Malay Annals. Anonymous

many islands.

      After the completion of the forty days and nights, the bathing water was introduced, with all kinds of music and an immense concourse of people, into the bath, adorned with gold and gems; and the husband and wife having, with a great multitude, seven times encircled the bathing-house, afterwards bathed in the highest story, and Bat'h was the person who officiated at the bath. After bathing, they changed their garments, and Sangsapurba arrayed himself in the cloth, derapata deremani, and the queen in that termed burudaimani, after which they entered on the duties of government, and mounted the golden throne of authority, and the state drums were beat.

      He was now installed in state, and all the mantris and champions came to pay their respects to him, and he feasted them in state; and the prince and princess eat with them, and Bat'h inserted the Panchawa Panchara, on the temples of the royal pair. Sangsapurba then assumed the sovereignty of Palembang and Damang Lebar Dawn was appointed mangku bumi.

      It happened on a certain day, that the river of Palembang brought down a foam-bell of uncommon size, in which appeared a young girl of extreme beauty. The raja being informed of the circumstance, ordered her to be brought to him. This was done, and the raja adopted her as his daughter. She was named Putri Tunjong-bui, or the Princess Foam-bell. The prince was extremely fond of her. By the queen Wan Sundaria, he had four children, two of them daughters of uncommon beauty, the one of whom was named Putri Sri Devi, and the other Putra Chandra Devi. Two of them were sons, of whom one was named Sang Mutiaga, and the other Sang Nila Utama.

      It was now noised all over the world, that the descendant of Raja Secander Zulkarneini, of the race of Hindostan, had descended on the mountain Sagantang Maha Mini, and was now in the land of Palembang. All were astonished at the report, and it even spread so far as the land of China. Then the raja of China sent to Palembang, to Raja Sangsapurba ten prows, to ask his daughter in marriage. They brought with them as presents three bahars of gold, and a great quantity of articles of China. Along with them one hundred male Chinese slaves, and a young Chinese of noble birth; a hundred female Chineses; all to convey the raja's letter to Sangsapurba.

      They reached Palembang, and delivered the letter of the raja of China, in the most respectful manner, in the hall of audience. The letter was read and comprehended, and Raja Sangsapurba consulted with his warriors, whether it would be proper or improper. They were all of opinion, that if the request were not complied with, the safety of the country would be endangered; " besides," said they, " there is no greater prince than the raja of China, nor of more noble extraction, whom she could get for her husband, nor is there any country greater than the land of China." " Then" said Sangsapurba, "if you approve of it, we will grant his request, in order to promote the friendship between the Malay and the Chinese rajas."

      Accordingly the elder princess, named Sri Devi, was delivered to the Chinese ambassador, together with a letter, stamped with the signet Kampen, desiring the ambassador to take notice, that when a paper signed with a similar stamp, should arrive in China, they might depend on its being sent by him or his descendants, the Malay rajas, but not to credit any other. The Chinese mantri was highly gratified. The young Chinese of noble birth, remained in Palembang, and became greatly attached to Raja Sangsapurba, who likewise had a great affection for him, and wished to settle him in marriage with the Putri Tunjong-bui.

      The Chinese ambassador left with this young nobleman one of his prows, and took his leave of the raja, who honoured him with a rich change of dress. He returned to China, the raja of which was highly gratified with the daughter of the raja, from the mountain Sagantang, and treated her with the dignity due to her rank and family. She in due time produced a son, from whom are descended the royal race who reign in China at the present time.

      After Raja Sangsapurba had remained a long time quiet in Palembang, he was seized with the desire of viewing the ocean. He summoned Damang Lebar Dawn, and the rest of his chiefs, and informed him of his intention to go and look out for a fine situation to found a new settlement. Damang Lebar Dawn very obligingly offered to accompany him, as he did not wish to be separate from him. Prows were accordingly prepared, and the younger brother of Damang Lebar Dawn was directed to remain in the government of Palembang.

      According to some, the noble Chinese who had married Tunjong-bui, was made raja of the upper country of Palembang, and had the command of all the Chinese in Palembang. The present rajas of Palembang are all descended of this family. The younger brother of Damang Lebar Dawn had, according to the same authority, the command of Lower Palembang.

      These arrangements being made, Raja Sangsapurba embarked in a golden galley, and his queen in a silver galley, accompanied by Damang Lebar Dawn, with all his mantris, seda-sidas, bantaras, and champions. The forms of the prows were so various as to defy description; their masts like tall trees, and their standards like the floating clouds, and the royal umbrella like a dark cloud; and the number of vessels almost filled the seas.

      After setting sail from the river of Palembang, they sailed towards the south; and after six days and nights, they arrived at Tanjongpura, where Sangsapurba was very honourably received by the raja and a thousand of his chiefs, who introduced him into the country, seated him on the throne, and honoured him like a prince.

      Intelligence of his arrival soon reached Majapahit, stating that the raja, who had descended from the mountain Sagantang Maha Miru, was now at Tanjongpura; and the bitara (awatara) of Majapahit went to visit Sangsapurba. The raja of Majapahit was at this time very powerful, and of very noble extraction; and as recorded in stories, he was descended from Putra Samara Ningrat.

      When he arrived at Tanjongpura, he paid his respects to Sangsapurba, who received him graciously, and gave him in marriage his daughter, Chandra Devi, the younger sister of the princess of China. After his marriage, he returned to Majapahit; and it is from this marriage that the rajas of Majapahit are descended.

      After a long residence in Tanjongpura, Raja Sangsapurba set out again in search of some other country for a settlement. But he first married his son Sang Muttaya to the daughter of the raja of Tanjongpura, and established him on the throne as raja of Tanjongpura, and gave him a crown adorned with gems, pearls, and diamonds. After leaving Tanjongpura, Sangsapurba set sail and traversed the sea till he arrived at a strait, when enquiring the name of the hill which he saw in view, one of the guides answered, the hill of Lingga,and that the galley had now arrived at the straights of Sambor. The news quickly reached Bentan, that the raja who had descended from the mountain Sagantang had now arrived at the straights of Sambor.

      There was at this time a queen on the throne of Bentan, named Paramisuri Secander Shah, whose husband was dead, and who had a daughter of extreme beauty unequalled at that time, and her name was Wan Sri Bini. The raja of Bentan had been a prince of great might, and had gone to Siam, and the queen governed in his stead. He was the first who established the practice of the royal drums, in which he has been followed by all the rajas under the wind. On receiving this intelligence the princess Paramisuri summoned her chief mantris, named Indra B'hupala and Aria B'hupala, and sent them to invite Sangsapurba with a fleet of 400 prows, directing them that if they found the raja aged they should invite him in the name of his younger sister (Adinda), if young, in the name of his elder sister (Kakanda), and if quite a boy, in the name of his mother (Bonda).

      The messengers proceeded accordingly to Tanjong-rangas, and thence to the straights of Sambor, between which their prows extended in an unbroken line. When they reached the prow of Sangsapurba they saluted him in the name of his eldest sister (Kakanda), and invited him to Bentan. He acceded to the invitation, and was introduced to Paramisuri who had resolved to take him for her husband had he been older; but who finding him still youthful, was contented to be reckoned his sister. However she had a great affection for him and conferred high honours on him. His son Sang Nila Utama, she chose for the husband of her daughter the princess Wan Sri Bini, and he afterwards became raja of Bentan.

      Sangsapurba also gave him a kingly crown, the gold of which could not be seen for the multitude of gems, pearls, and diamonds with which it was studded. He also gave him a royal signet of the same form as the signet Gampa, and with the same letters inscribed upon it. Then Sang-sapurba made his apologies to the Princess Paramisuri Secander Shah, being desirous of looking out for a more extensive country for a settlement, as Bentan was only an island of small extent; but Damang Lebar Dawn remained