ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

268 S U M A T R A .
Malay governments—Empire of Menangcabow—Extent of the
Suita^s ancient and prefent power—His titles—Literature and
Arts among ft the people—Period'of'converfion to Mahometanifm—-
General acceptation of the word Malay—Conftitution of their
fates—Bencoolen— Indrapour — Anac Soongey — Palemhang—
Jambee-i ÖV.
X SHALL now talce a view of the Malay governments, as diftinguiflied
from thofe of the more genuine Sumatrans, who, by the Malays,
are named orang ooloo, or countrymen, and fometimes, orang doofoott,
from 'their refiding in villages fo called.
ipireofMe- The principal feat of empire of the Malays, and of the whole ifland,
igeabow. js Menangcabow. This lies near the center, extending partly to the
northward, but chiefly to the fouthward of the equinoctial, about fixty
or an hundred miles. Such are the limits that now confine a monarchy,
whofe jurifdiction formerly comprehended all Sumatra, and whofe fovereign
was talked of with refpect in the fartheft parts of the eaft. The
country is, generally fpeaking, a large plain, bounded by hills, clear of
woods, and, comparatively, well cultivated. It has an eafy communication
with both fides of the ifland, lying nearer to the weftern coaft,
but having the advantage, to the eaft3 of the large rivers, Racan, Indergerce,
Stak, Jambee, and even Talemlang, with which it is faid to have
connexion, by means of a lake, that gives fource to the two laft, as well
as to the river of Cattown on the oppofite fide. Colonies of Malays from
Menangcabow, are fettled on feveral branches of Jambee river, or rather
thofe fmall rivers which run into it, of Lemoon, Batang Afy, Pacallangjttmboo,
and fome others. Here they collect large quantities of gold.
The name of Menangcabow is faid to be derived from the words " *»'nan£\
to win, and " carbow," a buffaloe; from a ftory, which carries
a very fabulous air, of a famous engagement on that fpot, between
the