hugh Low

The first, who had a large family, was the Sultan Abdul Kahar, who was attacked by the Castilians, (1) and carried by the Rajas to the country of Suei, having been conquered in the war through the treachery of one of the Chutreias named Pangiran Sri Lela. This Merhoum had forty-two sons, one of whom became Sultan Saif-ul-Rejal ; two of his brothers became Bendaharas and supports to his Majesty's throne. One of these was named Bendahara Sari, whose mother was a Javanese, and one was named Raja Bendahara Sakam, whose mother was a Bajau, (2) and to him belonged all the dependencies of the country of Bruni as far as Lesong ; (3) he was very fierce and brave, and, when he was angry, it appeared to the people as if fire were issuing from his mouth, and not one of the Rajas dared dispute his will. 

All the daughters of the Rajas of Bruni who were beautiful he took and made wives and concubines of them, and it was for this reason that the Pangiran Buong Manis, (4) who was entitled the Pangiran Sri Lela, was treacherous to the Sultan, his daughter, who had just been married and was sitting by the side of her husband, having been seized and carried off by Raja Sakam for a concubine ; therefore, when the Castilians made war, the Pangiran Sri Lela went over to them, and the country was conquered, (5) all the Raja's Mentris and Hulebalangs fled, (6) taking the Sultan with them, except the Bendahara Sakam, who remained with one thousand people, men whom he had purchased. 

These made a fort at Pulau Ambok, and fought the Castilians, so that they fled away to Lesong, and then Bendahara Sakam brought back the Sultan to Bruni, and set him on his throne.

After this Raja Sakam sailed to Belahit in search of the Pangiran Sri Lela and his brother Sri Retna, and when he had slain them all he returned to Bruni and strengthened the throne of his brother, the Sultan Saif-ul-Rejal. All his brothers became Chutreias of the Bendahara ; they were forty in number.

If the Sultan went on a pleasure party to Labuan or Muara, they each wore a chemara kimkha of blue and gold, to distinguish them as brothers of the Yang di Pertuan.

About this time the wife of the Sultan became pregnant, and the Sultan expecting a male child, the drums were beaten, but it proved to be a female, and an idiot having no understanding, but her appearance was very beautiful. After this His Majesty had two other daughters, (7) and subsequently two sons, the  one who became Sultan Shah Bruni, and the other Sultan Hasan, who succeeded His Majesty in the Kingdom.

Sultan Shah Bruni, having been for some time on the throne, died (8) leaving no children, and was succeeded by his brother Sultan Hasan, who is known as the Merhoum di Tanjong. His reign was of a very despotic character, and he did whatever he pleased in Bruni.

As regards the eldest sister of this Sultan, who was idiotic, her father gave her for inheritance the Bajaus of Marudu and of Bangui and the Bisayas of Mempalau, of Lawas and of Bakau. There was a Pangiran Mahomed Panjang (9) of Kampong Pandei Kawat, who was rich : he had three hundred dependants (hamba) , and became in love with the idiot Raja and presented her with his three hundred people as a marriage gift. After this he received the title of Pangiran Bendahara Mahomed, and he was the father of the Pangiran Bendahara Kahar, of Bendahara Hamid, and of Bendahara Abdul, Merhoum di Pulau. Bendahara Abdul was the Bendahara of the Merhoum Tumbang di Rumput, that is to say, Sultan Mahomet Ali, and he it was he who seized the throne of the Kingdom of Bruni, and he reigned under the name of the Sultan Abdul Mubin.

The original cause of the massacre which led to this was that a son 10) of the Sultan had killed a son of the Bendahara, and when the Bendahara saw that his son was killed without any just cause, he went-up to the palace and presented himself before the Yang di Pertuan, with forty of his people, all fully equipped, and having reached the audience chamber, the son of the King who killed his son was also presenting himself before his father, the Sultan.

The Bendahara in detailing his case said : " Oh, my Lord, " King of the World, what is the reason that my son has been killed by the Prince ? If this matter is not enquired into by your " Majesty, it will fall out that your Majesty will be left alone in " the country, for the subjects of your Majesty will say that, if your " Majesty's son does such things, what may not be expected of those" who are of inferior rank ? And the end of it will be that Bruni" will become desolate.

"When His Majesty heard the statement of the Pangiran Bendahara he said : " Oh, Pangiran, as to the killing of a person with-" out cause, if my son be guilty he must be killed for it.

"When the Prince heard these words of his father, he got up and went into the interior of the palace of his father, and the Pangiran Bendahara said : "Oh, my Lord, if such be the decision of " the Lord of the World, let me ask of your Majesty to disown the " Prince altogether, " and His Majesty said : " Oh, Pangiran Bendahara, how can I give you my son now that he has brought the" blood of death into the palace ? " When the Pangiran heard this, he got up with his forty people and followed the Prince into the palace. [There is here a hiatus in the manuscript, two or three words only visible : — Melihat Bendahara deri pintu seblah tiada kelihatan di mata ] . When the Bendahara could not see the Prince, he fell to killing the people in the palace. The Sultan, on seeing the Bendahara go into the palace and kill the people belonging to it, said : " Oh, Pangiran, what is " this you are doing ? One person has committed a crime and you " are killing others." The Bendahara replied : " The eyes of your " slave were obscured." His Majesty then said: "Kill me also," and the Bendahara said : " Very well, my Lord," and caught hold of the Sultan and lifted him up and carried him on to the grass and there garotted him, from which circumstance he is called Merhoum " Tumbang di Rumput." When His Majesty was dead, he was buried according to the rites of burial of the Rajas. (11)

The people of the palace were scattered, running away iu all directions. The son of the Raja, (12) who was the murderer, escaped to the sea, but there were other children of His Majesty who remained in Bruni, one named Raja Hasan and one Raja Husin, also eight nephews, children of brothers of His Majesty, the sons of Merhoum Tuah. All the insignia of royalty, as the crown from Johor and the kamanah from China, were taken away by the Bendahara, who made himself King, being installed by his dependants by the title of Sultan Abdul Mubin, but he was not nobat nor crowned. The son of Merhoum Tuah, named Pangiran Bongsu, and who was also son-in-law of Merhoum di Rumput, was made his Bendahara by the Sultan Abdul Mubin. (13)

Sometime after this the Pangiran Bendahara went out to hunt and wandered to the house of a Kedeian (14) Chief named Orang Kaya Imas. When Orang Kaya Imas saw the Pangiran Bendahara coming towards his house, he pretended not to have observed him, and said as if to himself : " Fie, all these Rajas are without " shame ; their father has been murdered, and they seek no revenge ; " it is a creditable thing for those to hold up their hands in obeisance." He then spat on the ground, and for the first time turning to the Pangiran Bendahara looked towards him and said : " "Whence " does my Lord the Pangiran come ?" and invited him to enter saying : " Enter into the hut of your servant, a man of the woods." The Pangiran went in, and sugar-cane, plantains, potatoes and kladis were served to him, and after the meal was over the Orang Kaya Imas said : " Oh, my Lord, what is your opinion in reference to " the death of your Lordship's father ? Is nothing to be done " about it ? Do not your Lordships intend to revenge it ?" The Pangiran said : " Orang Kaya, what means have we ? for we " are without power." The Orang Kaya replied : " Why does " your Lordship speak like this? "We are all your people? The " people do not wish to obey a Raja who is not of the line of the " Yang di Pertuan. It is quite possible to create alarms at night. " If your Lordship orders me to do this, even to the palace of Raja Abdul I will do it every night." The Pangiran Bendahara said : " Very well, do as you have said, and I and my brothers will consider of this matter." The Orang Kaya said: "Very well, my " Lord," and the Pangiran Bendahara returned. When he reached his house he collected all his relations and said : " Oh, my brothers, " what is your opinion in reference to the late Sultan who was murdered ? Do you wish me to endeavour to revenge it ? " His brothers said : " What can we do who have no power ? But notwithstanding this, if you take the matter up, we will not fail you," and so they fully agreed to seek revenge, and every one prepared himself.

In the meanwhile Orang Kaya Imas went down every night to mengajeok, and this was done for two or three months, causing excessive watching, and the Bendahara and his relatives being ready, he attended an audience of the Yang di Pertuan and said : " How is it that all of us are obliged to keep watch every night to the great trouble of the people, who have no time even to go out for food, " for Bruni is a large city, and it is easy for thieves to come and get away ? I think it would be a prudent thing of your Majesty to " go to Pulau Chermin, because thieves must come in boats to get to the island."

When the Sultan heard the Pangeran speak thus, be said: " Whatever you think best I will do, and so it was arranged to remove to the island, and many people built houses at Chermin, and when the istana was finished, the Bendahara said to the Sultan It will be well for your Highness to remove to the' island, so that" I may then begin to build my house, when my heart is at ease as" to the safety of your Majesty." The Raja agreed and removed, but only two or three of the royal guns were taken to the island. While the Raja was moving, the Pangiran Bendahara prevented people from going to the island, so that about one third of the people removed, and two thirds remained, and he ordered the ryots to repair the forts at Pulau Ambok (15) and mount the guns, and when this was all ready he waited expecting the attack from Pulau Chermin. The Raja at the island was expecting the Bendahara, who, however,did not come. After he had been there seven days and the Bendahara made no appearance, he ordered the Orang Kaya di Gedong (16) to enquire as to it. He went up to Bruni and presented himself before the Pangiran Bendahara, and said : " My Lord, your servant has " been ordered by your Lordship's royal father to enquire the reason, as he is waiting your arrival and you do not come." The Pangiran Bendahara replied : " The reason for our not coming is " because we intend to be revenged for the death of the late Sultan." The Pangiran di Gedong then went back again and informed the Sultan of what the Pangiran Bendahara had said. When the Yang di Pertuan heard this he was very angry, like blazing fire, and the war between the island and Bruni at once commenced.

The people of Bruni, when the Orang Kaya di Gedong had returned, made the Pangiran Bendahara Sultan Muaddin, so that there were two Rajas, one at the island, and one at Bruni. (17) The Sultan of Bruni' s cause was espoused by the people of the territories to the westward, and that of the island Raja was supported by the provinces to the northward. The war having lasted for some time, dissensions arose among (18) the people of Bruni, who insisted on peace, so that peace was established.

As soon as they had recovered themselves, they went to war again, and the people of the island were worsted, and fled to Kinarut, where they were followed by the Brunians, and the war was continued there. Then Bruni met with reverses, and the war ceased for some time.

After this Sultan Abdul Mubin came back to Pulau Chermin and re-commenced the war. Famine soon appeared in Bruni, for all trade was prevented coming up the river by the people of the island, and the Sultan Muaddin sent a letter to the Batara of Soolook, asking for assistance, and he came with five boats, and on arriving at the island went up and had an audience of the Raja (Abdul Mubin). The Raja of the island did not know that the Batara of Soolook (19) would support Sultan Muaddin, and the Batara of Soolook told him that the reason he had come was that he had heard that they were fighting amongst themselves, and that it was, in his opinion, very unfortunate that Islams should be at war with one another ; he would, if possible, advise that peace should be established. The Raja of the island said : " This war was not " of our seeking the Pangiran Bendahara has brought it about."

 (20) The Batara of Soolook then said : " I will pass on to Bruni and " see the Pangiran Bendahara." The Sultan Abdul Mubin said : " Very well, I am very anxious for peace." The sign of bad fortune had come upon His Majesty, his devils and kafirs and shadows would no longer come at his call.

The Batara of Soolook went up to Bruni and met the Sultan Muaddin, and having feasted and drank, the Sultan (21) asked the Batara for his assistance to destroy his enemies at the island, promising that if the island should be conquered, the land from the North as for westward as Kimanis should belong to Soolook. The Batara of Soolook accepted this with delight, and the people of Bruni all got ready to attack the island, and posted their forces on Bukit Chindana and Didaliton, and the Soolooks took possession of the island of Kayang Arang, and carried on the war. After a time the people of the island became straightened, for the guns fired down upon them from the top of the hills, and the Raja of the island, perceiving that his chances became less, destroyed all the insignia of royalty, as the crown from Johor and the kamanah from China, and rammed them into a cannon, which he fired out to sea, and thus it was that the crown from Johor was lost.

Pangiran Kawat assaulted the palace, and killed the people and women of the Raja, together with the Raja himself, who had run into the mosque ; the people of Bruni and of Soolook rushed on the island and finding the Raja in the mosque, garotted him there, (22) About half of the Rajas in the island asked to surrender as captives and became prisoners, and those who remain at the present time are called Raja Raja Pulau. (23)

Sultan Muaddin then returned to Bruni carrying all the captives from the island, and the Batara of Soolook returned to Soolook carrying his captives and plunder, including the guns which were at the island, all of which were left to the Batara of Soolook ; even the royal guns, (24) which had been taken to the island, were given to the Batara of Soolook.

The war being concluded, and peace having been for some time established, the Sultan Muaddin went to Kalekka to put in order all his provinces. Some time before this a son of Merhoum Tuah, named Raja Tingah, (25) of great courage which could not be opposed, and of great activity and unaccountable caprices, had grieved his elder brother Sultan Abdul Jalil-ul-Jebar, (26) who was in consequence desirous to get rid of him, but could not contrive it, because no one could deal with him.

His Majesty the elder brother sent for him and said : " It, " my brother, has been my fortune from God to become the Raja of this Kingdom of Bruni, and you, my younger brother, desire a also to be the Raja. I am willing, for are we not both sons of " his late Majesty?" Raja Tingah replied: " Yes, my Lord, I, " your slave, am a vassal beneath your Majesty. Whatever orders " you may give I obey, but I do not know any reason why your Majesty should be desirous of my absence from Bruni." After this His Majesty the Sultan said : " Things being as they are, it is " better that you should become Raja of the country of Sarawak, " and take with you some of the Sakies of Sandar as your people." Raja Tingah replied: "I obey your Majesty's orders," and he accordingly went to Sarawak, and directed a palace and fort to be built, and appointed a Temenggong, and he himself sailed to Johor to see the Raja Bonda, because the Raja Bonda was the sister of Merhoum Tuah, who had been married by the Sultan Abdul Jalil of Johor. (27) The Temenggong and half the Sakies remained at Sarawak, and these are people whose descendants to the present day are called the Hamba Raja of Sarawak.

When Raja Tingah first arrived at Johor, he was made much of by the Yang di Pertuan of Johor, being feasted with eating and drinking and dancing. After this had been continued for some time the Maharaja Adinda also danced, and endeavoured to induce the Raja Tingah to do the same, but the Raja said : " Do not request " me, because the people of Bruni do not know how to dance," but the Maharaja Adinda pushed him ; on this the Raja Tingah took the handkerchief from Maharaja Adinda, and pulled him two or three steps, he then twisted the handkerchief and struck the Prince across the face with it, and then went down to his boat. The Yang di Pertuan was very angry, and would have killed the Raja Tingah, which coming to the knowledge of the Raja Bonda, she went down to Raja Tingah's boat in all haste and prevented the execution of the Sultan's orders.

Raja Bonda ordered Raja Tingah to go away immediately, and he sailed, intending to return to Sarawak, but fell to the leeward and arrived at Matan, and was there received by the Sultan, who gave him a wife, (28) by whom he had a male child ; after which he was desirous to return to Sarawak.

Having departed from Matan he touched at the mouth of the Sambas river, and was there welcomed by the Ratu of Sambas, (29) who gave him a wife, by whom he also had a son, named Radin Bima. Again wishing to go back to Sarawak he sailed from Sambas, and at Batu Buaya he went ashore in a sampan with a Sakei, who was mad, and a small boy, who was carrying his kris. On arriving at the shore he polled up the river above the rock, and the Sakei stabbed him with a spear in the ribs. His Majesty was taken by surprise, but took his kris from the boy and cut off the head of the Sakei with a blow on the neck, and also the head of the boy who had borne the kris, and then having returned to the boat, the Patinggi and Temenggong, who had heard His Majesty was at the mouth of the river and had gone down to meet him, brought him up to the palace, where having arrived he died.

The son of His Majesty who was left at Matan having grown up was invested as Sultan of Matan ; Pangiran Mangku Negara had become Penambahan before he went to Bruni to meet his royal father (30).

The son of His Majesty who was at Sambas at the time when Sultan Muaddin went to Kalekka was summoned to meet him there by His Majesty, who brought him back (31) with him to Bruni. In Bruni he was invested as Sultan Anum, and he is the root of the sovereigns of Sambas. After a time he was sent back to Sambas to govern it, and the land from Tanjong Datu to Batu Balak was given him as territory of Sambas, and from that point the territory of Matan began.

We will now refer to the children of Merhoum Tuah, who remained at Bruni. Firstly, Pangiran Abdul ; (32) he was of great courage and strength like Raja Tingah, and was the father of Sultan Nasr-Addin, Merhoum di Changi and Pangiran di Gedong Kassim, Pangiran Derma Wangsa, Pangiran Murallin, and Pangiran Lapar. We do not notice the daughters. There were also the children of Merhoum Tuah by his wife, a daughter of the Temenggong of Grisik, (33) named Radinmas Wangkar, three sons, the eldest of whom, Raja Omar, died and was buried at the mouth of the Inanam river. He was the father of Raja Besar, who became wife of Raja Amat, son of the Sultan Jalil-ul-Jebar, whose child was the Raja Bendahara Untong, father of Raja Tuah. Another child of Raja Omar, also a girl named Pangiran Tuah, became the wife of Pangiran Amir, the son of Merhoum di Pulau. She had one thousand people (hamlet), and was the mother of Shahbandar Kharma Dewa and Pangiran Besar Sulong.

There were also (other ?) children of Merhoum Tuah by his Javanese wife : the second son, named Sultan Abdul Jalil-ul-Jebar, was the father of Raja Amat ; a younger son of Merhoum Tuah was Raja Luaddin, whose son was Sultan Nasr-Addin. (34) Afterwards Merhoum Tuah had another son named Raja Tuah, and another who became Sultan Muaddin, who fought against the Pulau, and was the father of Bendahara Kassim. Another son was named Pangiran di Gedong Shah Bubin. There was another son named Pangiran Maharaja Lela, who lived at Sematan, and was the father of Pangirans Amat, Alam and Kadir. Pangiran Amat died at Kemanis, his supply of opium having failed him.

The Portuguese Wrecked Vessel.

There was a vessel wrecked at Tanjong Prangi (Feringhie ?) off Rijang. It belonged to the Portuguese, who are called Orang Makau by the Bruni people. The point of land now named Rijang did not exist at that time, nor was the mouth of the river then there. There was a sand bank only in the sea, off the mouth of the river. The people of Rijang took the Portuguese from the wrecked ship and brought them to Bruni to the Yang di Pertuan. It is not certain whether this was in the time (35) of Sultan Abdul Kahar, or of Sultan Shah Bruni, but His Majesty took them under his protection and called the Captain his son, and gave him the title of Pangiran Kestani (? Kristani), and made him a present of Manila, because it was after the Spaniards had attacked Bruni (36) and had returned to Manila, and Pangiran Kestani promised the Merhoum he would get back Manila, but after he had lived some time in Bruni there came a Makau ship and took him away to Makau, but he afterwards returned and was desirous of presenting himself before the Sultan, but hearing at sea, off Ujong Sapo (36) that the Merhoum was dead, he did not come up to Bruni, but left three guns one named Si Tunggal, one named Si Kersla, and one was named Si Dewa—and then he went away.

................................................................................................................

(1) The Spaniards first attacked Bruni under Don Francisco La Sande in A.D. 1577 to place Sri Lela, who had professed submission, on the throne, which his brother had usurped. This attack more probably occurred in the time of Saif-ul-Rejal, the son of Abdul Kahar, so that Abdul Kahar, who probably had a long reign, had died before 1577: his tomb was destroyed by the shots from the Spaniards.

(2) The Bajaus are a race having some settlements on the North West and East Coasts of Bruni, and among the islands, but on the East side living chiefly in boats: they were formerly pirates ; they call themselves orang sama, and say their ancestors came from the Straits of Malacca. They are a bold and enterprising, but not an industrious people, and the young men and the women have a wild gipsy like look, frequently with large beautiful eyes. Their language differs much from the Malay.

(3)  Luzon.

(4) This Pangiran had been banished to Kamanis by Raja Bendahara Sakam

(5) The Spaniards came back in 1580 to re-place Sri Lela on the throne, and it was probably on this occasion that the Raja Sakam distinguished himself. The Spanish history says that the Brunians were assisted by a Portuguese Captain, probably the Pangiran Kestani, who will be mentioned further on. The Portuguese had carried on regular intercourse with Bruni since 1530, and they continued this to the capture of Malacca by the Dutch in 1691, and afterwards from Macao. When the present Sultan was a young man, he remembers Portuguese merchants in Bruni ; this would be about the end of the last century.

(6) Saif-ul-Rejal and his people went to live at Sungei Budu in the Suei river, which is near Bintala. He fell sick here, but is said to have recovered and returned to Bruni. He is called Merhoum di Budu, In Bruni he lived at the Mazagong Istana in the Sungei Kadeian, where also he died. Raja Sakam was a younger brother of Saif-ul-Rejal.

(7) These ladies were the Raja di Misjid, and the Raja of Balikbandong, and one of these ladies, daughters of Saif-ul-Eejal, settled her property, that is, the Bajaus of Marudu and Bangui, and the Bisaya of Mempalau, Lawas, and Bakau, on Raja Tuah, the daughter of Merhoum di Tanjong, who was the mother of Merhoum di Pulau.

(8) One account says the Sultan abdicated in favour of his brother.

(9) Pangiran Kasuma has a note here to the effect that in former times the sons of Sultans were called Rajas, the other nobles being titled Pangirans. Raja Muda Hashim, who was murdered in 1847 (?), was the last who was called Raja. There is some mistake in the text in reference to the wife of this Pangiran, Pandei Kawat, who married Raja Tuah, a daughter of Sultan Hasan, and who seems to have inherited the property of the ladies her aunts, especially that of Raja Misjid. He was, after his marriage, made Pangiran Bendahara Mahomed, and was the father of the children mentioned in the text.

(10) This Prince, after escaping from the vengeance of the Bendahara by the back of the palace and to sea in a sampan, appears to have been, during the life of his father, the Pangiran di Gedong. He was named Omar, and is reported to have been insolent and unpopular, and the insurrection of the Bendahara, which was originally in! ended only against him, was supported by the chief nobility, his own house seems to have been attacked and burnt, from which he fled to his father's followed by the Bendahara.

(11) The date of this occurrence is the first and only one in Bruni history, it is: " Malam hari Isnein" 14th Rabial Akhir, A. H, 1072,"—about A. D. 1655 (?).

(12) Pangiran di Gedong Omar, called Pem-ukur. .

(13) Sultan Abdul Mubin lived at Kawang Berbunga, opposite the Kota Baru, in which the Merhoum Tumbang di Rumput's palace had stood. The city of Bruni at that time was built on piles covering the extensive mud flats between these two royal residences.

(14) The Kadeians are a race of people who differ in appearance and language from the people of Bruni, and live in the country immediately surrounding the city. They appear from ancient times to have been dependant on the Court, they are a quiet agricultural race, professing the Mahomedan religion.

(15) Pulau Ambok is an island about three quarters of a mile below the present town of Bruni and just about the site of Kota Batu and the ancient city.

(16) The Orang Kaya di Gedong is the chief of the Mentris as they are called in Bruni. They arc the chief officers of the Sultan and Wazirs, and are not of noble birth, being taken from the trading classes of the community ; they are selected for their intelligence, and have had great influence in politics of the country.

(17) Soon after the breaking out of the war, Sultan Muaddin found that the old town of Bruni was too near the island, from which attacks upon it were frequently made, he, in consequence, removed to the Kuala Tumasik, which is the uppermost pull of the site of the present town on the left bank of the river.

(18) Provisions became scarce, as the island of Chermin, which was held by the Sultan Abdul Mubin, commands the entrances to the Bruni river.

(19) The commander of the Soolook fleet, which is put by other statements at forty boats, was Bendahara Taiting ; a brother of the Sultan of Soolook; is said to have accompanied him.

(20) The war lasted in all about twelve years ; during the greater part of the time the Sultan Abdul Mubin resided at Kinarut, and four Rajas Temenggong were killed in operations against him there. The Pangiran Kasuma, whose sympathies and relationships were with the island, says peace had been solemnly made three times and broken by the Brunian Raja, and the usurper had come back to the island under such a peace previous to the final catastrophe

(21) The tradition in Soolook is that both sides asked for the assistance of the Soolook fleet, and that the Commander sided with the Bruni Sultan because he offered the countries which, belonging to his enemies, lay near to Soolook. They say the Soolooks did all the fighting, the Bruni people only looking on. The present Yang di Pertuan and the Selesilah of the Pangiran Kasuma all deny the assistance of the Soolooks, or that any agreement "was made with them for the surrender of territory, saying they did not arrive till the island was taken, and that they stole the royal guns Si Membong and Raja Andei, which the Soolooks say were given to them in token of the agreement.' These guns were subsequently taken by the Spaniards from Soolook to Manila. The Soolooks also took with them as prisoner the Orang Kaya Malik, who, although not noble, was a person of great consideration on the side of the island. The present Yang di Pertuan would never let me see the copy of the Selesilah, which he is known to possess, and Pangiran Kasuma when he heard I had obtained the authentic copy from which the text is taken, said that it contained the true version, that at present adopted having been invented to conceal the shame of the Brunians, Mr. Jesse, who was Resident in Bruni for the East India Company in 17/4, and Sir Stamford Raffles, who was familiar with the history of the Malay States, (seep. 268, Vol.1., third para.) seem to have considered the cession to the Soolooks as unquestioned by the Brunians at the time the same countries were made over to the English by these latter people.

(22) One account says the Raja was killed with a kris at his own request, instead of being garotted as intended. The death of the usurper took place twelve years after that of his victim Merhoum Tumbang di Rumput

(23) The family of the late Pangiran Bendahara Muda Mahomed and of Raja Muda Hasim belonged to the Pulau Rajas. The late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II., and his family represent the old Bruni party. The copy of the Selesilah which Pangiran Kasuma gave me says that the reason why the Raja di Pulau was called Orang Kaya Rongiah (apparently a Bajau title) was that all his provinces and dependencies lay on the side towards Sabali (the coasts to the North of the river Bruni are thus designated). The Rajas of Bruni represented by Sultan Muaddin having their possessions towards the Ulu (the West Coasts are thus indicated). Merhoum di Pulau is the last of the Rajas of the Bajaus, but other Bajaus belong to the Court, as those of Lugut, Memiang, Palawan, and Balabak. The Bajaus of Patalan are under the Pangiran Temenggong. All other Bajaus whatsoever belong to the Pulau Rajas, as being descended from the sister of Merhoum di Tanjong, who was the oldest of the family who inherited one thousand males, making the inheritance of the Rajas di Pulau equal to that of Merhoum di Tanjong.

(24) These were " Si Membang " and " Raja Andei," cast by Sultan Shah Bruni.

(25) Rajah Tingah was called also Sultan Anam, and the Pangiran Kasuma's Selesilah calls him the son, not the brother, of Merhoum Tingah.

(26) Sultan Jalil-ul-Jebar was the son of a Javanese Princess, Siti Kaisa. the second wife of Raja Tuah, and was her second son. He was called Alliudin afterwards Raja Tingah, and then Sultan. This lady had a third child, a girl. Raja Omar was her eldest son. Jalil-ul-Jebar is spoken of as Merhoum Tingah

(27) This must have been the second Sultan of that name of Johor, who reigned from 1628 to 1667.

(29) This lady was Raja Baka, daughter of the Penambahan.

(30) Pangiran Kasuma says this Chief of Sambas was called Wan Nugal, and came from Ratu Silakau in Java, This Sultan Anam had children (Pangiran Bendahara, Raja Ludin, Pangiran Sari, and Pangiran Mangku Nagara) apparently by the Sambas lady.

Kasuma's Selesilah says the sovereigns who have reigned at Sambas are : —first, Merhoum Tuah; second, Merhoum Suleiman, who begot Merhoum Bima, who was Sultan Mahomed Jelal-Addin, whose son Sultan Mahomed Kemal-Addin begot Sultan Abu Bakar, whose son Sultan Omar Akam Addin rules in the country of Sambas.

(31) These titles of Sultan of Sambas and Penambahan of Matan are said in Pangiran Kasuma's version to have been first conferred by Sultan Muaddin on the two sons of Sultan Anam as independent sovereigns. The Court of Sambas and that of Bruni continue to carry on friendly correspondence, and each acknowledges the relationship of the other,

(32) This Abdul was reckoned by Dalrymple in Soolook as one of the Sovereigns of Bruni ; he was the eldest son of Sultan Jalil-ul-Akbar, and father of Sultan Nasr-Addin. There seems to have been civil war between him and his half brother Jalil-ul-Jebar ; he was killed on the little rock called " Madang Madang" * lying off Tanjong Rancha Ranclia in Labuan. A Pangiran Maharaja Lela seems to have conducted the war against him. [* From pedang ( pronounced by the Brunians padang), a sword, from the number of sword  left masterless on this occasion.]

(33) Named Siti Kaisa.

(34) This must be a mistake. Sultan Nasr-Addin was the son of Raja Besar Abdul, who was the son of the Merhoum Tuah by his first wife, by whom also he had two daughters. (See p. 21.) This Raja Abdul is recorded in the notes made in Soolook in 1763 by Dalhymple as a sovereign of Bruni in succession to Merhoum Bongsu, but all the Brunian historical records and traditions give the sovereignty on this occasion to his son Sultan Nasr-Addin. The Raja Besar Abdul seems to have claimed the throne and been killed at Labuan in the time of Sultan Jalil-ul-Jebar, his brother by his father's second wife Siti Kaisa.

(35) The wreck must have taken place in the reign of the seventh Sultan Saif- Addin ul Rejal, and this Captain is probably the officer referred by the Spaniards as assisting this son of the Sultan Abdul Kahar to displace his brother Si Riela (Sri Lela) whom they had placed upon the throne in 1577 and whom their second expedition in 1580 was sent again to support.

(36) Alluding bo the first attack in 1577

(37) The point of the Island Muara which one makes in entering the river of Bruni.

Source : Royal Asiatic Society (Journal of The Straits Branch)