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ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

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• S U M A T R A . t79<br />

bonds, never fail to carry a fupply about them at all feaibns, to fruftrate<br />

attempts of apprehending them for their crimes.<br />

The people of Menangcabow are faid to go frequently to war, on Horfes.<br />

horfeback, but I fliall not venture to give their force the name of cavalry,<br />

as I doubt much it's coming, in any degree, within that defcription.<br />

The chiefs probably may avail themfelves of the fervice of this<br />

ufeful animal, from motives of indolence or ftate; or poffibly, in<br />

marches, for the fake of expedition, they may employ horfes for the<br />

troops; as they are in great plenty in that country. The natives, any<br />

more than the Europeans, never fhoe them; nor is it neceflary where<br />

there are no hard roads. The breed is fmall, but well made, fpirited,<br />

and vigorous. Their wars, in general, are carried on rather in the way Mode of carof<br />

ambufeade, and furprize of ftraggling parties, than open combat» r y m S onx<br />

When the latter does take place, they are careful to make it a long<br />

Ihot; and the firing is quite irregular. The foldiers have no pay, but<br />

the plunder is thrown into a common fund, and divided. Whatever<br />

might formerly have been the degree of their prowefs, they are not now<br />

much celebrated for it; yet the Dutch, at Padang, have often found<br />

them troublefome, from their numbers, and been obliged to fecure themfelves<br />

within their walls, which the others have befieged. Between the<br />

Menangcabow people, thofe of Ron (called in the old writings Aru),<br />

and the Achemfi, wars ufed to be perpetual; till within thefe twenty<br />

years, that our authority has been eflablifhed at the fettlement of Natal,<br />

and ferves as a check to them. It was impoffible to walk a few miles<br />

into the country, without meeting the remains of feveral breaftworks,<br />

(coobvor;,* thrown up for defence, and fome of them very fubftantial.<br />

Our factory there, was firft raifed upon one of thefe country fortifications.<br />

They carried on their campaigns very deliberately; making a pra&ice of<br />

commencing a truce at funfet, when they were no longer under apprehenfion<br />

from each other. They fometimes agreed that hoftilities ihould<br />

take place, only between fuch and fuch hours of v the day. The EngHfh<br />

refident, Mr. Carter, ufed frequently to be chofen their umpire, and<br />

upon thefe occafions, fixed in the ground his golden headed cane, on<br />

W A fortified village the Malays call coto, which is ufed in the fame fenfe throughout hidojlan.<br />

4 B the

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